Mizzou legacy Graham Faust receives PWO from Tigers: 'A dream come true'

As Missouri dished out late scholarships to Class of 2026 recruits, the Tigers extended a preferred walk-on opportunity to a program legacy.

St. Louis (Mo.) MICDS safety Graham Faust received an offer to his parents’ alma mater Tuesday from director of scouting Jared Russell. Before leaving Missouri for New Mexico earlier this month, special teams coordinator Erik Link joined Russell in contacting Faust’s father, Vic Faust, a former tight end for the Tigers in the 1990s.

“Ever since birth,” the younger Faust said about his Missouri fandom. “I grew up going to Mizzou games, basketball, football, so I grew up all about Mizzou, watching Tyler Badie, Maty Mauk, all the originals.

“But when (Russell) first started contacting me and reaching out, I started thinking to myself I would love to go here, maybe I was low balling myself. I can play with the big dogs, and I’m going to play with the big dogs. It was just a dream come true like a full-circle moment.”

Faust never waited for the opportunity at Missouri. The senior athlete received offers from Air Force, Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH) and Missouri State. But after suffering a meniscus injury ahead of the summer, Faust missed out on competing in camps, and his recruitment slowed.

Faust’s father once thought his son would commit to Air Force, but due to a peanut allergy, he couldn’t jump on board with the Falcons, given the military institute’s use of peanut oil when cooking. The senior, who also received interest to play lacrosse in college, already applied and got accepted to Missouri.

How Faust fits the Missouri defense

Although visiting Missouri for the Vanderbilt game in September 2024, Faust ended up not making it back to campus. But Missouri received his final high school tape, taking one final look at him for one of its two or three walk-on spots for the 2026 season.

“I started digging, doing some more research on their style of defense that they play with,” the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Faust said. “They actually play with another DB. A lot of teams are switching to that style now, playing with an extra DB for more speed. I’m thinking that my size actually fits up very well with their scheme of guys. And I’m actually very excited for that, because if you fit the stereotype, then you just excel from there.”

Russell spoke again with Faust’s parents early Wednesday afternoon. He chose not to disclose the full details of his offer with the Tigers yet, although his father previously noted it being a non-scholarship roster spot.

“Obviously, I’m going to decide very soon,” said Faust, who will have made a decision before his next available time to visit in March. “They’re the front runner.”

Faust has prioritized a place to develop, rather than getting on the field right away then transferring. His mindset has revolved around the prime of his college career, building an early foundation to later contribute to a program.

Faust grows up around former Tigers

Faust’s father noted a look in his son’s eye comparable to former Missouri running back Brock Olivo, the Tigers’ assistant special teams coach. Olivo played on the same teams as Faust’s father as well as former fullback Ron “Rhino” Janes, whose son, Ridge Janes, is a top tight end target in the 2028 class.

“Vick and I were locker neighbors for two years,” Ron said. “I was No. 34, and he was No. 36. We did not have a 35. … (Graham) is an outstanding player, very tough and physical.”

Ron coached Faust’s first football team in second grade, which featured incoming Arizona State linebacker Mason Marden and Ridge, a kindergartner at the time. Faust and Marden became the “Freight Train Duo”. Marden’s father followed Ron as Faust’s next football coach as well.

“It’s almost like the reverse of the Fernando Mendoza story,” Faust said. “Both of his parents went to Miami, then he played against Miami. Except this time, it’s both my parents went to Mizzou, and now I got a chance to go to Mizzou.”

Following his offer from Missouri, Faust also started to hear more from former suitors, including Coastal Carolina, where the former Missouri State staff moved, and Purdue, a program to offer a similar to spot as Missouri.