****Official 2014 Missouri Tigers Football Thread****

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Some actual good news today:

I think Vincent Jackson Jr. (3*, 5.7 RR OLB from Tampa) committed to Mizzou.

He's listed at 6'3" 245lbs. Seems like a guy that might end up as a weakside end.

[BryanBusby]

Most likely not to be charged.
His arrest record was removed from the sheriff's page.

This shit gonna get buried.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Some actual good news today:

I think Vincent Jackson Jr. (3*, 5.7 RR OLB from Tampa) committed to Mizzou.

He's listed at 6'3" 245lbs. Seems like a guy that might end up as a weakside end.I'm not seeing confirmation of that anywhere.

[TribalElder]

His arrest record was removed from the sheriff's page.

This shit gonna get buried.

M I Z

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I'm not seeing confirmation of that anywhere.

He has this thing called Twitter.

[Pitt Gorilla]

He has this thing called Twitter.
I've seen his twitter and have seen nothing about him committing. Would be great, though.

[Saul Good]

He has this thing called Twitter.

Check out Brian Wallace's mom's twitter. Ho-Lee-Shit

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I've seen his twitter and have seen nothing about him committing. Would be great, though.

Vincent Jackson Jr. ‏<s>@</s>VMJacksonJr (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr) <small class="time"> 3h (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr/status/422121330264535040) </small> Once a tiger, always a tiger

Collapse (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr/status/422121330264535040)

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000351826099/fb4ca1312fd756ff52953ec86ab25ffb_normal.jpeg Vincent Jackson Jr. ‏<s>@</s>VMJacksonJr (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr) Mizzou fam yall follow me on instagram, Ima keep yall posted on my official too <s>@</s>VMJacksonJr (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr)




And he retweeted this one:


Billy Parisi ‏<s>@</s>ChefBillyParisi (https://twitter.com/ChefBillyParisi) <small class="time"> 3h (https://twitter.com/ChefBillyParisi/status/422137079867260928) </small>
<s>@</s>VMJacksonJr (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr) it'll be the best decision you've ever made. Been to a lot of colleges & none compare to Mizzou or Columbia.

[Great Expectations]

Neal thought he was going to Oklahoma to start as its inside slot guy and replace Ryan Broyles right away. He was recruited over by Stoops in his own class, and then again last year.

Looking at the depth chart, it looks like he'll get a shot to make a significant contribution in Year 3. We'll see what he does.

He would have been stuck behind NFL guys at Mizzou this year, too, also seeing minimal playing time. And I'm not convinced he'd start over Jimmie Hunt in the slot next year, either, had he gone to Mizzou.

OU recruited Shepard to play the slot and Neal to move around. Neal was top 5 at his position, Shep was song top 30. Saunders and 2 other 4 star length guys kept Neal from getting more targets. Neal did have some very big receptions and will likely be a huge part of the offense next year with NFL possibilities in the future.

Milliard was OU'S best offensive player before he was injured.

MU had obviously done a great job evaluating and developing talent. Neal and Milliard would have been big contributors before their careers were done.

[CoMoChief]

This is the price you pay for recruiting top talent.

What?

he's a college kid that likes to smoke weed.

how's that any different from the hundreds of other football players that smoke weed in college?

[Pepe Silvia]

What?

he's a college kid that likes to smoke weed.

how's that any different from the hundreds of other football players that smoke weed in college?

A lot of big time recruits are head cases. It sucks but that's the chance you take when you recruit someone of DGB's caliber. And no there's nothing wrong with weed but he obviously can't do it responsibly, thats what makes it different

[Pitt Gorilla]

Vincent Jackson Jr. ‏<s>@</s>VMJacksonJr (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr) <small class="time"> 3h (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr/status/422121330264535040) </small> Once a tiger, always a tiger

Collapse (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr/status/422121330264535040)

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000351826099/fb4ca1312fd756ff52953ec86ab25ffb_normal.jpeg Vincent Jackson Jr. ‏<s>@</s>VMJacksonJr (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr) Mizzou fam yall follow me on instagram, Ima keep yall posted on my official too <s>@</s>VMJacksonJr (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr)




And he retweeted this one:


Billy Parisi ‏<s>@</s>ChefBillyParisi (https://twitter.com/ChefBillyParisi) <small class="time"> 3h (https://twitter.com/ChefBillyParisi/status/422137079867260928) </small>
<s>@</s>VMJacksonJr (https://twitter.com/VMJacksonJr) it'll be the best decision you've ever made. Been to a lot of colleges & none compare to Mizzou or Columbia.I saw those, but Tiger didn't seem specific enough. I hope you're right.

[duncan_idaho]

OU recruited Shepard to play the slot and Neal to move around. Neal was top 5 at his position, Shep was song top 30. Saunders and 2 other 4 star length guys kept Neal from getting more targets. Neal did have some very big receptions and will likely be a huge part of the offense next year with NFL possibilities in the future.

Milliard was OU'S best offensive player before he was injured.

MU had obviously done a great job evaluating and developing talent. Neal and Milliard would have been big contributors before their careers were done.

Millard wanted to play FB, a position that did not exist and does not exist in Missouri's offense. They tried with him, but it didn't work.

That's not the song they sold to Neal while he was being recruited. He himself said he was being recruited to play Broyles slot WR spot and talked like he had been told he'd be the starter there from Day 1.

But it really doesn't matter now. I still maintain he wouldn't have played at Mizzou this year ... And would not start over Hunt in the slot next year.

[Great Expectations]

I'm not interested in arguing with you on how/what OU or MU recruited players for. I was just responding to the statement about how MU didn't/doesn't miss any of the instate players who left. Millard is one of the best cfb players Norman has seen since Stoops arrival (guess that isn't good enough for MU). Neal Could help virtually every cfb team in the nation next year.

[duncan_idaho]

I'm not interested in arguing with you on how/what OU or MU recruited players for. I was just responding to the statement about how MU didn't/doesn't miss any of the instate players who left. Millard is one of the best cfb players Norman has seen since Stoops arrival (guess that isn't good enough for MU). Neal Could help virtually every cfb team in the nation next year.

I didn't make that statement. They have missed on a few guys. All staffs do. Missouri has had pretty good luck in that it has seen a lot more Ronnie Wingos go out of state than Adrian Clayborns.

You can make a good case for Millard, even though they would have had to get creative to find a way to use him. He's a great CFB player.

We'll see on Neal. I didn't watch much of Oklahoma this year (Texas, Kansas State, Alabama) but didn't see him do anything in any of those games. Regardless, he wouldn't have played much, if at all, for Mizzou this season and would have to fight for a starting spot there next year, too.

I'm pretty confident Brian Wallace is going to be an in-state miss that hurts quite a bit, though if he's as big a bitch as his mother proved to be on Twitter tonight, I might be wrong.

[confused]

Not a good start of the offseason for us Mizzou fans. :(
http://oi44.tinypic.com/264qdra.jpg

['Hamas' Jenkins]

It doesn't make him a bad person or a teammate. It's just a poor business decision, and honestly, it shouldn't even be that. In 20 years this isn't even an issue.

[confused]

It doesn't make him a bad person or a teammate. It's just a poor business decision, and honestly, it shouldn't even be that. In 20 years this isn't even an issue.
I'm confused, is there two Mizzou threads?

And it doesn't necessarily make him a bad person, but it definitely makes him a stupid person. Having spoken to a lot of his classmates at Hillcrest, the kid couldn't stay awake during class and could hardly write his own name on the homework assignments he frequently copied. A heck of an athlete, but I've always said that he isn't going to last long with his intelligence and attitude.

As for him being a bad teammate? This definitely provides a valid argument for that. Whether you think it should be legal or not, it's still the law of the land, and DGB isn't putting his team first when he gets arrested. Avoiding it altogether shouldn't be a huge deal when you're 16 months away from a multi-million dollar payday.

[duncan_idaho]

I'm confused, is there two Mizzou threads?

And it doesn't necessarily make him a bad person, but it definitely makes him a stupid person. Having spoken to a lot of his classmates at Hillcrest, the kid couldn't stay awake during class and could hardly write his own name on the homework assignments he frequently copied. A heck of an athlete, but I've always said that he isn't going to last long with his intelligence and attitude.

As for him being a bad teammate? This definitely provides a valid argument for that. Whether you think it should be legal or not, it's still the law of the land, and DGB isn't putting his team first when he gets arrested. Avoiding it altogether shouldn't be a huge deal when you're 16 months away from a multi-million dollar payday.

DGB's story apparently is that he went out with some friends and had no idea one of the friends had the drugs/etc. in the back of the vehicle (police did not find it until searching the vehicle).

If that is true, this is neither a sign of stupidity (in terms of being around drugs) or being a bad teammate. The worst thing it is a sign of is hanging around old friends that you shouldn't.

It sounds like - from the quote from the Sprinfield police officer who said "probably not involved with what they thought he was" when asked about the release, and from what his parents have said they expect to happen - the police who investigated this believe that story.

Is it true? I don't know, and no one ever will likely know if it is the truth.

We'll all know a heck of a lot more tomorrow, if the Springfield PD sticks to its timeline. If the driver is charged and the others are not, pretty clear what the police think happened here.

And at that point, a non-story. He MAYBE gets a one-game, non-conference suspension.

[Mosbonian]

I'm not interested in arguing with you on how/what OU or MU recruited players for. I was just responding to the statement about how MU didn't/doesn't miss any of the instate players who left. Millard is one of the best cfb players Norman has seen since Stoops arrival (guess that isn't good enough for MU). Neal Could help virtually every cfb team in the nation next year.

I'm the person who made that statement.....and you still haven't done anything but make conjecture about one player.

Last I checked I didn't hear the name of too many players from Missouri on other teams that would have been the game changer.

I get a little tired of hearing all the whining about not locking up the state....please show me one Missouri guy who was starting/playing significant time on a BCS team this year?

I don't care where we recruit them from...I want the best 22 players on the field in the country and I could care less where they hail from...

Seems like each year we all complain about losing "in-state" guys but I never see those same guys names being called in a BCS game.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Georgia has officially offered Tavon Ross. I know he's only a two star, so some folks here don't want him anyway, but he'll be a STUD at safety.Question for the star gazers: Do you want Ross to flip to GA? Since he's only a ** kid, he's obviously not a good recruit. Right?

[KChiefs1]

Question for the star gazers: Do you want Ross to flip to GA? Since he's only a ** kid, he's obviously not a good recruit. Right?

I want the kid...have you seen his tape?

[KChiefs1]

I guess this is our latest offer:

Emmanuel Smith
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Emmanuel-Smith-140927

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I want the kid...have you seen his tape?

He looks like a good blitzer and a sound tackler. Aside from that, there wasn't a ton of stuff that stood out on that tape, although the quality is always horrible.

I'm sure the hope is that he projects to a SS.

[siberian khatru]

Kinda neat:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Missouri&#39;s Pat Ivey named Strength &amp; Conditioning Coach of the Year by <a href="http://t.co/h4jK7tICQT">http://t.co/h4jK7tICQT</a> - <a href="http://t.co/cJmnMIy1cg">http://t.co/cJmnMIy1cg</a>.</p>&mdash; David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/statuses/422512345957421056">January 12, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Pitt Gorilla]

Miami has now offered 2* Mizzou commit Tavon Ross.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Alabama now coming after Tavon Ross. Can't believe they want a 2* guy.

[Pepe Silvia]

Alabama now coming after Tavon Ross. Can't believe they want a 2* guy.

What is the deal? All the sudden everyone is running after him?

[Mizzou_8541]

Alabama now coming after Tavon Ross. Can't believe they want a 2* guy.

I hope he sticks. I saw a quote recently from him where he said something like he's pretty solid, but he was going to take visits now that Georgia, Miami, et. al. is offering. I would link it but it's buried somewhere on PowerMizzou.

[KChiefs1]

Alabama now coming after Tavon Ross. Can't believe they want a 2* guy.

Miami & now Bama? Damn.

[Discuss Thrower]

Maty Mauk's father just took over the head coaching position for Springfield's Glendale High School.


Hope he knows what he's getting in to..

[Pitt Gorilla]

What is the deal? All the sudden everyone is running after him?Being a 2** guy, he was clearly only offered early by Missouri because he was all that our inept/soon-to-be-fired coaches thought we could get./certain CP poster(s).

[Sully]

Maty Mauk's father just took over the head coaching position for Springfield's Glendale High School.


Hope he knows what he's getting in to..


He applied at Harrisonville and Sedalia, as well. I think he got the best of the three (after what I've heard about H'ville this week).

[greatgooglymoogly]

He applied at Harrisonville and Sedalia, as well. I think he got the best of the three (after what I've heard about H'ville this week).

SW Missouri HS football getting into an arms race? :eek: I never thought I'd see the day.

[duncan_idaho]

I was hoping he'd end up in Sedalia.

That place would become a magnet for all the Whiteman kids interested in playing HS football with someone like Mauk coaching there. Might actually make my home town (sort of) team interesting to follow in football.

[Saul Good]

I was hoping he'd end up in Sedalia.

That place would become a magnet for all the Whiteman kids interested in playing HS football with someone like Mauk coaching there. Might actually make my home town (sort of) team interesting to follow in football.

I wish he'd have gone to Saint Louis and helped funnel some players our way.

[Discuss Thrower]

He applied at Harrisonville and Sedalia, as well. I think he got the best of the three (after what I've heard about H'ville this week).

Springfield schools, really the entire SWMO region beside Lamar and Webb are talent deficient in my opinion. I watched GHS' two feeder middle schools this fall.. There isn't a lot coming in for them besides the youngest Leali brother and their high school roster isn't all that good either outside of a few multisport guys.

And that's skill positions. All the linemen in this region are too small and aren't adept enough at pass blocking for an offense to be effective.

But then again what do I know. I'm just a freelance hack writer and announcer.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Alabama has now offered 2** Mizzou commit Tavon Ross.

[kepp]

Alabama has now offered 2** Mizzou commit Tavon Ross.

Wow. Everyone is jumping in on him. I hope we can keep him.

[duncan_idaho]

Wow. Everyone is jumping in on him. I hope we can keep him.

Georgia guys I've heard from seem to think he's staying with Mizzou, because his visit didn't go all that well in Athens.

Alabama is the question at this point... Pinkel visits him this week and I think his official is over the weekend.

Keeping Rocel McWilliams might be even more of a task at this point.

[O.city]

You guys would know better (specifically duncan or Hamas or DJ), but could one of you guys drop in the Maclin thread and talk a little about adding him in FA?

I remember him at MU, but not really specifically his abilitites.

[Pitt Gorilla]

SEC's best DEs.

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2014/ranking-sec-defensive-ends-2013/

[salame]

http://www.wwe.com/f/wysiwyg/image/2012/11/nwo_group_article_5.jpg

[kepp]

Florida OL switches pledge from MU to USF
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/eye-on-the-tigers/florida-ol-switches-pledge-from-mu-to-usf/article_6500df2b-6e42-5127-a193-0aac16374073.html

[duncan_idaho]

Florida OL switches pledge from MU to USF
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/eye-on-the-tigers/florida-ol-switches-pledge-from-mu-to-usf/article_6500df2b-6e42-5127-a193-0aac16374073.html

Pretty amicable parting. I think once Bauer got back on board, Hudson was expendable. Mizzou coaches knew Hudson was looking around and didn't exactly beat down doors to stop it.

They'd rather use that spot on DE, it seems.

[Saul Good]

Pretty amicable parting. I think once Bauer got back on board, Hudson was expendable. Mizzou coaches knew Hudson was looking around and didn't exactly beat down doors to stop it.

They'd rather use that spot on DE, it seems.

Yep. The extra scholarship was worth more than he was as a player. Sounds like he might have been a pain in the ass in addition to being a pretty weak recruit.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I have a feeling this guy will not be missed. Looks like an early add out of desperation rather than ability.

Things are still looking dicey, though. You'd think that coming off this season they'd have momentum to close on some kids.

They offered another kid from Gwinnett, I see. It would be nice if they could use he and Nate Brown as a lynchpin to bring along Dante Sawyer, especially if they lose McWilliams.

[duncan_idaho]

I have a feeling this guy will not be missed. Looks like an early add out of desperation rather than ability.

Things are still looking dicey, though. You'd think that coming off this season they'd have momentum to close on some kids.

They offered another kid from Gwinnett, I see. It would be nice if they could use he and Nate Brown as a lynchpin to bring along Dante Sawyer, especially if they lose McWilliams.

Sawyer, Scott and Brown will visit together. Forget if that is this week or next.

Things look pretty good with DE/OLB Vincent Jackson, who over the weekend tweeted to a friend (who is a Florida-bound) that he was looking forward to playing against him for 4 years. Missouri is Jackson's only SEC finalist, so that news looks pretty good (USF and Texas Tech are the others, I believe. He had an Alabama offer at one time, but they filled up).

They still have a chance to close pretty well. Comes down to spots and how well they do.

Keep McWilliams and Ross, add Jackson and a few others, and this could look very good.

Still pissed they couldn't close the door with Brian Wallace, though.

[Pepe Silvia]

Bieliema must have given Wallace permission to bang his wife, why would that kid want to lose every week?

[greatgooglymoogly]

Bieliema must have given Peavey permission to bang his wife, why would that kid want to lose every week?

FTFY

[Saul Good]

FTFY

Meh...I'd take Wallace over Peavey. We've got Mauk, Printz, and (hopefully) Lock. The QB spot should be in great shape for the rest of the decade. I wouldn't trade any of those guys for Peavey...not at this time, anyway. He could turn into some stud, but there's no guarantee of it.

[duncan_idaho]

Meh...I'd take Wallace over Peavey. We've got Mauk, Printz, and (hopefully) Lock. The QB spot should be in great shape for the rest of the decade. I wouldn't trade any of those guys for Peavey...not at this time, anyway. He could turn into some stud, but there's no guarantee of it.

Agree. I think Wallace is going to be an NFL starter.

Peavey? Might be a productive college player, but I don't think he's a can't miss by any means, even for that.

He wouldn't play in front of Mauk, and I have no doubts Drew Lock would beat him out, so Peavey is a non-issue.

If there's one position where it is reasonable to rest easy regarding Missouri's evaluation and work, it is at the QB spot. Those guys know what they're doing there. The only season since Pinkel's first where they did not have a very good player in that spot was last year, when injury and a bad decision to transfer (Tyler Gabbert) ate up all the QB depth.

[greatgooglymoogly]

Meh...I'd take Wallace over Peavey. We've got Mauk, Printz, and (hopefully) Lock. The QB spot should be in great shape for the rest of the decade. I wouldn't trade any of those guys for Peavey...not at this time, anyway. He could turn into some stud, but there's no guarantee of it.

For the record, I'm not saying Peavey is going to be an all-world QB. In fact, starting next year would be the worst thing that could happen to his career.

He played high school ball in the Central Ozark Conference-small school division. On a yearly basis, he played such tough and athletic opponents as Buffalo, Hollister, Reeds Spring, and Springfield Catholic. FGS, he's part of the Elite 11! If he were playing anywhere in the KC or St. Louis metro, he'd be a low 3 star with positive upside. This is the kind of player that begs for a redshirt - he has solid athletic skills, but they're not good enough to compensate for his relatively undeveloped intangibles. DGB was the clear cut best at his position in his class, and he needed a year to adjust to the players around him.

Arkansas fans don't like hearing it, but the quality of HS football in southern Missouri is shambolic. Starting Peavey as a true freshman in the SEC (or any BCS conference) would be a massive and irreparable mistake.

[duncan_idaho]

For the record, I'm not saying Peavey is going to be an all-world QB. In fact, starting next year would be the worst thing that could happen to his career.

He played high school ball in the Central Ozark Conference-small school division. On a yearly basis, he played such tough and athletic opponents as Buffalo, Hollister, Reeds Spring, and Springfield Catholic. FGS, he's part of the Elite 11! If he were playing anywhere in the KC or St. Louis metro, he'd be a low 3 star with positive upside. This is the kind of player that begs for a redshirt - he has solid athletic skills, but they're not good enough to compensate for his relatively undeveloped intangibles. DGB was the clear cut best at his position in his class, and he needed a year to adjust to the players around him.

Arkansas fans don't like hearing it, but the quality of HS football in southern Missouri is shambolic. Starting Peavey as a true freshman in the SEC (or any BCS conference) would be a massive and irreparable mistake.

All true story.

DGB is one of the biggest athletic freaks in recent memory, especially in the midwest recruiting region, and he still needed a year to adjust.

[greatgooglymoogly]

All true story.

DGB is one of the biggest athletic freaks in recent memory, especially in the midwest recruiting region, and he still needed a year to adjust.

I had no doubt about DGB catching on eventually. I saw him play as a HS freshman, and he was bigger and faster than everyone else on the field. He had to have been 6'3" or 6'4" at that point.

Unfortunately, the Hogs fans/students/alumni I know view Peavey as "the future of Hogs football" and think he'll step onto the field at Jordan-Hare in August and light up the defending SEC champions. They forget about the good QBs who had that redshirt year and showed great progress from it, including Mauk. Peavey needs a Mizzou-type setup more than Mizzou needs a Peavey.

[duncan_idaho]

I had no doubt about DGB catching on eventually. I saw him play as a HS freshman, and he was bigger and faster than everyone else on the field. He had to have been 6'3" or 6'4" at that point.

Unfortunately, the Hogs fans/students/alumni I know view Peavey as "the future of Hogs football" and think he'll step onto the field at Jordan-Hare in August and light up the defending SEC champions. They forget about the good QBs who had that redshirt year and showed great progress from it, including Mauk. Peavey needs a Mizzou-type setup more than Mizzou needs a Peavey.

Sounds like Hog fans doing what they do best: Be delusional.

I know he played pretty well in the All-Star game he was in... is that driving false hopes, or has this been going on for a while?

He's a good athlete and has a pretty good arm, but has a LONG way to go on the fine points of being a QB, from what I've read and heard.

[warpaint*]

Not too many true freshman start at QB I wouldn't expect it. But internet fan is internet fan & the next QB you've never seen throw a pass is better than what you have if what you have is undesirable.

That said if he does start it's not necessarily irreparable catastrophic damage or however someone put it a few posts back. If he's got the goods he'll take his lumps like all green ones do & grow. Assuming BB is running something similar to what he did at Wisconsin they don't ask their QB's to do too much compared to most offenses. What material they put around him if he's good enough to get on the field will go a long way toward how successful he is as well.

[greatgooglymoogly]

Sounds like Hog fans doing what they do best: Be delusional.

I know he played pretty well in the All-Star game he was in... is that driving false hopes, or has this been going on for a while?

He's a good athlete and has a pretty good arm, but has a LONG way to go on the fine points of being a QB, from what I've read and heard.

I haven't seen that game, but Liberty North shut him down in the playoffs. He went 11-27 with 3 INT's.

[greatgooglymoogly]

Not too many true freshman start at QB I wouldn't expect it. But internet fan is internet fan & the next QB you've never seen throw a pass is better than what you have if what you have is undesirable.

That said if he does start it's not necessarily irreparable catastrophic damage or however someone put it a few posts back. If he's got the goods he'll take his lumps like all green ones do & grow. Assuming BB is running something similar to what he did at Wisconsin they don't ask their QB's to do too much compared to most offenses. What material they put around him if he's good enough to get on the field will go a long way toward how successful he is as well.

I think it could be devastating to Peavey because Bielema doesn't have everyone he wants in yet. He's still coaching Petrino and Smith's players, and they didn't look good running his offense last year. I would argue it's already been devastating to Brandon Allen:

http://d3f5994kvuwcz1.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/truck.jpg

Anyhow, I admire Mizzou fans. You have found a stable middle ground between the 24/7 schizophrenic obsession of Razorback fans and the complete apathy and laziness of Missouri State fans.

[Pitt Gorilla]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20140123/nfl-draft-2013-redo-sheldon-richardson/

SI's NFL Re-draft: Chiefs should have taken Big Shel.

[bowener]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20140123/nfl-draft-2013-redo-sheldon-richardson/

SI's NFL Re-draft: Chiefs should have taken Big Shel.

Play him at end next to Poe?

[Pepe Silvia]

Peavey is going to take his lumps year one regardless imo. Factor in the fact he has to play in the west division and it'll still be a rough year for the Hogs, Look out for them in year 3 under Bieliema, its going to take a few years to put out that dumpster fire.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Missouri should reload along defensive line

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/78695/missouri-should-reload-along-defensive-line

Recently, Michael Sam let members of the media in on a little secret behind Missouri's impressive season along the defensive line in 2013: They felt disrespected.

"Everybody thought our D-line was doomed because Sheldon Richardson was gone," Sam told reporters during Senior Bowl practices. "I kind of took that as disrespectful."

After 2012's unsatisfactory 5-7 SEC debut, on the outside it looked like the Tigers could be in more trouble in 2013 with Richardson, a first-round NFL draft pick, gone. What was left was a lot of potential but no proven playmakers.

Then the actual football started, and the Tigers were a menace up front, leading the SEC with 41 sacks and 107 tackles for loss during their fantastic SEC Year 2 turnaround. Sam, who was one of the nation's biggest surprises, led the SEC with 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Fellow linemen Kony Ealy and Markus Golden combined for 14.5 more sacks and 27 tackles for loss.

That was a ton of production from arguably the SEC's best defensive line. Now, most of it is gone, as Sam graduated and Ealy declared for the NFL draft. But Tigers fans certainly shouldn't fret -- Missouri still has a lot of talent to work with in the trenches in 2014.

It starts with Golden, who didn't get as much love as Sam or Ealy but still managed to record 6.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss this past season. He has the makings of being a star in the SEC this fall. It was a bit of a surprise to even see him stay, which is a huge win for the Tigers but a loss for the rest of the league. You should be hearing his name a lot this fall.

And you can't double-team him, either. Not with the soon-to-be-not-so-unknown Shane Ray, who collected 4.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss last season, coming back at the other end position. He was also second on the team behind Ealy with 11 quarterback hurries. Yep, that was even better than Sam.

Ray, who will be a junior this fall, was a solid reserve for Mizzou last season and flashed signs of being a real handful for offensive linemen to handle. He went five straight games at one point during the season with being a part of a sack and has the chance at a nice breakout season in 2014.

Inside, Mizzou still has Matt Hoch, Harold Brantley and Lucas Vincent. All of these guys have what it takes to clog the middle yet again, and all of them have seen a good amount of time on the field. Brantley, who was a redshirt freshman last fall, could be someone to really keep an eye on going forward. He added around 20 pounds last year to get strong inside yet showed his athleticism and speed on a nifty 26-yard run on a fake punt against Ole Miss. Hoch is an underrated player who somehow figures out how to find the ball on plays, while Vincent has played in every game of his three-year career. Hoch and Vincent combined for 64 tackles, including 10 for loss, last year.

So while the Tigers will no doubt miss Sam and Ealy, they'll be just fine in 2014 with the players returning. This school has churned out defensive line studs in the past, thanks to the developmental skills of defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski. With his track record, it appears he knows exactly what he's doing up front. Expect that to continue this fall.

[kepp]

Missouri should reload along defensive line

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/78695/missouri-should-reload-along-defensive-line...

And they didn't even mention Augusta, who was playing as a true freshman.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Play him at end next to Poe?

Without a doubt. You'd have four players in the front seven (Hali, Houston, Richardson, Poe) who should command double teams.

You could run almost any front imaginable with those guys. You could rush three and still generate pressure.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

The starting front four will be fine, but what made the line great wasn't just having Sam and Ealy, but the depth provided by Ray and Golden. Before Foster's injury, the line was legitimately eight deep, and for a significant stretch of the season Ray was our best DL.

The red shirts are going to have to bring something next year or the DL will get gassed.

[Reaper16]

The starting front four will be fine, but what made the line great wasn't just having Sam and Ealy, but the depth provided by Ray and Golden. Before Foster's injury, the line was legitimately eight deep, and for a significant stretch of the season Ray was our best DL.

The red shirts are going to have to bring something next year or the DL will get gassed.

I had that exact thought when reading that article about the D-Line. The depth was what allowed Mizzou to bring the constant pressure, and as a result, keep the secondary from getting exposed.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

That's why getting Dante Sawyer to flip on his official next weekend has to be the staff's #1 goal. He won't play as a true freshman, but he'd be another in the pipeline of long, rangy athletes who have been great ends at Missouri.

Missouri is in a weird place, recruiting wise. They are successful enough as a program that offering someone raises their profile to the point where traditional powers take notice--like what happened with Jonathan Williams and ND, but they aren't yet high profile or skilled enough to where they can beat out those schools for elite talent unless a lot of breaks fall their way (DGB and Sheldon being from Missouri, for example).

[Saul Good]

That's why getting Dante Sawyer to flip on his official next weekend has to be the staff's #1 goal. He won't play as a true freshman, but he'd be another in the pipeline of long, rangy athletes who have been great ends at Missouri.

Missouri is in a weird place, recruiting wise. They are successful enough as a program that offering someone raises their profile to the point where traditional powers take notice--like what happened with Jonathan Williams and ND, but they aren't yet high profile or skilled enough to where they can beat out those schools for elite talent unless a lot of breaks fall their way (DGB and Sheldon being from Missouri, for example).

It's part of the development of the program. If Bielema can land Wallace by selling him on his ability to put O-linemen in the league, we need to get there with our ability to put the entire front seven in the league. It's scary how much defensive talent Mizzou has playing in the league. I wouldn't mind having Richardson, Smith, Smith, Spoon, Moore, Hood, Gaines, Ealy, and Sam on our roster.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

It's part of the development of the program. If Bielema can land Wallace by selling him on his ability to put O-linemen in the league, we need to get there with our ability to put the entire front seven in the league. It's scary how much defensive talent Mizzou has playing in the league. I wouldn't mind having Richardson, Smith, Smith, Spoon, Moore, Hood, Gaines, Ealy, and Sam on our roster.

Pinkel isn't the bloviating bullshit artist that most of these hucksters are. It hurts him in recruiting, but makes him a far more tolerable human being. That said, he should be able to confidently point out the recent run of success Missouri players have had on that side of the ball.

[Saul Good]

Pinkel isn't the bloviating bullshit artist that most of these hucksters are. It hurts him in recruiting, but makes him a far more tolerable human being. That said, he should be able to confidently point out the recent run of success Missouri players have had on that side of the ball.

He's probably a bigger bullshitter than you think. The dude drops in via chopper when he wants to big time a kid, after all.

[Pitt Gorilla]

We still have a shot at Hendrix as well.

[Reaper16]

Pinkel isn't the bloviating bullshit artist that most of these hucksters are. It hurts him in recruiting, but makes him a far more tolerable human being. That said, he should be able to confidently point out the recent run of success Missouri players have had on that side of the ball.

That's certainly been a recent point of emphasis on the recruiting trail. Hence the #MizzouMade hashtag on Twitter.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

That's certainly been a recent point of emphasis on the recruiting trail. Hence the #MizzouMade hashtag on Twitter.

I will only support this movement if Earnest Ross uses hashtag #bitchmade.

[-King-]

I will only support this movement if Earnest Ross uses hashtag #bitchmade.

LMAOLMAOLMAO

[Pepe Silvia]

Because Mizzou:

If this is indeed true the Bowl games were fun while they lasted. :(

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/10323102/university-missouri-officials-did-not-pursue-rape-case-lines-investigation-finds?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[BryanBusby]

Because Mizzou:

If this is indeed true the Bowl games were fun while they lasted. :(

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/10323102/university-missouri-officials-did-not-pursue-rape-case-lines-investigation-finds?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Who cares about bowls, that's a truly shitty thing to do and anyone involved in a rape cover-up should be fired and criminally charged.

[Pepe Silvia]

Who cares about bowls, that's a truly shitty thing to do and anyone involved in a rape cover-up should be fired and criminally charged.

It's terrible and Alden should be fired. I'm sorry but I care about both. Athletes that had nothing to do with it might suffer. This is a bad deal, all around. :(

[patteeu]

It's terrible and Alden should be fired. I'm sorry but I care about both. Athletes that had nothing to do with it might suffer. This is a bad deal, all around. :(

Jumping the gun a little bit aren't you, Chicken Little?

[Pepe Silvia]

Jumping the gun a little bit aren't you, Chicken Little?

Dude its Mizzou, you really think this will end well?

[Pitt Gorilla]

Jumping the gun a little bit aren't you, Chicken Little?Yeah, I'm not sure what Alden did incorrectly here.

[patteeu]

Dude its Mizzou, you really think this will end well?

If nothing bad happening to future MU athletics is what you mean by "well", then that would be my guess at this point. Anything could happen, but it's way too early to be calling on people to be fired or accepting the accusation that Mizzou should have done more.

[OmahaChief]

It's terrible and Alden should be fired. I'm sorry but I care about both. Athletes that had nothing to do with it might suffer. This is a bad deal, all around. :(

Jameis Winston disagrees with you.

[warpaint*]

Sheesh some of you need to tap the brakes.

How many of these stories that get reported with an agenda in mind or are based off one sided POV's only to have material elements come to light later that change the way the whole thing's viewed have to come & go before we as a society quit jumping the gun to lynch everybody before all the facts out there?

Both MU responses indicate that's exactly what we should do.

No matter the hope is that justice is served.

[Pepe Silvia]

I'm more worried about all the rape allegations that this school has had the last few years combined with Dixon and Washington. This stuff looks really bad but if the ****ers did cover it up they should be held accountable. And warpaint you're right its not far fetched to think someone has an agenda to bring Mizzou down. Cough*Arkansas *Cough.

What really breaks my heart though is the fact that she ended her life, thats tragic. :(

[duncan_idaho]

Just posted the following on PowerMizzou. I would advise everyone to read the responses from Mizzou and Chad Moller (which I would criticize in stressing that they are following Menu Courey's wish to not investigate, a misstep in my opinion) and not base your entire perception on the OtL story, which has some problems.

Yeah, I'm not sure what ESPN seems to feel should have been done here.

1) Health care professionals should NOT have reported it to anyone unless specifically requested to do so by the victim. That's basic HIPPA (and something you can find re: HIPPA with a five minute stint on Google). It doesn't matter that those health care professionals worked for MU Hospital and Clinics. Just because it is a university hospital does not mean it is treated any differently than if she had seen folks at a non-affiliated hospital. Medical privacy laws are medical privacy laws.

There seems to be an insinuation in the article that because the doctor who saw her works at an MU hospital, that doctor should have reported the rape allegations to the university administration as soon as it happened. That is an absurd insinuation. Title IX does not override a patient's right to privacy.

2) The administration has reached out to the parents about their wishes regarding an investigation. This is appropriate, in my opinion.

3) The main/most important connection to the athletic department is a vague diary entry in which she says she told Meghan Anderson she was raped. It doesn't say anything more about the circumstances of that or that she indicated it was another athlete that did it. It even mentions that she was glad with Anderson didn't ask any questions about it. Anderson says she doesn't remember being told Menu Courey had been raped,

Is Meghan Anderson telling the truth? Only she will ever actually know that, beyond a shadow of doubt. But this is the only point at which Missouri would have been obligated and authorized to begin an investigation while she still lived.

Now, if it comes out that Woodland told the coaching staff about this -
or that one of his teammates told the coaching staff about this - that's
a problem. I suspect if that was the case, we would have read about it
today.

Here's the ultimate thing: Rape might be something that happens on college campuses. It's a terrible thing and I know people who have been affected by it. People close to me and important to me. That doesn't mean we shouldn't ask the Athletic Department to try to find a way to be BETTER. To do more to prevent it and especially do more to ensure its student athletes are avoiding these types of situations and actions That is a reasonable expectation.

I don't think the AD is in the wrong here, based on what I currently know, in its handling of this situation. It didn't know about the allegations until after the fact, and it has not received a response in its query of the parents about their wishes in this case.

But it certainly needs to take a look at what they're doing and make sure the reforms enacted over the past few years in response to the problems with the tutor program and even Mike Dixon go far enough to address this issue."

['Hamas' Jenkins]

New commitment this weekend:

Keyon Dilosa: 5.3 RR ** ATH who is going to play WR. He's a Texas kid and Missouri reached out to him last week. Sounds a little bit like a desperation add.

[Pitt Gorilla]

New commitment this weekend:

Keyon Dilosa: 5.3 RR ** ATH who is going to play WR. He's a Texas kid and Missouri reached out to him last week. Sounds a little bit like a desperation add.Good Lord. Desperation? With the size of our class? If they are offering a guy now, it's because they REALLY want him.

Ross wasn't any good either (until Rivals bumped up his stars).

[Saul Good]

Good Lord. Desperation? With the size of our class? If they are offering a guy now, it's because they REALLY want him.

Ross wasn't any good either (until Rivals bumped up his stars).

Yep. We've got too many players as it is. We aren't taking someone we don't really want.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Yep. We've got too many players as it is. We aren't taking someone we don't really want.

If they really wanted him, they probably would have contacted him before January 20th.

[Saul Good]

If they really wanted him, they probably would have contacted him before January 20th.

We just had a scholarship freed up a couple days ago.

[BourbonMan]

A search warrant filed Jan. 23 in Greene County shows that the marijuana found during a traffic stop that led to Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham’s arrest did not belong to Green-Beckham.

According to the warrant, Patrick W. Prouty, 20, one of the men arrested along with Green-Beckham, told Springfield Police that he was the owner of a large container of suspected pot found when officers stopped a 1999 Jeep Cherokee driven by John W. McDaniel, 20, for an expired plate tab and then searched it after smelling marijuana.
McDaniel told police that a smaller container of marijuana, found in the glove box, was his, according to the warrant. Green-Beckham, 20, said that he smelled marijuana in the car when he got in but that he did not know where it was and that it was not his, according to the search warrant. He said he was in the car to get a ride to a friend’s house.
A copy of the warrant, which was used by police to search Prouty’s cell phone, was obtained Thursday by The Star.
Tyson J. Martin, an attorney for Green-Beckham, also said in a statement Thursday that Prouty admitted ownership of the marijuana, according to court documents.
“Throughout this entire investigation, Dorial has denied, and continues to deny any knowledge, or any connection with a large amount of suspected marijuana that was found in the back of a vehicle in which Dorial was a passenger,” Martin’s statement read in part. “As has been filed with the court in the form of search warrant returns, another occupant of the vehicle, Patrick Prouty admitted ownership of the marijuana. Additionally, a large amount of cash was also discovered in the pocket of Mr. Prouty, after he had refused to allow the officers to search him.
“Dorial has been nothing but completely cooperative with law enforcement throughout this entire process. Dorial very much regrets putting himself in this situation, and he is anxious to put this ordeal behind him. We are hopeful, in light of what this investigation has uncovered, that this matter will quickly be resolved in a positive manner for Dorial.”
The three men were arrested Jan. 10 on suspicion of distribution of a controlled substance, a felony, and were released the following morning. Springfield Police are still investigating the case and have not forwarded it to Green County prosecutors, who will determine if any of the men are charged. That process could take up to six months, according to police.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/01/30/4787529/report-court-documents-show-marijuana.html#storylink=cpy

[Titty Meat]

How can Mizzou have such a great season with great resources not even field a top 25 recruiting class?

[Pitt Gorilla]

How can Mizzou have such a great season with great resources not even field a top 25 recruiting class?Most of the class was set. The real payoff should happen next season, as long as Mizzou continues to have success.

[greatgooglymoogly]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Alec-Murphy-151293

Is Mizzou in on this guy yet? Nixa RB, Class of 2015, good build and speed. Illinois and Iowa have already offered, but he said he wants to be in the SEC.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Alec-Murphy-151293

Is Mizzou in on this guy yet? Nixa RB, Class of 2015, good build and speed. Illinois and Iowa have already offered, but he said he wants to be in the SEC.

I don't believe he's actually from Missouri. That may be a harder pull than we think. Wouldn't surprise me if he ended up at Arkansas or Ole Miss.

[greatgooglymoogly]

I don't believe he's actually from Missouri. That may be a harder pull than we think. Wouldn't surprise me if he ended up at Arkansas or Ole Miss.

I'm not too familiar with Mizzou's roster. Is there even a RB need in that class? Also, he does seem like the type of RB Bret Obesema wants in his offense. I just want him to avoid the wrath of AIRBHG.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Most of the class was set. The real payoff should happen next season, as long as Mizzou continues to have success.

Im glad TAMU is not having to wait. Just pulled their 7th top-200 player in the 2015 class. Looking good for a few more top-100 guys. Didn't think it could get better than the 2014 class. Sumlin is amazing at this recruiting thing.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Missouri keeps offering more 2*'s late in the process, but I'm sure it's just because they love them.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

One positive note is that Thomas Wilson got a significant bump up to a 5.7. He's now the 27th ranked ATH. A little slight to be a safety, but perhaps he's a corner in the future.

[WhawhaWhat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Congratulations to Sheldon Richardson! 2013 Defensive Rookie of the Year! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NFLHonors&amp;src=hash">#NFLHonors</a> <a href="http://t.co/4GYjElYmgH">pic.twitter.com/4GYjElYmgH</a></p>&mdash; NFL (@nfl) <a href="https://twitter.com/nfl/statuses/429756282653118464">February 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Pitt Gorilla]

Man, he would have been awesome as a Chief.

[BryanBusby]

Man, he would have been awesome as a Chief.

Yeah but god we really needed an offensive tackle instead of a good player.

[KChiefs1]

Isn't that 2 in the last 3 years? Didn't Aldon Smith win it a couple of years ago?

[duncan_idaho]

Yeah but god we really needed an offensive tackle instead of a good player.

Safe pick!

Value!

Can't take someone at No. 1 with warts or someone who won't play right away!

[patteeu]

Yeah but god we really needed an offensive tackle instead of a good player.

Safe pick!

Value!

Can't take someone at No. 1 with warts or someone who won't play right away!

With the exception of a few (mostly Mizzou fans), Chiefsplanet would have been just as upset with a 1.1 defensive lineman.

[Discuss Thrower]

With the exception of a few (mostly Mizzou fans), Chiefsplanet would have been just as upset with a 1.1 defensive lineman.

Anything besides a quarterback was going to be hated.. and rightfully so.

[duncan_idaho]

With the exception of a few (mostly Mizzou fans), Chiefsplanet would have been just as upset with a 1.1 defensive lineman.

Yeah, MOST swallowed the "safe" mentality, which I think is b.s.

If you're drafting first overall, you better take somebody who has the upside to be a major impact player. If you take an OT, he better be someone who projects out as a Walter Jones/Orlando Pace/Jon Ogden/etc. type.

[patteeu]

Anything besides a quarterback was going to be hated.. and rightfully so.

With hindsight, you should be able to recognize that that's wrong. Sheldon Richardson would have been a very good pick though.

[BryanBusby]

With the exception of a few (mostly Mizzou fans), Chiefsplanet would have been just as upset with a 1.1 defensive lineman.
The butthurt wouldn't of lasted long when Richardson hit the field.

[duncan_idaho]

I'm sure him being a St. Louis native/Mizzou product would have helped, too.

All the folks that think Aaron Crow is terrible because he's a Mizzou Hall of Famer and proud of it would have a really hard time with that.

Sadly, there are more of them than there should probably be.

[bowener]

Isn't that 2 in the last 3 years? Didn't Aldon Smith win it a couple of years ago?

Yes, sir. Unfortunately Mizzou will somehow fail to capitalize on this. As you can tell I am a true fan of the Tigers.

[Sorter]

With the exception of a few (mostly Mizzou fans), Chiefsplanet would have been just as upset with a 1.1 defensive lineman.

While this is a small sample size, I'm going to disagree with you because the hour is late.


http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=272024

[patteeu]

While this is a small sample size, I'm going to disagree with you because the hour is late.


http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=272024

I remember you and O.city both calling for Richardson, but I'll stand by what I said. The loudest voices of CP and their me too men would have panned another top of the draft defensive lineman after the history of Sims, Dorsey, Jackson, et al. Your Sheldon thread really only shows that there would have been pockets of support, IMO.

[Sorter]

I remember you and O.city both calling for Richardson, but I'll stand by what I said. The loudest voices of CP and their me too men would have panned another top of the draft defensive lineman after the history of Sims, Dorsey, Jackson, et al. Your Sheldon thread really only shows that there would have been pockets of support, IMO.

That's probably true.

[DeezNutz]

I remember you and O.city both calling for Richardson, but I'll stand by what I said. The loudest voices of CP and their me too men would have panned another top of the draft defensive lineman after the history of Sims, Dorsey, Jackson, et al. Your Sheldon thread really only shows that there would have been pockets of support, IMO.

This is inaccurate.

The Dorsey selection was widely loved on CP because he was viewed as an elite talent. On the other hand, Jackson was a poor pick because he hadn't produced at an elite level on the field. Similarly, Poe was someone who didn't dominate at a low level of college football.

I don't think there were any reservations about Richardson's talent level; he's rare in this respect. The problem, at least to me, was that he quit on Mizzou during a tough season, and when he was needed most, he backed out. And there's no way I would have selected a quitting bitch, which is what he was (and possibly still is), at 1/1.

It's reductive argumentation to claim that people would have panned the pick simply because of his position. Yes, some idiots would have. But "the loudest voices" on CP are, often, a bit too knowledgeable about football to make this type of mistake.

[patteeu]

This is inaccurate.

The Dorsey selection was widely loved on CP because he was viewed as an elite talent. On the other hand, Jackson was a poor pick because he hadn't produced at an elite level on the field. Similarly, Poe was someone who didn't dominate at a low level of college football.

I don't think there were any reservations about Richardson's talent level; he's rare in this respect. The problem, at least to me, was that he quit on Mizzou during a tough season, and when he was needed most, he backed out. And there's no way I would have selected a quitting bitch, which is what he was (and possibly still is), at 1/1.

It's reductive argumentation to claim that people would have panned the pick simply because of his position. Yes, some idiots would have. But "the loudest voices" on CP are, often, a bit too knowledgeable about football to make this type of mistake.

We'll have to agree to disagree then, because I think you're wrong about what the loudest voices would have done and wrong about how knowledgeable they are.

[DeezNutz]

We'll have to agree to disagree then, because I think you're wrong about what the loudest voices would have done and wrong about how knowledgeable they are.

That's fine. Depends whom we're labeling as the "loud" ones. I think some of those individuals do know a thing or two, and then there are those who hover around the margins, pick up upon a particular angle, and then scream it from the roof tops, with no real grasp about the issue at all.

It's these folks who generally make things insufferable.

[O.city]

Damn it, don't bring this up. The wounds are too fresh.

Seriously though, while had we taken him our defense would have been improved IMO against the elite qb that beat us, we'd be in a dilemma I guess at lt this offseason.

Oh well, elite 3-4 de prospects like Sheldon who can stop the run and rush the passer from the 3 tech grow in trees right?

[Pitt Gorilla]

I'm not sure I would have taken Big Shel either, but I sure as hell didn't want Geno freaking Smith.

I probably would have gone OT, as that seemed to be where the best talent was at the top of the draft. It appears I could have been wrong, though.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I wanted Sheldon. I really wanted Kenny Vaccaro. Imagine this defense with Vaccaro instead of Lewis.

[DeezNutz]

I don't remember anyone, save Sorter, pounding the drum for that quitting bitch, but it's clear in hindsight that this should have been the selection.

[Sorter]

I wanted Sheldon. I really wanted Kenny Vaccaro. Imagine this defense with Vaccaro instead of Lewis.

I really am glad we were able to get the best player in the "worst draft class of all time".

[O.city]

I don't remember anyone, save Sorter, pounding the drum for that quitting bitch, but it's clear in hindsight that this should have been the selection.

Ahem.


(Raises hand)

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I don't remember anyone, save Sorter, pounding the drum for that quitting bitch, but it's clear in hindsight that this should have been the selection.

I got in debates with you and DJLN over the subject of Richardson last year.

[Pitt Gorilla]

MU gets in early on southeast players
Finding players sooner benefits MU in Southeast.

By DAVID MORRISON
Sunday, February 2, 2014 at 2:00 am

http://www.columbiatribune.com/sports/mu_football/mu-gets-in-early-on-southeast-players/article_547db540-8bc7-11e3-b4f5-10604b9f1ff4.html

For a little more than four months, Tavon Ross held only one scholarship offer from a major-conference school: Missouri.

So, for that period of time, things were pretty simple for Ross, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound athlete who starred at quarterback and safety for Bleckley County High School in Cochran, Ga.

If he wanted to play at a Southeastern Conference school, Missouri was his only choice.

"The kids down here grow up dreaming of playing in the SEC," said Woody Wommack, Southeast recruiting analyst for Rivals.com.

Since the new year started, Ross' recruitment has gotten a little more complicated.

Georgia, which is a little more than a two-hour drive from Ross' home, offered. Miami followed. So did Alabama.

Ross, who had been committed to Missouri since late August, suddenly had more to consider.

He's on a visit to Missouri this weekend — the final one before national signing day on Wednesday — after visiting Georgia and Miami over the past couple of weeks.

"I don't know if a Georgia or Miami or Alabama had hit him at the same time" as Missouri "if he would have had any interest in Missouri," Bleckley County Coach Tracy White said. "But he's a great kid, he's loyal, he's appreciative of what Missouri did for him that early. It's going to be hard for somebody to steer him away from that."

Ross' case is emblematic of the challenges Missouri is facing as it shifts more of its recruiting focus to the Southeast, as well as a glimpse of the strategy the Tigers are using to try and counterbalance the deficiencies they face being new players in the region.

Schools such as Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and Auburn still have a considerable edge in name recognition with high-school prospects in the Southeast.

But, Missouri wagers, if it can make its pitch to under-the-radar recruits before the more established schools come knocking, the Tigers have a fighting chance.

"They're doing a nice job with scouting and evaluation," Wommack said. "We've seen that, obviously, with how their team performed this year. A lot of those guys weren't highly ranked by us. It just shows the coaching staff is identifying players that fit the system."

According to Rivals.com's database, Missouri has offered 36 prospects from Florida and 35 Georgia recruits from the Class of 2014. Those represent increases in similar numbers from the Tigers' recruiting in the Class of 2013, their first as an SEC member: 23 from Florida, 21 from Georgia.

Missouri is also landing more players from the two states in this recruiting cycle, with five Florida commitments and three from Georgia. The Tigers had one signee from each state last year.

Wommack said that's partly a function of Missouri's staff continuing to strengthen relationships with players and coaches in the Southeast.

A 12-2 season that included a win over Florida, at Georgia, an SEC Championship Game appearance and a No. 5 final national ranking doesn't hurt either.

"Winning seems to aid positively in a lot of ways," North Gwinnett High School Coach Bob Sphire said. "It's a no-brainer the success they had this year has created a positive image."

But Sphire is also a big proponent of the personal touch in recruiting. Sphire's program is a perennial state-championship contender in Georgia's largest classification, not to mention a frequent donor of recruits to big-time programs.

Sphire said he's been impressed with the way Missouri safeties coach Alex Grinch, who scouts Georgia for the Tigers, has recruited his athletes.

"When Alex walks in our office, he's up to date on what's going on with our program. It's not like he's walking in blind," Sphire said. "I get a lot of recruiters that will walk into my office, sit down across the desk from me, look me in the eye and say, 'Hey, Coach. What kind of year did you have?' I want to literally throw them out of my office."

Grinch scored a bit of a coup at North Gwinnett in September, securing a commitment from wideout Nate Brown.

At that point in the season, Brown was a prospect that a number of big programs were sniffing around but hadn't offered.

The 6-3, 215-pound receiver went on to catch 61 passes for 1,041 yards and 21 touchdowns this season for the Bulldogs, and the offers came rolling in.

Thanks. But no thanks.

"I think if" Missouri "hadn't gotten in early, they wouldn't have gotten him," Sphire said. "Because they showed a keen eye with Nate, combined with the personal approach they've had, they got their hooks into him. As other schools made runs at Nate after Missouri had gotten their hooks in, Nate deflected all that away from him."

Not every recruit will be as unmovable as Brown.

While White said Ross doesn't exactly have a "dream school," the lure of playing so close to home at Georgia is still attractive.

The same goes for defensive end Rocel McWilliams from West Florida Tech, who recently had Florida enter the derby after being committed to Missouri since April.

McWilliams, at 6-3, 240 pounds, visited Missouri last weekend and Florida the week before. He'd relish the chance to play at an SEC school in his home state, West Florida Tech Coach Harry Lees said.

But, like Ross and Brown, McWilliams also feels an allegiance to Missouri because it was first in the door. He also has two former high school teammates — defensive tackle Nate Crawford and kicker Luke Jackson — currently on the Tigers' roster, and another — wideout Lawrence Lee — committed for this year's class.

"Nate's probably his best friend, and — just the way they've treated Nate and the way Nate feels things are going over there and the coaches are going to do exactly what they said — I think that goes a long way," Lees said. "Rocel, all he wants is a chance with people that are going to be loyal to him."

Just two classes into its time in the Southeastern Conference, Missouri has already started to carve out a niche in new recruiting territory by identifying high-priority targets early in the process and catching rising prospects before the rise.

As the years go on — and if the on-field product keeps pace — the task should only get easier, Wommack said.

"We should see them, next year, really have the chance to capitalize on this success and sell it," Wommack said. "They're on the map now, and this is the time to really capitalize on that momentum."

[Pitt Gorilla]

Looks like McWilliams will sign with Mizzou (over Florida). It also looks like Mizzou will hang on to Ross, over Alabama and Georgia.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Looks like McWilliams will sign with Mizzou (over Florida). It also looks like Mizzou will hang on to Ross, over Alabama and Georgia.

Source?

[KChiefs1]

Source?

Pretty sure it's PowerMizzou.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Source?Sorry, it's various folks on PowerMizzou (although not necessarily "official" PowerMizzou).

[kchero]

Signing day fellas, let's see how we come down the finish line.

[duncan_idaho]

Source?

Word is that Florida is not sending him a letter of intent, which means he can't commit to them. They must feel pretty good about landing Lorenzo Carter.

[siberian khatru]

Excited about Ross

[siberian khatru]

Also nice to see Blair flip to us

[duncan_idaho]

Excited about Ross

Big-time athlete.

Not sure what Georgia was doing early with him. Size and speed pop out pretty clearly.

But Georgia also thought Nate Brown was too slow, based on camp performances (and didn't notice that the guy is never caught from behind in game action, despite playing in what I understand is one of the toughest high school conferences in America).

[siberian khatru]

And now we flip Spencer Williams. I think he's a nice get.

[duncan_idaho]

And now we flip Spencer Williams. I think he's a nice get.

They apparently wanted him more than either Vincent Jackson or Sherieff Rhaheed, two guys I thought looked like pretty good prospects and who at one time or another had major interest in Mizzou, only to have the staff cool on contact. Especially Jackson.

Probably a good sign.

This is going to be a pretty typical Pinkel class. A few high-talent guys who probably make the two deep immediately (Andy Bauer, Nate Brown, Tavon Ross, notably). And a lot of guys who will go into the program, spend some time in development, and eventually make some form of solid contribution down the road.

They REALLY need to capitalize in the 2015 class. Lot of local DL talent (Terry Beckner of East St. Louis, the Davis twins at Blue Springs) that is actually fairly similar to the amount of in-state OL talent in the current class.

Also, it's going to pretty critical they land a QB who can be a starter in the next class. Drew Lock is definitely that, and all early indications on him are promising.

[KChiefs1]

Waiting for Poona.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Rivals' servers are junk.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Still trying to figure out the hate for Coach Grinch. The guy is doing really well in new areas in the southeast.

[duncan_idaho]

Still trying to figure out the hate for Coach Grinch. The guy is doing really well in new areas in the southeast.

Guy with no track record, limited background, who in year 1 signs 0 players and happens to be the nephew of the head football coach?

Being skeptical of that guy doesn't seem out of line in the slightest. Glad he has proven the doubters (including myself) wrong.

[siberian khatru]

Thought we might be able to pull Poona (snicker), but he went to Texas.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Thought we might be able to pull Poona (snicker), but he went to Texas.Yup, he was the only late miss, IMO. Wallace was the huge miss for this class.

[duncan_idaho]

Yup, he was the only late miss, IMO. Wallace was the huge miss for this class.

Wallace takes this class to another level.

Wallace/Bauer/Adams would be probably the best incoming OL trio Mizzou has signed.

It's a solid, fairly typical class for Mizzou (which is something that probably shouldn't be taken lightly considering where they started from this year).

Next year's class will be pretty critical.

[KChiefs1]

Rivals' servers are junk.

I'm sure there will be a backlash.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

It could have been much better, but it could have been worse, too. Flipping Williams at the end helps make up for the loss of Jonathan Williams, but it sure would have been nice to get Dante Sawyer. I'm glad that they were able to add another big bodied WR in Blair, but the misses on the OL really hurt.

I'm just trying to imagine keeping the OL talent in-state. Wallace, Bauer, and Roderick Johnson. That would likely give Missouri one of the best lines in the country in a few years and allow them to run almost any type of set.

[duncan_idaho]

Signing Day thoughts:

Best position Group:

Raymond Wingo and Logan Cheedle are probably the best duo of CBs signed in one class by Mizzou. Really like both of these guys. Good size/speed/skill combos. Finis Stribling IV has a cool name but is probably just program depth.

The real keys to the secondary class come in amongst the projected safeties, where Tavon Ross, Greg Taylor and Thomas Wilson provide probably the best safety class Mizzou has signed. Ross and Taylor have the size/speed combos you want to see out of SEC safeties.

Runner-up: WRs
Nate Brown is a well-known guy who spurned late offers from Georgia and South Carolina to become a Tiger. He's a bigger, physical receiver who was thought to be too slow after working out at UGA camps... but when you watch his highlights - facing some of the best competition in the US - you see a WR who is never caught from behind. Plays for a traditional powerhouse program.

Lawrence Lee is an overlooked WR who has good speed and elusiveness and projects to the slot. Also plays HS ball for a strong traditional program.

Signing Day flip DeShaun Blair is also a big receiver and looks to have the elusive deep speed you often get from tall guys with long strides. Nice hands and fluid athlete.

Thomas Richard is a good all-around athlete who is close friends with Nate Brown. Also a very productive HS receiver.

Darnell Green (who apparently does not have Beckham legally attached to the end of his name) is a major project. If he fully recovers from his chemo and fully regains his strength and speed, DGB's little brother could end up being a MAJOR diamond, a 6-5 WR with deep speed and great leaping ability.

Offensive line
St. Louis' Andy Bauer (guard who likely cracks the early two deep) and Tennessee's Paul Adams headline a deep group that has quantity, if not star quality. Always a tough position to project, it's nice to see them taking a deep class at OL. Given Pinkel's track record, it's likely that one of Sam Bailey (2-star, Lamar, MO), Michael Fairchild (2-star, Blue Valley West) or Kevin Pendleton (3-star, Lee's Summit West) is a solid OL starter for Mizzou at some point. My early money is on Bailey.

Best of the rest

Brandon Lee is a very nice LB prospect who was highly recruited and could become a sideline-to-sideline monster. Good size and speed.

DE Rocel McWilliams got late interest from Florida and was an early (he committed at the 2013 spring game) offer/commit by this staff. He might play early for Mizzou out of necessity, but he does have quality size (6-4/240) already.

DE Spencer Williams was another late flip. He's got that rangy 6-5/6-5 frame the Tiger coaches seem to target so frequently, and pairs it with pretty good athleticism and first step, from what tape is available. Mizzou jumped in on him over Vincent Jackson and Sharieff Rhaheed, two more highly recruited DE types.

RBs
Mizzou's earliest commitment was from St. Louis's Markel Smith, who wavered, decommitted, and ending up settling for a lesser offer. In his place, the Tigers take two guys who fit their system, Trevon Walters and Ish Witter. Witter is a Russell Hansbrough clone. Walters is more of a complete back whose role in the offense will likely be more like a traditional RB than a scatback.

Leftovers
There are 7 more signees. They include QB Marvin Zanders (who seems destined to flip to the defesnive side of the ball, either at LB or S), a project TE in Blue Springs' Kendall Blanton, some project athletes (DE/LB/TE Grant Jones, WR/S Keyon Dilosa, DE Walter Brady, LB Rod Winters.

Final thoughts
I like the aggressiveness in signing a big class and hope it is a sign of things to come. Diamond-in-the-rough hopefuls like Grant Jones, Walter Brady, Rod Winters, Sam Bailey are much easier to take a risk on when they are signees 25-28 rather than 15-18.

I think this class does have two very painful "guys who got away" in St. Louis OT Brian Wallace (arkansas) and Michigan DE Jhonny Williams (Notre Dame). With Williams, his family issues made him a tough keep once nearly-hometown Notre Dame got involved. He's a freak athlete who could explode in college with proper development. Wallace was a Mizzou lean for a long-time, but a final visit to Arkansas swayed him to Fayetteville. Another tough loss, as Wallace had offers from everywhere and could have helped anchor a dominating OL class for Mizzou.

Look ahead

So what's next? 2015 is a key recruiting year. Some top targets:

DE Terry Beckner (East St. Louis). national-level recruit, likely a 5 star/top 50 player on every service. Likes Mizzou (and there are rumors he could be a junior day commit, which would be incredible)

RB Naterace Strong (East St. Louis). Top 250-type. Big-time athlete with good size.

DT Carlos Davis (Blue Springs). DT Khalil Davis (Blue Springs). These twins are also top 250-type talents. Great combo of size/speed/strength, and have been well-coached in Blue Springs pipeline. Nebraska looks to be biggest comp for them (though recent rumors of them committing after a visit up there thankfully have proven false, at least so far).

QB Drew Lock (Lee's Summit). Likely a top 100-250 recruit. Stud two-sport star (very high quality 2-guard prospect in basketball) with strong Mizzou family ties. Good ties to coaching staff.

TE Hale Hentges (Helias/Jeff City). Likely a top 100-250 recruit.Some view him as a DE. Probably the toughest in-state pull next year.

WR Alex Ofodile (Columbia Rock Bridge). Likely a top 100 recruit.AJ's son is a high-level athlete who is getting a ton of attention.

[duncan_idaho]

It could have been much better, but it could have been worse, too. Flipping Williams at the end helps make up for the loss of Jonathan Williams, but it sure would have been nice to get Dante Sawyer. I'm glad that they were able to add another big bodied WR in Blair, but the misses on the OL really hurt.

I'm just trying to imagine keeping the OL talent in-state. Wallace, Bauer, and Roderick Johnson. That would likely give Missouri one of the best lines in the country in a few years and allow them to run almost any type of set.

Sawyer is apparently headed to JUCO. Might be another battle for him in two years, thought I suspect they'll move on unless he just completely blows up.

Wallace and Jhonny Williams are painful misses.

I won't hassle them too much over losing Williams, as Notre Dame is a 30 minute drive from his home and his family needs him (believe his older brother is battling cancer and he and mom are the only two who can take him to the dr).

But Wallace? That one just hurts, a lot. He was a Mizzou lean for several weeks, but they didn't close the door, Arkansas slipped in, and the Hawgs managed to seal things up. Painful.

[Mosbonian]

Sawyer is apparently headed to JUCO. Might be another battle for him in two years, thought I suspect they'll move on unless he just completely blows up.

Wallace and Jhonny Williams are painful misses.

I won't hassle them too much over losing Williams, as Notre Dame is a 30 minute drive from his home and his family needs him (believe his older brother is battling cancer and he and mom are the only two who can take him to the dr).

But Wallace? That one just hurts, a lot. He was a Mizzou lean for several weeks, but they didn't close the door, Arkansas slipped in, and the Hawgs managed to seal things up. Painful.

I know this sounds a bit irreverent, but I want guys who WANT to play for MU! I understand Williams decision because of the family situation, and believe that if not for that he would have stayed. They did a story on him in the local sports news after he flipped...he seemed like a genuine good kid not someone grabbing for glory.

Wallace....if he was that easily flipped was he really that committed?

[duncan_idaho]

I know this sounds a bit irreverent, but I want guys who WANT to play for MU! I understand Williams decision because of the family situation, and believe that if not for that he would have stayed. They did a story on him in the local sports news after he flipped...he seemed like a genuine good kid not someone grabbing for glory.

Wallace....if he was that easily flipped was he really that committed?

Never committed. Was just a lean.

Was sold on Bielema's history of developing NFL OL/Joe Thomas when he went to Arkansas, apparently, and it changed his mind.

Sad thing is... he almost didn't make that trip because of bad weather, and it was the last weekend he could take an official visit before his announcement date at the Army Game. If they decide not to chance the drive, there's a decent chance Wallace sends his letter to Mizzou today instead.

But yes, Wallace is a good example of the St. Louis recruit who seems to be looking for the first good excuse to go elsewhere.

Hopefully, with Beckner and Strong, Missouri can start to change that perception.

[Mosbonian]

Duncan.....

Sent you a PM, when you get a chance can you read it?

[Discuss Thrower]

Darnell Green-Beckham has been rumored to have motivation / disciplinary issues...

[duncan_idaho]

Darnell Green-Beckham has been rumored to have motivation / disciplinary issues...

Serious?

I have not seen that. But considering the kid just finished chemo treatment like 5-6 months ago, I have a hard time believing that.

[siberian khatru]

Adding to Duncan's excellent roundup is David Morrison's take:

http://www.columbiatribune.com/blogs/behind_the_stripes/recruiting-recap-a-look-back-at-missouri-s-productive-signing/article_53351006-8eac-11e3-ad7b-001a4bcf6878.html

[Discuss Thrower]

Serious?

I have not seen that. But considering the kid just finished chemo treatment like 5-6 months ago, I have a hard time believing that.

From what I've been told from people familiar with DarGB's athletic history, he's supposedly not put a lot of effort into his basketball game which prior to chemo had the capacity to be better than his brother's skill in hoops AND football. That's probably a product of chemo therapy beating the hell out of him and taking away a large percentage of his physical abilities but he doesn't seem to have focused on getting better fundamentally. Example: his basketball shot is a knuckleball.

Disciplinary issue comes from an employee at HHS I've talked to that said he's frequently been summoned to principal's office or someshit.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Never committed. Was just a lean.

Was sold on Bielema's history of developing NFL OL/Joe Thomas when he went to Arkansas, apparently, and it changed his mind.

Sad thing is... he almost didn't make that trip because of bad weather, and it was the last weekend he could take an official visit before his announcement date at the Army Game. If they decide not to chance the drive, there's a decent chance Wallace sends his letter to Mizzou today instead.

But yes, Wallace is a good example of the St. Louis recruit who seems to be looking for the first good excuse to go elsewhere.

Hopefully, with Beckner and Strong, Missouri can start to change that perception.I really like our chances with Beckner and Strong. Given that Hentges is from Jeff, shouldn't Mizzou be in pretty good shape?

[pkane]

I thought when they were recruiting DGB, we offered a scholarship to Darnell just to please DGB and family. I didn't think he was much of a prospect but it helped land DGB. Maybe I'm wrong.

[duncan_idaho]

I really like our chances with Beckner and Strong. Given that Hentges is from Jeff, shouldn't Mizzou be in pretty good shape?

Hentges has that whole Catholic thing going. Apparently, Notre Dame is a real threat.

From what I've been told from people familiar with DarGB's athletic history, he's supposedly not put a lot of effort into his basketball game which prior to chemo had the capacity to be better than his brother's skill in hoops AND football. That's probably a product of chemo therapy beating the hell out of him and taking away a large percentage of his physical abilities but he doesn't seem to have focused on getting better fundamentally. Example: his basketball shot is a knuckleball.

Disciplinary issue comes from an employee at HHS I've talked to that said he's frequently been summoned to principal's office or someshit.

I'd tend to place benefit of the doubt in play here, since he went through so much. He's been sick since before the start of his sophomore year of high school.

I spent a brief period of time (about 2 weeks) as a 14-year old terrified that I might have a brain tumor (eye problems). Really tough to deal with, and I wouldn't be surprised if that caused him to act out and have trouble focusing.

I was lucky enough to get a reprieve after a few weeks. He spent 2 years going through chemo with his life on the line and feeling terrible.

[Pitt Gorilla]

I thought when they were recruiting DGB, we offered a scholarship to Darnell just to please DGB and family. I didn't think he was much of a prospect but it helped land DGB. Maybe I'm wrong.Kid is an incredible athlete, if he can recover from his treatments. I know nothing of his off the field issues, though.

[duncan_idaho]

I thought when they were recruiting DGB, we offered a scholarship to Darnell just to please DGB and family. I didn't think he was much of a prospect but it helped land DGB. Maybe I'm wrong.

That's the Oklahoma/Arkansas take on it.

He was going to be a legitimately recruited kid on his own before the leukemia, which struck before his brother's senior year (his sophomore year).

[pkane]

Thanks. I really didn't have any idea that he would be a top recruit. I knew of the leukemia.

[Discuss Thrower]

That's the Oklahoma/Arkansas take on it.

He was going to be a legitimately recruited kid on his own before the leukemia, which struck before his brother's senior year (his sophomore year).

As a basketball guy, though. He was a freak of nature in middle school.

[duncan_idaho]

As a basketball guy, though. He was a freak of nature in middle school.

Those comments go back that far?

Would probably give even more benefit of the doubt, in that case.

And if it truly is a problem, he'll go the way of Drew Temple, I'm sure.

[Discuss Thrower]

Those comments go back that far?

Would probably give even more benefit of the doubt, in that case.

And if it truly is a problem, he'll go the way of Drew Temple, I'm sure.

It might've been hyperbole, but my friends have said Darnell was slamming it down as a 6th grader.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Gabe DeArmond ‏@GabeDeArmond
Pinkel references talk radio, media as challenges on the recruiting trail. "Our program was somehow doomed." Said it impacted recruiting.

[KChiefs1]

Nice read:

Planting a flag
Pete Scantlebury
PowerMizzou.com Recruiting Editor

Missouri's plant-your-flag moment in the 2014 recruiting class came over the final two months before National Signing Day.

As the Tigers' dream 2013 season approached its close -- an SEC championship berth on the table but not yet secured -- the target on Missouri's collective back followed it off the field. In the middle of an eventual 12-2 season, a handful of the staff's commitments became hot commodities.


Courtesy of Tavon Ross

Ross was one of five players to stick with Missouri despite getting late, national offers.
Quietly, Tennessee inquired about Nashville native Paul Adams, an offensive tackle and one of the most vocal parts of Missouri's 2014 class. Adams rebuffed the Volunteers on Twitter -- without naming names -- before confirming to PowerMizzou.com that it was Tennessee.

Loudly, however, other perennial blue-blood programs came after four more recruits. Florida offered quarterback Marvin Zanders after his recruiter at Duke, offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, took the same position in Gainesville. The Gators also recruited defensive end Rocel McWilliams, an offer rumored to be contingent on the decision of five-star end Lorenzo Carter.

In Georgia, an offer from the Bulldogs -- along with South Carolina -- came in late November for four-star receiver Nate Brown. Meanwhile, safety Tavon Ross saw his profile increase exponentially as the former two-star recruit picked up January offers from Georgia, Alabama, Auburn and Miami.

"It's been a stressful month," safety coach Alex Grinch said. Grinch was the lead recruiter on both Brown and Ross.

"In the Big 12, that happened to us all the time," Gary Pinkel said about late interest from other schools. "Especially after we had success. You look at maybe our roster and say, 'Gosh, they're winning with players who might not have been recruited as heavily and highly as other players.' So I think that's out there a little bit.

"But I think people respect our program and they go back and evaluate and look. A bunch of people tried to get in on several different players. We're fortunate to hang onto them."

But Missouri planted its flag. Instead of a limp-to-the-finish signing day reminiscent of 2013, where the Tigers missed on a handful of late decisions, Missouri held onto all the aforementioned players. Zanders and Brown re-affirmed their decision for Missouri well before the final week of the class, but Ross and McWilliams signed with the Tigers after speculation ran into Wednesday.

"It's a huge statement," receivers coach Pat Washington said specifically of hanging onto Nate Brown. "You feel pretty comfortable in him, comfortable with him that he was gonna stay with us because like I said, he thought it out and he made the decision on what he thought academically would be the best for him, socially would be the best for him and athletically what would be the best for him.

"We fit all those things and, so, when those schools came in, I'm sure, you know, as a kid, it's gonna draw some interest. All of a sudden, in-state school or South Carolina or whatever it may be, if you're getting some attention and all of a sudden Rivals takes your name and puts a couple of more starts next to it, you know, it's really good, really important, but he stuck with his guns and he never flinched."

In Grinch's eyes, recruiting is a creature of circumstance. There's no sure-fire method of gaining commitments and signatures. So when asked if holding onto a player like Ross or a player like Brown is a turning point in these new territories, Grinch hesitates.

"I think it's hard to say," Grinch said. "Each guy you just mentioned, their situation is so different to the next guy."

He specifically mentioned Brown and the fact that Missouri's use of bigger, taller receivers this year, along with the national attention that came with it, may have allowed the four-star receiver to stick with his pledge.

"I think the big thing that you find ... is there's a lot to sell here at Missouri," Grinch said. "An established program that wins football games, produces NFL talent and also does a great job graduating athletes. Top-25 business school, top-two, probably, journalism school -- kids take notice. Combined with the fact that every game, they watch us on Saturdays and every game is on ESPN, ESPN2 and on down the line.

"Hopefully, I don't know if it's the "A-Ha" moment, but certainly, hopefully it continues down the road."

For better or worse, that road may not suddenly lead to the front door of more five-star recruits. Missouri has a process and sticks with it, Pinkel said. While fans may not be happy with the immediate results in terms of rankings, the long-term effects can't be denied. But even more so, Grinch said Pinkel's star-blind philosophy is a boon to the staff.

"When that happens, all of a sudden the pool of guys that you can look at increases," Grinch said. "Now you're got to be willing to do the leg work and be able to find those guys, but it's that retail versus wholesale type of deal. You're not spending as much time on the quote-unquote bigger stars who are getting heavily recruited, but now you can use that time to spend it in the car and drive two hours outside of Atlanta instead of hunkering down in Atlanta and kind of evaluate some of those other guys who are maybe not as heavily recruited early on.

"Again, that speaks to how we do things here from an evaluation standpoint. That's really freeing as a recruiting coach because you can do those things."

That's how Missouri landed Ross and Brown and McWilliams, along with Adams and Zanders. The Tigers found those players when they weren't in style. The head start meant that even when the in-state schools came calling, Missouri's lead was too big. The results of that finish won't be known until the 2014 season starts at the earliest. More than likely, those results will take longer to develop.

But off-the-field, especially in new territories, members of the staff believe they're ahead of schedule. Taking five players away from in-state schools, from traditional SEC rivals, is a start. A 12-2 season will do that.

Soon, that "A-Ha" moment about Missouri may spread further.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Darnell went to a skills camp before he got sick. The tests of his athleticism were right in line with Dorial's at the same age.

It's unlikely that he'll ever fully recover. If he does, that's great. If he doesn't, it's not all that different than using a scholarship on Nick Demien.

[|Zach|]

Gabe DeArmond ‏@GabeDeArmond
Pinkel references talk radio, media as challenges on the recruiting trail. "Our program was somehow doomed." Said it impacted recruiting.

Interesting.

[|Zach|]

Looking forward to next season already.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Looking forward to next season already.Drew Lock.

[GloryDayz]

Drew Lock.

Please God! That would be sweet!

[KChiefs1]

Listening to 810WHB & there seemed to be a sense that Mizzou missed out on a lot of Missouri kids this year. Wallace but who else?

[duncan_idaho]

Listening to 810WHB & there seemed to be a sense that Mizzou missed out on a lot of Missouri kids this year. Wallace but who else?

The other notable in-state miss was Roderick Johnson, at OT from St. Louis who went to Florida State. Missouri was never really in the picture there.

There was a kid from Blue Springs, Kaleb Prewett, they pursued hard. But he and two teammates committed to KSU early. Mizzou did not pursue the other two (RB Dalvin Warmack and DE Elijah Lee) very hard and missed them all. Kind of a package deal.

QB Rafe Peavey is from an Arkansas family and was never going anywhere else. He also didn't fit exactly what Missouri wanted at QB in this class - a versatile guy who could play multiple positions.

ATH Monte Harrison is another big miss, though he probably is playing pro baseball out of HS. He went to Nebraska instead, largely because of baseball. Darrin Erstad is Nebraska's coach. Tim Jamieson is Missouri's (and a giant a-hole).

The other guy who Missouri really pursued was St. Louis RB Markel Smith, who committed, decommitted because he thought he was going to get more big offers, didn't, tried to crawl back and found his spot had been filled. He ended up at Iowa, I think. As a fallback.

I think Wallace is the only one who really is an impact player at the college player. Warmack and Prewett will probably have nice careers at KSU, too.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Updated w/ 2014 signees and 2015 key recruits (in MO unless otherwise noted). Feel free to mention other recruits as well.

[Pepe Silvia]

Apparently Spencer Williams can cover the screen, nice closing speed. And Hamas rejoiced.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2161041/highlights/118486394?autoplay=1

[BryanBusby]

Looks like '14 was a typical type of Pinkel class, which is fine by me.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Looks like '14 was a typical type of Pinkel class, which is fine by me.

But last season's success was built upon the back of the 2010 recruiting class, which was the best in his tenure. Classes like this aren't bad, but they aren't good enough either. The team can consistently compete for divisional championships if they can recruit like they did in that class.

[duncan_idaho]

Updated w/ 2014 signees and 2015 key recruits (in MO unless otherwise noted). Feel free to mention other recruits as well.

I'd include Anree St. Amour, a DE from Gwinnett (GA). Nate Brown's high school teammate. High on the Tigers.

Chason Virgil, a dual-threat QB from Texas, is also a top target.

Pie-in-the-sky target is Florida WR George Campbell, a five-star who apparently has some interest in Mizzou because of DGB.

[Bootlegged]

I think Tavon Ross may end up being the best in this class. Spencer Williams has a shot too.

[Discuss Thrower]

Alec Murphy got an offer from Mississippi State...

[siberian khatru]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>BREAKING: Missouri DE Michael Sam, SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year, says he is gay; could become first openly gay NFL player.</p>&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/statuses/432681013177638912">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Wow.

Good for him.

[siberian khatru]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>&quot;I&#39;m Michael Sam and I&#39;m a football player. I understand how big this is. This is a big deal. No one has done it. It&#39;s a nervous process.&quot;</p>&mdash; David Morrison (@DavidCMorrison) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/statuses/432681871634219008">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Mr_Tomahawk]

@MikeSamFootball: I want to thank everybody for their support and encouragement,especially @espn, @nytimes and @nfl. I am proud to tell my story to the world!

[siberian khatru]

Courage.


This will probably become its own thread.

[DeezNutz]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>BREAKING: Missouri DE Michael Sam, SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year, says he is gay; could become first openly gay NFL player.</p>&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/statuses/432681013177638912">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Good for him. And great for Mizzou that this was an absolute non-issue in terms of negative connotations, as it should be.

I hope he becomes a strong voice for equality based on sexual orientation.

[GloryDayz]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>BREAKING: Missouri DE Michael Sam, SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year, says he is gay; could become first openly gay NFL player.</p>&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/statuses/432681013177638912">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Welp, if he plays for a federal football team he'll have coverage.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I've never been more proud to be a Tiger fan. These press releases are wonderful:

The University of Missouri released statements from Athletic Director Mike Alden and football coach Gary Pinkel (http://missouri.rivals.com/viewcoach.asp?Coach=594) in the wake of Sam's coming out. Here are those statements in their entirety:

Pinkel: "We're really happy for Michael that he's made the decision to announce this, and we're proud of him and how he represents Mizzou. Michael is a great example of just how important it is to be respectful of others, he's taught a lot of people here first-hand that it doesn't matter what your background is, or your personal orientation, we're all on the same team and we all support each other. If Michael doesn't have the support of his teammates like he did this past year, I don't think there's any way he has the type of season he put together.

We talk all the time here in our program about how one of our core values is to respect the cultural differences of others, and this certainly applies. We view ourselves as one big family that has a very diverse collection of people from all walks of life, and if you're part of our family, we support you.

Looking back, I take great pride in how Michael and everyone in our program handled his situation. This past August, Michael was very direct with the team when he decided to let everyone know that he is gay. We discussed how to deal with that from a public standpoint, and ultimately Michael decided that he didn't want that to be the focal point of the season. He wanted to focus on football and not do anything to add pressure for him or for his teammates, and I think that's a great example of the kind of person he is. We left it that whenever he felt the time was right, however he wanted to make the announcement, that we had his back and we'd be right there with him.

We're very proud of Michael and the courage he has displayed for coming out. We look forward to following his career, and the success he's going to have."

Alden: "We are so proud of Michael for what he has accomplished at Mizzou academically, socially and competitively. This is a young man who earned his degree from MU, was a unanimous All-American on the football field and now he's being a leader in his personal life. He continues to display great character, courage and compassion. We are proud of him on every level.

We work very hard at the University of Missouri to provide an environment that is respectful and inclusive of all people. We're pleased with the strides we've made over the years with our student-athletes, coaches and staff about respecting and celebrating our differences. We continue to grow every day. We talk all the time about our core value of respect, and we emphasize that in a number of ways, whether it's through individual actions, team settings, public efforts such as our 'If You Can Play, You Can Play' video, and even our Men-for-Men and Women-for-Women programs.

The University's theme is called 'One Mizzou.' What that theme represents is that we are all family, we are all Tigers, and we should all respect and appreciate each other.


We wish Michael all the best in all that he does." - See more at: http://missouri.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1608070#sthash.nomdVQdM.dpuf

[Pitt Gorilla]

Wow.

Good for him.KU fans have been very supportive. Kudos to them as well.

[KChiefs1]

Hope this helps with recruiting.

[KChiefs1]

The other notable in-state miss was Roderick Johnson, at OT from St. Louis who went to Florida State. Missouri was never really in the picture there.

There was a kid from Blue Springs, Kaleb Prewett, they pursued hard. But he and two teammates committed to KSU early. Mizzou did not pursue the other two (RB Dalvin Warmack and DE Elijah Lee) very hard and missed them all. Kind of a package deal.

QB Rafe Peavey is from an Arkansas family and was never going anywhere else. He also didn't fit exactly what Missouri wanted at QB in this class - a versatile guy who could play multiple positions.

ATH Monte Harrison is another big miss, though he probably is playing pro baseball out of HS. He went to Nebraska instead, largely because of baseball. Darrin Erstad is Nebraska's coach. Tim Jamieson is Missouri's (and a giant a-hole).

The other guy who Missouri really pursued was St. Louis RB Markel Smith, who committed, decommitted because he thought he was going to get more big offers, didn't, tried to crawl back and found his spot had been filled. He ended up at Iowa, I think. As a fallback.

I think Wallace is the only one who really is an impact player at the college player. Warmack and Prewett will probably have nice careers at KSU, too.


Didn't know about Jamieson. :cuss:

[GloryDayz]

Good for Michael. I wish him the best in the NFL...

[BlackHelicopters]

Best of luck in the NFL. Could be a tweener

[duncan_idaho]

Didn't know about Jamieson. :cuss:

He's not popular amongst a lot of circles in MO baseball. Not sure what it is, just get the impression that many think he is an a-hole.

[duncan_idaho]

Hamas -

AJ Harris (Blue Valley West) is another guy you might want to add to the out-of-state list. Former teammates of Clay Rhodes, 4-star OT. Attending JR day at Mizzou.

BTW, Alec Murphy will also be there. Not sure how high he'll be on Missouri's target list.

Naterace Strong is No. 1 from what it looks like, and they already have a commitment from Chase Abbington (who supposedly is coming in at RB).

There's also a kid from St. Louis, Sutton Smith, who might get a look at RB. 6-1, 210, 4.46 according to his measurements at a Rivals Elite Event. Believe he goes to Hazelwood Central.

[greatgooglymoogly]

Hamas -

AJ Harris (Blue Valley West) is another guy you might want to add to the out-of-state list. Former teammates of Clay Rhodes, 4-star OT. Attending JR day at Mizzou.

BTW, Alec Murphy will also be there. Not sure how high he'll be on Missouri's target list.

Naterace Strong is No. 1 from what it looks like, and they already have a commitment from Chase Abbington (who supposedly is coming in at RB).

There's also a kid from St. Louis, Sutton Smith, who might get a look at RB. 6-1, 210, 4.46 according to his measurements at a Rivals Elite Event. Believe he goes to Hazelwood Central.

I can't remember a time when this region had so many good RBs. Murphy just visited Mississippi State, and some recruiting sites have him down as a Bulldogs lean:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BgC1FK_IgAAoGXQ.jpg

I doubt he is on the Tigers radar ATM, but he could pop up fast if others go elsewhere.

[duncan_idaho]

I can't remember a time when this region had so many good RBs. Murphy just visited Mississippi State, and some recruiting sites have him down as a Bulldogs lean:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BgC1FK_IgAAoGXQ.jpg

I doubt he is on the Tigers radar ATM, but he could pop up fast if others go elsewhere.

He's coming to JR day but is not a top target at RB for Mizzou. Sounds like Miss. State has some familial pull (and he's moving to Mississippi, potentially, for family reasons).

[KcMizzou]

This is a good read.

The news is not that Missouri All-American defensive end Michael Sam is gay. The news is that when he told his teammates in August, it so tore apart the locker room that the Tigers won the SEC East.

That's always been one of the arguments. A gay teammate would be unwelcome in the locker room and definitely in the showers. A gay teammate would cause division, make teammates feel uncomfortable.

Except that Sam didn't. An openly gay player at Missouri turned out to be a bonfire in want of a spark. His teammates nodded, and they moved on. There really was nothing to see here.

[+] EnlargeGary Pinkel, Michael Sam
AP Photo/Tim SharpMissouri coach Gary Pinkel preaches acceptance in his program.

That alone speaks to the power of generational change. Missouri, the flagship public university in a red state, made itself hospitable to an openly gay football player. In 1973, the University of Missouri Board of Curators decided not to recognize a student group, Gay Lib, that proposed to serve as a forum for homosexuality. The board appointed a well-respected attorney to establish the facts of the case. Among those "facts":

• Homosexuality is a compulsive type of behavior.
• What happens to a latent or potential homosexual from the standpoint of his environment can cause him to become or not to become a homosexual.
• That homosexuality is an illness and should and can be treated as such and is clearly abnormal behavior.

The university denied recognition. Four years later, a U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the university must recognize Gay Lib on First Amendment grounds.

"Apparently," Prof. Darrell Napton of South Dakota State, a plaintiff in the case, said Sunday night, "there has been a lot of change in the last few decades. That has been true all over the country."

Napton couldn't speak to what gay life was like at Missouri four decades ago. He isn't gay. He signed onto the case on First Amendment grounds. But really, we've read this story before. Gays will foment problems in the locker room, as African-Americans would before them, as Jews would in country clubs, as Catholics would if elected to office. The "facts" that back up such assertions wilt when exposed to sunlight.

The baseball team in St. Louis, Missouri's second-largest city, allegedly wanted to boycott the National League rather than play against Jackie Robinson. Less than two decades later, led by future Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Lou Brock, the Cardinals won the World Series. It is ancient history now, but the barriers in the locker room didn't come down easily.

We live in a different time. The Missouri players already knew Michael Sam, and respected him, and loved him the way that teammates can love one another. What revolution he fomented in coming out to his teammates and coaches occurred from within.

Sam attended a Missouri that has changed. Nearly four decades after the Gay Lib case, the Missouri athletic director reminded everyone Sunday night that the university theme is "One Mizzou." Gary Pinkel, the head coach, said, "We talk all the time here in our program about how one of our core values is to respect the cultural differences of others, and this certainly applies."

[+] EnlargeMichael Sam
Matthew Visinsky/Icon SMIMichael Sam won SEC defensive player of the year honors, helping Missouri win the SEC East title.

Not every transition will proceed as smoothly as at Missouri last season, when 105 players and an entire staff kept their mouths shut and huddled together to protect one of their own. Sam responded with a season worthy of being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Surely the peace of mind he found among teammates who accepted him contributed to his play.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I have a hunch Missouri isn't out of the norm. Tolerance is taught in public schools across the country, and it turns out that the students are paying attention. The rest of us are coming along, too. Missouri associate athletic director Chad Moller said he received perhaps a half-dozen media inquiries about Sam's sexual orientation. None of the outlets wanted to expose Sam. Everyone wanted the story.

"It was all very respectful," Moller said.

The NFL scouts and executives who asked if Sam had a girlfriend grew up in a different time. While there have been NFL players who have spoken out against sharing a locker room with a gay teammate, they will say a lot less once it's clear that their attitude is not socially acceptable.

The Missouri Tigers proved last season that a gay man can play football, and attend meetings, and lift weights, and, yes, even shower, with his teammates and no one will be the worse for wear. The revolution isn't coming. It's already here. As it turns out, it's not that big of a deal.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10431280/generational-change-ushers-acceptance

[duncan_idaho]

LS West RB Ryan Williams has committed to Missouri.

This likely means Naterace Strong is probably the only RB who still could find room at Mizzou in this class.

[Pitt Gorilla]

LS West RB Ryan Williams has committed to Missouri.

This likely means Naterace Strong is probably the only RB who still could find room at Mizzou in this class.Just saw that. Nice pickup.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Updated with Williams' signing and Rivals links to key recruits.

[KChiefs1]

LS West RB Ryan Williams has committed to Missouri.

This likely means Naterace Strong is probably the only RB who still could find room at Mizzou in this class.

Here's what Rivals.com's Midwest Analyst Rob Cassidy had to say about Williams:

"Williams is a versatile back that can catch the ball out of the backfield as well as he can carry it. He was impressive on the camp circuit last summer and really showed off his ability a pass-catcher there. Still, that doesn't overshadow his tremendous lower-body strength, which allows him to get tough yards. Williams doesn't have elite breakaway speed but his versatility makes him dangerous. It will be interesting to see what Mizzou does at the running back position going forward, as there are so many talented back in state."

[KChiefs1]

Ryan Williams #4:

http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/898/1410391.jpg


"They just helped me feel like I was at home," Williams said. "I visited down here a lot, and they really made me feel like they wanted me down here. My mom helped me, too. She wanted me to stay close to home."

[duncan_idaho]

Updated with Williams' signing and Rivals links to key recruits.

Chase Abbington is committed as well. Don't think JUCO rankings are up yet... Was a 4-star out of HS.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Lee's Summit West RB Ryan Williams commits to Missouri

http://www.columbiatribune.com/blogs/behind_the_stripes/lee-s-summit-west-rb-ryan-williams-commits-to-missouri/article_a4d520a2-9692-11e3-a34c-001a4bcf6878.html

By DAVID MORRISON
Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 5:30 pm

Ryan Williams, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound running back from Lee's Summit West, committed to Missouri's Class of 2015 during the Tigers' Junior Day on Saturday, his high-school coach Royce Boehm said.

PowerMizzou.com lists Williams and Chase Abbington, an athlete from Fort Zumwalt South who signed with Missouri in 2013 but had to go through Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College first, as the Tigers' two commits for 2015.

Williams is a 3-star recruit according to 247Sports.com, ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com. He is the No. 37 running back and the No. 7 prospect from Missouri in the Class of 2015, according to 247Sports.

Boehm, father of Missouri center Evan Boehm, said Williams ran for 1,100 yards this past season and recently posted a 4.5-second 40-yard dash at a prospect showcase.

Williams has offers from Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa, Boehm said, but larger schools are starting to show more interest.

Williams would be the fourth Lee's Summit West player to sign with Missouri in the past four years, after Evan Boehm (2012), cornerback Logan Cheadle and offensive lineman Kevin Pendleton (both 2014).

And read on for Royce Boehm's comments about Missouri's newest commitment:

What kind of back is Williams?

"Missouri is getting the type of running back Missouri produces. The way I like to say it is the young man likes to break ankles. He's got breakaway speed. And once he gets down there and gets on the training table and gets to" head strength and conditioning coach Pat "Ivey and his staff, Ryan is going to get bigger, faster, stronger.

"He had 1,110 yards rushing this year and a lot of people will go, 'That's not good.' Well, b.s. That's pretty good when we have a kid running for 1,100 yards, then our number two back" Demarcus Edwards "is running 850 yards, then our number three running back" Andrew Palmer "is running 750 yards. Then we've got two Wildcats -- with Brenner Clemons, who's down there today at Missouri -- and Monte Harrison who both ran for 500 yards.

"You know what? Next year, he's going to tote the football. Most of those guys aren't going to be around. It's just going to be him and Brenner."

What kind of runner is he?

"Just elusive. So elusive, so slick. It's like he puts his hand on the back of one of our linemen and, next thing you know, he makes a break and he's gone. Then, on a dime, he's cutting back to his left and breaking ankles."

What are some of his measurables?

"Right now he's at 5-10, 175 pounds. He was invited to the All-American combine in San Antonio, where he posted a 4.5 40."

What other schools were in the mix for him?

"At the time it was Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa and he would ask me, 'Why am I not getting offers from these other schools?' I looked at him and said, 'You know why? A lot of these schools look at stats, and they're looking at the wrong thing.' I am a true believer about that.

"I had Kansas come in last Friday, before the snow hit. They were looking at Brenner Clemons and I looked over at" running backs coach "Reggie" Mitchell "and said, 'Why haven't you guys offered Ryan Williams?' And he said, 'Who?' I put his highlight tape on and he goes, 'Oh my Lord. How did we miss this guy?' I said, 'You know what? You're getting real close to truly missing him because I'm hearing rumors from the kid that he's ready to commit.' Then last Saturday" Williams "calls me and tells me he's going to commit today.

"Now, some of these schools are going to hear he's committed and -- honestly, this is the crap I hear -- 'Oh, we were going to offer you.' I told him, 'You're going to get some offers as soon as you commit. They're going to try and ruffle your feathers.'"

First your son, Evan, then Cheadle and Pendleton. How comfortable are LSW prospects in going to Missouri?

Quarterbacks coach Andy "Hill texted me today and he said, 'The pipeline continues.' That right there kind of tells you how our kids feel about the University of Missouri.

"But I tell you what, you ask Kevin Pendleton, you ask Logan, you can ask Evan and Ryan, not one time did I ever pressure them or say they needed to go to the University of Missouri. That was all on those guys. I am not that type of coach."

[KChiefs1]

Drew Lock on his Mizzou visit:

It had a different feel for me," Lock said.

It wasn't so much about the program as it was about the future. Lock, the state's top-ranked player for 2015, has offers from the Tigers, Tennessee and Ole Miss, among others. Now, he's at the point where college visits aren't just about his future.

They're an opportunity to see potential teammates, too.

"I was seeing who was there (at Junior Day)," Lock said. "They're probably going to be most of the guys I play with, if I end up going to Missouri. It's good to put a face to a name and discussing things with them."

[tomahawk kid]

Hope all these RB offers don't make Natreace Strong (ESL) think twice about Mizzou.

Rumors have been that he's Mizzou lean for awhile.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Hope all these RB offers don't make Natreace Strong (ESL) think twice about Mizzou.

Rumors have been that he's Mizzou lean for awhile.

Given the way we've always used our backs, I don't know if we're going to get a lot of top flight RB recruits. A guy like Strong could very easily go to a place like Vandy or Ole Miss and carry the load instead of being a guy who gets 50-60% of the carries.

[tomahawk kid]

Given the way we've always used our backs, I don't know if we're going to get a lot of top flight RB recruits. A guy like Strong could very easily go to a place like Vandy or Ole Miss and carry the load instead of being a guy who gets 50-60% of the carries.

Hard to argue with, although I felt like we used our RBs in a more traditional sense last season - even installing formations under center.

We even got rid of that ridicuous sweep run BS that Yost fancied.

Regardless - I have enough faith in Henson to beleive he'd give Strong the ball if he was the best player on the field.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Hard to argue with, although I felt like we used our RBs in a more traditional sense last season - even installing formations under center.

We even got rid of that ridicuous sweep run BS that Yost fancied.

Regardless - I have enough faith in Henson to beleive he'd give Strong the ball if he was the best player on the field.

That's a fair point.

[duncan_idaho]

Hope all these RB offers don't make Natreace Strong (ESL) think twice about Mizzou.

Rumors have been that he's Mizzou lean for awhile.

I don't think they would.

Moten doesn't necessarily have a commitment they'd take right now (see Ray Wingo for a guy they made wait a bit, recent example). He might, but we don't know that.

If there are two spots open, and Strong REALLY likes Mizzou (as rumored) and sees one of those spots filled early, it puts a little more pressure/number crunch on him to commit early. Maybe speeds up that decision.

Plus, remember that RBs are often the best athlete on the team. Those guys often are moved to other spots. Marquise Doherty is a great example of that... he plays RB in HS and might even show as a RB in the recruiting systems, but he's truly an ATH who could play RB, slot WR, outside WR, CB, or S.

[duncan_idaho]

Positive news:

Free article from 247 sports regarding the East St. Louis guys:
Here (http://missouri.247sports.com/Article/Touted-RB-Nate-Strong-Likely-To-Commit-To-Missouri-178213).

It's sounding like it's a matter of when, not IF, Strong and Lock commit to Mizzou.

Both have influence on other key local targets (Hentges, Ofodile for Lock, Beckner for Strong).

[Pitt Gorilla]

Positive news:

Free article from 247 sports regarding the East St. Louis guys:
Here (http://missouri.247sports.com/Article/Touted-RB-Nate-Strong-Likely-To-Commit-To-Missouri-178213).

It's sounding like it's a matter of when, not IF, Strong and Lock commit to Mizzou.

Both have influence on other key local targets (Hentges, Ofodile for Lock, Beckner for Strong).Strong and Taylor would go a long ways towards Mizzou getting Beckner. Beckner is going to be a monster at DE.

[duncan_idaho]

Strong and Taylor would go a long ways towards Mizzou getting Beckner. Beckner is going to be a monster at DE.

Yes. And... He's Sheldon Richardson-esque in terms of size/strength/athleticism combo.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Yes. And... He's Sheldon Richardson-esque in terms of size/strength/athleticism combo.If Mizzou can get the ESL pipeline flowing, they could be good for a while.

[Pitt Gorilla]

It appears that Mizzou is doing well at Nate Brown's HS. Several big time players looking seriously at Mizzou.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Beckner isn't going to quite be the national recruit that Richardson was (top 5 in the country), but he'll be damned close. He'd easily be the second best defensive recruit Pinkel ever signed.

Production-wise, you'd expect him to be a rich man's Kony Ealy. I won't ever compare someone to Aldon, because he's Aldon fucking Smith and may end up with 200 sacks if he can stay off the sauce, but Beckner would scrape that air as far as physical potential is concerned.

[Pepe Silvia]

Looks like Dante Sawyer is going to have to go to JUCO. USC will still get a couple years out of him though.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

LDW ran a 4.46. Lucas ran a 4.60. Washington is probably an early day three pick. Looks like Marcus is going undrafted.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Josey ran 4.40 flat. I hope this shuts up some of the assholes (Todd McShay) that talked about his lack of speed and being "quick" rather than "fast".

[duncan_idaho]

Josey ran 4.40 flat. I hope this shuts up some of the assholes (Todd McShay) that talked about his lack of speed and being "quick" rather than "fast".

Yeah. And its possible he still isn't all the way back to top speed.

McShay is a tool. Nothing new there.

[bdj23]

I heard Michael Sam is gay, that true?

[Mosbonian]

Yeah. And its possible he still isn't all the way back to top speed.

McShay is a tool. Nothing new there.

I wonder if he will go undrafted just because of the injury....it would be a shame. I don't see him as an every day starter, but he would fill a great Sprole's type player.

LDW is gaining some notice because of his size. His biggest knock that I have heard around here is that people think he is too easily shut down or disappears too easily.

[blake5676]

LDW ran a 4.46. Lucas ran a 4.60. Washington is probably an early day three pick. Looks like Marcus is going undrafted.

I thought Lucas had a pretty poor showing in the route running and catching drills as well. But LDW did nothing to hurt his stock and probably helped himself some.

[Pitt Gorilla]

From PowerMizzou:

Kony Ealy has the third best 3-cone time (6.83) among DLs since 2006. Tied with Melvin Ingram. That is outstanding.

Official 3-cone times: Kony Ealy 6.83 Jeffcoat 6.97 Marsh 7.08 Donald 7.11 H Jones 7.16 Gayle 7.19 Crichton 7.19 Martin 7.20 Clowney 7.27

273-lb Mizzou DE Kony Ealy completed the 3-cone drill today in 6.83 seconds. For perspective, that's .12 seconds faster than Sammy Watkins

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Sam had a disappointing combine. Didn't show much strength or explosiveness. Britt didn't wow with anything other than size.

Josey was spectacular. Third best 40 and top five in both cone drills.

[patteeu]

Sam had a disappointing combine. Didn't show much strength or explosiveness. Britt didn't wow with anything other than size.

Josey was spectacular. Third best 40 and top five in both cone drills.

Pretty impressive.

[BryanBusby]

Josey is only going to get better too.

[bowener]

Josey is only going to get better too.

I would love to have him as a Chief. Not going to happen, but it would be fantastic, and I think he would do great in Reed's offense.

[Bootlegged]

Sam ran like Lamar from Revenge of the Nerds.

[Mosbonian]

Sam had a disappointing combine. Didn't show much strength or explosiveness. Britt didn't wow with anything other than size.

Josey was spectacular. Third best 40 and top five in both cone drills.

Sam being disappointing seems to be a big story....there have been guys who did poorly at the combine and then went on to good careers. He needs more coaching and time to build himself into the physique necessary to compete. He's probably good as a Special Teams player right now...but unless he works on his core competencies to make them stronger he won't have a long career. Shame too...

Right now, Josey is the guy everyone is whispering about quietly hoping no one hears the conversation. Talking out loud everyone says "well he was hurt" and "small back couldn't take the wear and tear"...."doesn't have breakaway speed". (Well yeah, but you just described half of the RB corp in the NFL)

He's not going to be a breakaway back, but he's got all the skills to be a Sprole's type of player and his character/personal life are what GM's and Coaches have wet dreams over.

[Bowser]

Josey ran 4.40 flat. I hope this shuts up some of the assholes (Todd McShay) that talked about his lack of speed and being "quick" rather than "fast".

Well, I had a pipe dream of Josey making it to the fifth round where we would snatch him up. His 40 time alone probably kills that dream. Good for him, though. I will pull for HJ no matter what team he ends up on.

[WhawhaWhat]

Well, I had a pipe dream of Josey making it to the fifth round where we would snatch him up. His 40 time alone probably kills that dream. Good for him, though. I will pull for HJ no matter what team he ends up on.

If Josey goes to the Raiders or Broncos then we can't be friends until he leaves those teams.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Sam being disappointing seems to be a big story....there have been guys who did poorly at the combine and then went on to good careers. He needs more coaching and time to build himself into the physique necessary to compete. He's probably good as a Special Teams player right now...but unless he works on his core competencies to make them stronger he won't have a long career. Shame too...

Right now, Josey is the guy everyone is whispering about quietly hoping no one hears the conversation. Talking out loud everyone says "well he was hurt" and "small back couldn't take the wear and tear"...."doesn't have breakaway speed". (Well yeah, but you just described half of the RB corp in the NFL)

He's not going to be a breakaway back, but he's got all the skills to be a Sprole's type of player and his character/personal life are what GM's and Coaches have wet dreams over.

He absolutely has the skills to be a breakaway back.

Charles ran a 4.38 on a faster track (old RCA dome). Josey ran a 4.43 (official) in Lucas Oil. If Charles was a breakaway back, and I think we can all argue he was, then Josey surely is.

[Mosbonian]

He absolutely has the skills to be a breakaway back.

Charles ran a 4.38 on a faster track (old RCA dome). Josey ran a 4.43 (official) in Lucas Oil. If Charles was a breakaway back, and I think we can all argue he was, then Josey surely is.

I think the one thing that is correct that people worry about with him would be the constant punishment on his smaller frame.

In the scheme of calling him a breakaway back, yes he has the skills to, but I guess I don't see him like I do Jamaal. JMO and yes I can be wrong as rain.

[duncan_idaho]

He absolutely has the skills to be a breakaway back.

Charles ran a 4.38 on a faster track (old RCA dome). Josey ran a 4.43 (official) in Lucas Oil. If Charles was a breakaway back, and I think we can all argue he was, then Josey surely is.

If he ran that well, he's probably 95 percent of the way back to where he was before the knee injury. Which is pretty amazing considering how terrible and devastating that injury was reported to be.

I still wonder if MAYBE another ounce or two of speed might be in those legs (maybe getting him to a flat 4.4, officially?). But can't overstate how excited I am for Henry. Kid deserves it.

[Mosbonian]

If he ran that well, he's probably 95 percent of the way back to where he was before the knee injury. Which is pretty amazing considering how terrible and devastating that injury was reported to be.

I still wonder if MAYBE another ounce or two of speed might be in those legs (maybe getting him to a flat 4.4, officially?). But can't overstate how excited I am for Henry. Kid deserves it.

Honestly after watching all the MU football over the years, HJ is the one guy I want to root for to make it in the pros more than any other MU guy. What he has done to get to where he is now, and to be humble about it says a lot for his character.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I think the one thing that is correct that people worry about with him would be the constant punishment on his smaller frame.

In the scheme of calling him a breakaway back, yes he has the skills to, but I guess I don't see him like I do Jamaal. JMO and yes I can be wrong as rain.

Scouts seem behind the times when projecting backs at this point, IMO. Whether or not Josey can take the pounding of 300+ carries is irrelevant to me, because so few backs actually get that much usage now. It's both cheaper and more effective to have a platoon split, and the guys that have shown such capability in college (at least theoretically) by carrying a heavy load are almost always disappointments--Ingram, Richardson, Beanie Wells, and Mendenhall being some of the more recent examples, and I believe they are disappointments in some regard due to the miles they have already racked up.

I also disagree with the NFL.com scouting report in many regards. One knee injury does not mean he has serious durability concerns. Guys who are repeatedly injured have those concerns. It also said he didn't get extra yards. Josey consistently moved the pile this year, getting yards after contact that other Mizzou backs didn't. Sometimes, I think they just look at a guy's measureables and extrapolate those to perceived performance.

[Mosbonian]

Scouts seem behind the times when projecting backs at this point, IMO. Whether or not Josey can take the pounding of 300+ carries is irrelevant to me, because so few backs actually get that much usage now. It's both cheaper and more effective to have a platoon split, and the guys that have shown such capability in college (at least theoretically) by carrying a heavy load are almost always disappointments--Ingram, Richardson, Beanie Wells, and Mendenhall being some of the more recent examples, and I believe they are disappointments in some regard due to the miles they have already racked up.

I also disagree with the NFL.com scouting report in many regards. One knee injury does not mean he has serious durability concerns. Guys who are repeatedly injured have those concerns. It also said he didn't get extra yards. Josey consistently moved the pile this year, getting yards after contact that other Mizzou backs didn't. Sometimes, I think they just look at a guy's measureables and extrapolate those to perceived performance.

I agree with you completely.....and if one knee injury is where they put a knock on a guy, then all they have to do is look at Jamaal Charles.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Now see why we backed off Rhaheed.

[KChiefs1]

273-lb Mizzou DE Kony Ealy completed the 3-cone drill today in 6.83 seconds. For perspective, that's .12 seconds faster than Sammy Watkins


Damn! :eek:

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Now see why we backed off Rhaheed.

Urban Meyer paid his bail and extended him an offer.

[Titty Meat]

Pelini scoops a 4* D tackle for Blue Springs

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Losing the Davis twins to Nebraska is a fucking shit sandwich.

[duncan_idaho]

Losing the Davis twins to Nebraska is a ****ing shit sandwich.

Yes. Lot of time until signing day, but things turned quickly once Nebraska offered them.

Their uncle played there. Need to keep digging and try to overcome that. Nebraska falling on its face this year and Pelini getting fired probably wouldn't hurt, either.

[Titty Meat]

This might be a top 10 recruiting class for Nebraska the way things are going so far.

No disrespect to Mizzou but it continues to amaze me how they lose so much in state talent.

[BryanBusby]

Pinkel gonna Pinkel

[bowener]

Pinkel must walk into these kid's homes, head straight for the bathroom, unleash unholy terror and destruction from his ass, wipe with their finest linens, and peace out. I cannot fathom how MU continues to lose so many top level recruits from in state.

[kcchiefsus]

Yes. Lot of time until signing day, but things turned quickly once Nebraska offered them.

Their uncle played there. Need to keep digging and try to overcome that. Nebraska falling on its face this year and Pelini getting fired probably wouldn't hurt, either.

So why is it every other school is able to pull local recruits (Arkansas, Nebraska, etc.) who are legacies but when it comes to Mizzou being a legacy recruit has almost no impact? It seems like this Drew Lock is certainly no "lock" to come to Mizzou. What gives?

[duncan_idaho]

So why is it every other school is able to pull local recruits (Arkansas, Nebraska, etc.) who are legacies but when it comes to Mizzou being a legacy recruit has almost no impact? It seems like this Drew Lock is certainly no "lock" to come to Mizzou. What gives?

I think your impression of what's going on with Lock is incorrect.

These guys are not Mizzou legacies. Their uncle played at Nebraska in the late 90s.

Missouri will continue to recruit them. Long way until national signing day.