Connected with the coach over at East St. Louis today, talking mostly about how things went at Missouri this weekend for four-star WR Jeff Thomas (who did not work out) and QB Reyoundous Estes (who did work out).
Coach said Jeff spent about 90% of his time with ESL alums Terry Beckner, Nate Strong, Greg Taylor and Tre'Vour Simms on Saturday in Columbia. Coach said for Jeff that "Mizzou is always going to be a (strong) option with all those guys there." Those four are pretty soft spoken guys, but Coach said "they were pressuring," Jeff to join them at Mizzou. Even though Terry is the most highly-touted, Greg Taylor is really the one who has the strongest influence on this 2017 group. He was the senior captain when they were freshmen, so they all look up to Greg.
Another factor that could go in Missouri's favor as they pursue Thomas is if they offer Estes, the QB who is committed to Western Michigan. He and Jeff are really close, and that would certainly have a strong impact on Jeff's ultimate decision. Whether that offer is imminent or not, Gabe, Pete and the guys would have more insight on that. Coach just said they did not offer Estes at camp and are unsure if that offer is coming down the road.
The team to beat for Thomas right now, though, is Alabama. There was some talk he almost committed there when they visited earlier this summer. Missouri is in that next tier for Thomas, though, with a couple other schools, but like I said, an offer to Estes could flip the script and make Missouri the team to beat. Decision is not expected soon, unless Alabama does start pushing for Thomas to commit. That is the only situation I could see provoking a pre-season decision.
Coach said Jeff spent about 90% of his time with ESL alums Terry Beckner, Nate Strong, Greg Taylor and Tre'Vour Simms on Saturday in Columbia. Coach said for Jeff that "Mizzou is always going to be a (strong) option with all those guys there." Those four are pretty soft spoken guys, but Coach said "they were pressuring," Jeff to join them at Mizzou. Even though Terry is the most highly-touted, Greg Taylor is really the one who has the strongest influence on this 2017 group. He was the senior captain when they were freshmen, so they all look up to Greg.
Another factor that could go in Missouri's favor as they pursue Thomas is if they offer Estes, the QB who is committed to Western Michigan. He and Jeff are really close, and that would certainly have a strong impact on Jeff's ultimate decision. Whether that offer is imminent or not, Gabe, Pete and the guys would have more insight on that. Coach just said they did not offer Estes at camp and are unsure if that offer is coming down the road.
The team to beat for Thomas right now, though, is Alabama. There was some talk he almost committed there when they visited earlier this summer. Missouri is in that next tier for Thomas, though, with a couple other schools, but like I said, an offer to Estes could flip the script and make Missouri the team to beat. Decision is not expected soon, unless Alabama does start pushing for Thomas to commit. That is the only situation I could see provoking a pre-season decision.
