When the offer presented itself, Kameron Eleby didn't have to overthink it.
The Maryland Heights (Mo.) Pattonville quarterback grew up on Missouri football, living roughly two hour aways from campus in the St. Louis area. The quarterback position also runs deep in his family, with his older brother, Kaleb Eleby, developing into an NFL Draft prospect at Western Michigan.
So, three weeks ago, when Missouri director of scouting Jared Russell reached out to Kameron with a preferred walk-on offer, he made his decision within a week. Talking it over with his parents, Kameron accepted it and announced his commitment April 22.
"Who wouldn't want that opportunity?" Kameron said. "Especially because that's what I felt like I needed. All I needed was the opportunity. It was honestly a perfect fit."
Kameron leaned on Kaleb through the recruiting process. As the younger brother, Kameron saw Kaleb rise to three-star status in the 2018 class and field interest from Division-I programs.
"Coming out of high school, that's where my older brother wanted to go," Kameron said about Missouri.
But with an injury holding him out his junior year, Kameron never progressed into the eyes of many Midwest schools like his brother. After his senior season, he picked up offers from NAIA schools and interest from FCS programs.
"It hindered my recruiting a lot," Kameron said of his injury. "But my brother just helped me navigate through it and understand the politics and the way that college football works nowadays. So he was definitely a big help."
Seeing his brother star at Western Michigan and garner transfer attention before entering the NFL Draft in 2022, Kameron learned what it took to be patient and compete for opportunities.
"Watching him grow through his time in college," Kameron said, "it just showed me the hard work and dedication that it takes to not only play on that next level but succeed on that next level as well."
During his senior season, Kameron threw for 17 touchdowns and 1,724 yards. He also rushed for an additional 1,014 yards and 15 scores, contributing to higher-end offensive numbers for a walk-on quarterback.
Kameron already started a list of focuses for his freshman year: passing and consistency. Embracing competition in a room filled with former top ranked recruits, he recognized development will be key in the coming years for an opportunity, but that long path hasn't diminished his confidence.
"I look at myself as a dog," Kameron said. "I feel like I have all the potential in the world to be the guy there, not just a guy there, so that is my plan. That's my goal, and I feel like I got everything I need to succeed on the next level."
2025 in-state QB Kameron Eleby jumps at walk-on opportunity with Mizzou
After seeing his brother excel at Western Michigan, Kameron Eleby will take a different path in college at Missouri.
missouri.rivals.com
