During a bus ride to a 7-on-7 tournament Friday, Matthew Gregory received word his coach picked up a phone call from a familiar area code.
Missouri assistant offensive line coach Jack Abercrombie, the program's direct connection to Pennsylvania, was on the other line, establishing the first point of interest in Gregory, a Class of 2027 three-star athlete.
Abercrombie's family derives from Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, which is 30 miles from Gregory's high school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
Gregory, a sophomore wide receiver at Pottstown (Pa.) Owen J. Roberts, received his sixth offer from the Tigers, but his previous five offers came from regional schools: Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia.
"Missouri is far, so it does surprise me," Gregory said. "But I was excited. ... It meant a lot, because I had all the other conferences besides SEC. I was just waiting to get that one, and I'm just happy with Missouri."
Gregory played against Missouri freshman quarterback Matt Zollers, a Class of 2025 signee, the past two seasons for Owen J. Roberts. Watching Zollers excel in multiple phases of the Royersford (Pa.) Spring Ford offense, Gregory learned what it took to get to the SEC.
Missouri started recruiting Gregory as a wide receiver. In his sophomore season, Gregory reeled in 48 passes for 850 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding 250 yards and three scores on the ground. He also nabbed six interceptions.
Gregory visited four of the six programs to offer him in the past six months. Michigan State, a program that hasn't offered him, is next on tap for an unofficial visit in March.
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Missouri assistant offensive line coach Jack Abercrombie, the program's direct connection to Pennsylvania, was on the other line, establishing the first point of interest in Gregory, a Class of 2027 three-star athlete.
Abercrombie's family derives from Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, which is 30 miles from Gregory's high school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
Gregory, a sophomore wide receiver at Pottstown (Pa.) Owen J. Roberts, received his sixth offer from the Tigers, but his previous five offers came from regional schools: Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia.
"Missouri is far, so it does surprise me," Gregory said. "But I was excited. ... It meant a lot, because I had all the other conferences besides SEC. I was just waiting to get that one, and I'm just happy with Missouri."
Gregory played against Missouri freshman quarterback Matt Zollers, a Class of 2025 signee, the past two seasons for Owen J. Roberts. Watching Zollers excel in multiple phases of the Royersford (Pa.) Spring Ford offense, Gregory learned what it took to get to the SEC.
Missouri started recruiting Gregory as a wide receiver. In his sophomore season, Gregory reeled in 48 passes for 850 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding 250 yards and three scores on the ground. He also nabbed six interceptions.
Gregory visited four of the six programs to offer him in the past six months. Michigan State, a program that hasn't offered him, is next on tap for an unofficial visit in March.
2027 ATH Matthew Gregory talks Mizzou offer, Pennsylvania connections
Class of 2027 three-star athlete Matthew Gregory faced off against Missouri quarterback Matt Zollers in high school.
