Let's get to it. All the recruiting news you need to know:
*Rob Cassidy should have a story on official visitor AJ Davis later this morning. Davis said that Missouri is going to be in it till the end and he really liked his visit (don't they all?) From what we're hearing, it's Louisville that might be the major competition for Missouri.
The Tigers are definitely after a running back in this class--and maybe two. Although he's been off the radar for a while, don't forget about Tennessee native Chase Hayden, who committed to Arkansas, but was very open saying he'd probably take other visits and might end up somewhere else. Missouri is still after him.
The same is true, somewhat, for Deon Jackson. Seems less likely the Duke commit--for whom Missouri finished second--would switch, but not out of the question.
*As far as the rest of the position breakdown for the class here's what we're thinking:
Running Back (2)
Offensive line (1)
Wide receiver (1 assuming it's Jeff Thomas)
Defensive line (3-4)
Defensive back (2)
Athlete/best available (1-2)
So this is a lot of conjecture below, but let's take a shot at projecting some of what the class could look like at each of those spots (after the list, we'll do some explaining):
RB (2)
Best Case--Flip Chase Hayden and Deon Jackson
Most Likely--AJ Davis and ???
OL (1)
Best Case: Flip Larry Boyd and/or Marquis Hayes
Most Likely: Connor Robbins
WR (1)
Best Case: Jeff Thomas
Most Likely: Jeff Thomas
Defensive Line (3-4)
Best Case: Chester Graves, Emmit Gooden, Ben Hutch, Chris Turner
Most Likely: Chris Turner, Emmit Gooden (if he's a 2017 kid), Chester Graves
Defensive Back (2)
Best Case: Donovan Johnson, Jaylen Kelly-Powell
Most Likely: Keisean Nixon, Terry Petry
Athlete/Best Available (1-2)
Best Case: Flip Tony Adams and Keytaon Thompson
Most Likely: Tony Adams
Missouri continues to be in solid shape for Jeff Thomas. It is, I guess, mildly concerning that he didn't end up making it to campus last weekend. At this point, we're still unsure why. We were scheduled to talk with Rey Estes this week, but that didn't happen. Thomas doesn't really do interviews. It could be absolutely nothing and a very valid reason he didn't make it. We just aren't sure. This isn't a slam dunk by any means because a kid at that level never is, but Missouri continues to be in solid position. It might help if the East St. Louis guys were playing a slightly bigger role this season (and if Terry Beckner was starting and has a breakout year). Mind you, we're not advocating Missouri change its depth chart because of that, just saying that's the type of thing that could really help if a couple of those guys break through during the season.
At running back, in the end, we see Jackson (almost certain) and Hayden (a guess) sticking with their original commitments. Beyond Jackson, we don't know anyone else that the Tigers are in really good shape with right now. That doesn't mean there isn't anyone. It just means as of right now we don't know. Ideally there will be two backs in this class. But at this point, we're not sure who the second would be after Davis (and by no means are sure they get Davis).
As far as the offensive line guys go, if we had to handicap Boyd and Hayes, we'd say based on what we hear there is a better chance to flip Boyd than Hayes--but there's no info to indicate flipping either one is all that likely. Wouldn't say the same for Tony Adams. We think this is one Missouri fans should very much keep an eye on up till National Signing Day.
For those who read the list and said, who is Keytaion Thompson?, read this. We've said all along Missouri would take a QB if it's a top-shelf, elite type guy or a guy capable of playing multiple positions. They have Estes, who is going to start as a QB, but certainly has the athleticism to move if he wants to down the road. Thompson is a pretty highly regarded kid. He said he's going to take an official, which indicates Missouri would take both of them.
On to the defensive side, Chris Turner still is a pretty safe bet to end up part of the Missouri class. His situation has gone pretty quiet. We thought he would commit over the summer. Sources indicate the only hold up is the distance from home, but Turner really likes Missouri and I'd bet on him ending up in CoMo. You all know the situation with Graves. They really want him. Missouri's in the top three. He never talks. We'll see what happens. Gooden is an interesting situation. We're still not positive which class he's going to be in (depends on how much work he gets done at juco). He's committed to Mississippi State. This is more of a gut feeling. Gooden reached out to us to let us know he was visiting last weekend. He almost always answers messages. Just throwing a dart (that we hope you don't hold us to, but know you will), we say the Tigers get him. If Mizzou could find another tackle it liked, I think it would take one. This is the position where it's probably most likely that there's a name we haven't yet heard that emerges.
That brings us to defensive back. If Mizzou could fill the whole class with Detroit guys, that would probably be okay. I know Donovan Johnson in particular is a guy that a lot of people feel is underrecruited. But without knowing for sure if any of those kids are going to make it to campus, we'll go with two kids we know are. Terry Petry's situation is still a little unclear (everyone lists him as a Houston commit, but he said he hadn't committed to Houston and I'm not sure what to think), but he said after his official visit Missouri was his leader. At some point, I think we see a flip here. Keisean Nixon brings you immediate help and some experience at a position where you need it so we say he gets the second spot.
We need to stress, this isn't so much a prediction as just a possible finish to the class. We feel pretty good about the position projection, but as far as any specific player, hey, it's recruiting. It could be different by the time we hit post here.
Missouri already has 13 commitments. Adding the nine we have here (assuming everybody currently on the list sticks, which we anticipate at this time) would give the Tigers 22. That's a good guideline for a number to expect in February. Could go up or down one or two, but that's a pretty good baseline.
Schiffer should have some hoops stuff in a little bit.
*Rob Cassidy should have a story on official visitor AJ Davis later this morning. Davis said that Missouri is going to be in it till the end and he really liked his visit (don't they all?) From what we're hearing, it's Louisville that might be the major competition for Missouri.
The Tigers are definitely after a running back in this class--and maybe two. Although he's been off the radar for a while, don't forget about Tennessee native Chase Hayden, who committed to Arkansas, but was very open saying he'd probably take other visits and might end up somewhere else. Missouri is still after him.
The same is true, somewhat, for Deon Jackson. Seems less likely the Duke commit--for whom Missouri finished second--would switch, but not out of the question.
*As far as the rest of the position breakdown for the class here's what we're thinking:
Running Back (2)
Offensive line (1)
Wide receiver (1 assuming it's Jeff Thomas)
Defensive line (3-4)
Defensive back (2)
Athlete/best available (1-2)
So this is a lot of conjecture below, but let's take a shot at projecting some of what the class could look like at each of those spots (after the list, we'll do some explaining):
RB (2)
Best Case--Flip Chase Hayden and Deon Jackson
Most Likely--AJ Davis and ???
OL (1)
Best Case: Flip Larry Boyd and/or Marquis Hayes
Most Likely: Connor Robbins
WR (1)
Best Case: Jeff Thomas
Most Likely: Jeff Thomas
Defensive Line (3-4)
Best Case: Chester Graves, Emmit Gooden, Ben Hutch, Chris Turner
Most Likely: Chris Turner, Emmit Gooden (if he's a 2017 kid), Chester Graves
Defensive Back (2)
Best Case: Donovan Johnson, Jaylen Kelly-Powell
Most Likely: Keisean Nixon, Terry Petry
Athlete/Best Available (1-2)
Best Case: Flip Tony Adams and Keytaon Thompson
Most Likely: Tony Adams
Missouri continues to be in solid shape for Jeff Thomas. It is, I guess, mildly concerning that he didn't end up making it to campus last weekend. At this point, we're still unsure why. We were scheduled to talk with Rey Estes this week, but that didn't happen. Thomas doesn't really do interviews. It could be absolutely nothing and a very valid reason he didn't make it. We just aren't sure. This isn't a slam dunk by any means because a kid at that level never is, but Missouri continues to be in solid position. It might help if the East St. Louis guys were playing a slightly bigger role this season (and if Terry Beckner was starting and has a breakout year). Mind you, we're not advocating Missouri change its depth chart because of that, just saying that's the type of thing that could really help if a couple of those guys break through during the season.
At running back, in the end, we see Jackson (almost certain) and Hayden (a guess) sticking with their original commitments. Beyond Jackson, we don't know anyone else that the Tigers are in really good shape with right now. That doesn't mean there isn't anyone. It just means as of right now we don't know. Ideally there will be two backs in this class. But at this point, we're not sure who the second would be after Davis (and by no means are sure they get Davis).
As far as the offensive line guys go, if we had to handicap Boyd and Hayes, we'd say based on what we hear there is a better chance to flip Boyd than Hayes--but there's no info to indicate flipping either one is all that likely. Wouldn't say the same for Tony Adams. We think this is one Missouri fans should very much keep an eye on up till National Signing Day.
For those who read the list and said, who is Keytaion Thompson?, read this. We've said all along Missouri would take a QB if it's a top-shelf, elite type guy or a guy capable of playing multiple positions. They have Estes, who is going to start as a QB, but certainly has the athleticism to move if he wants to down the road. Thompson is a pretty highly regarded kid. He said he's going to take an official, which indicates Missouri would take both of them.
On to the defensive side, Chris Turner still is a pretty safe bet to end up part of the Missouri class. His situation has gone pretty quiet. We thought he would commit over the summer. Sources indicate the only hold up is the distance from home, but Turner really likes Missouri and I'd bet on him ending up in CoMo. You all know the situation with Graves. They really want him. Missouri's in the top three. He never talks. We'll see what happens. Gooden is an interesting situation. We're still not positive which class he's going to be in (depends on how much work he gets done at juco). He's committed to Mississippi State. This is more of a gut feeling. Gooden reached out to us to let us know he was visiting last weekend. He almost always answers messages. Just throwing a dart (that we hope you don't hold us to, but know you will), we say the Tigers get him. If Mizzou could find another tackle it liked, I think it would take one. This is the position where it's probably most likely that there's a name we haven't yet heard that emerges.
That brings us to defensive back. If Mizzou could fill the whole class with Detroit guys, that would probably be okay. I know Donovan Johnson in particular is a guy that a lot of people feel is underrecruited. But without knowing for sure if any of those kids are going to make it to campus, we'll go with two kids we know are. Terry Petry's situation is still a little unclear (everyone lists him as a Houston commit, but he said he hadn't committed to Houston and I'm not sure what to think), but he said after his official visit Missouri was his leader. At some point, I think we see a flip here. Keisean Nixon brings you immediate help and some experience at a position where you need it so we say he gets the second spot.
We need to stress, this isn't so much a prediction as just a possible finish to the class. We feel pretty good about the position projection, but as far as any specific player, hey, it's recruiting. It could be different by the time we hit post here.
Missouri already has 13 commitments. Adding the nine we have here (assuming everybody currently on the list sticks, which we anticipate at this time) would give the Tigers 22. That's a good guideline for a number to expect in February. Could go up or down one or two, but that's a pretty good baseline.
Schiffer should have some hoops stuff in a little bit.
