Sometimes you just can't wait till Friday morning.
Coming off another unofficial visit, the tide is most definitely turning Missouri's way here. I say that with the warning that the tide has turned a few times here and nothing is done until it's done. Ryan is a recruiting vet and he's giving away nothing publicly. As of now, the commitment date is still December 20. I would not be shocked to see that change. If it does, I think it's very good news for the home team. The thought this week is that Missouri has re-taken momentum. That wasn't the case two weeks ago, so we'll stay tuned. Again, it could change, but there's reason for optimism.
Have heard from multiple people that think Missouri is in great shape after getting him on campus last weekend (with Wingo and Williams Nwaneri). In fact, some believe that Missouri's in even better shape with McClellan than it is with Wingo. Many will immediately think that getting one might hurt with the other. I've actually heard the opposite. Getting one makes it more likely Missouri gets the other. I've heard for weeks that they've talked about both playing at Mizzou. If they play together, it's here. If it's not here for Wingo it's Texas and if it's not here for McClellan it's Ohio State or Oregon. But Mizzou is the common denominator.
I am hearing that McClellan is scheduled to be in Columbus next weekend. So things can always turn. We'll see where it goes.
There are many factors here. First, you can't discount NIL. It's been an absolute game-changer for Mizzou, especially with in-state kids. Missouri is fully aware that the landscape is going to change with NIL in the next couple of years. They know they have a window here and there is a department wide emphasis on taking full advantage of that window.
Second, the offense has gone out and impressed. And they've done it with a St. Louis quarterback and a St. Louis receiver leading the way. That matters to these guys. Ohio State rode Ezekiel Elliott momentum for years. STL kids went there because they thought they were the next Zeke. None of them were, but that didn't matter. Now, Missouri is selling being the next Luther Burden (and to a lesser extent the next Brady Cook or Mookie Cooper). It's not just a factor in high school recruiting. I'm hearing talk that there could be some St. Louis kids looking to enter the portal after the season and Missouri would be in prime position if that happens.
Finally, last weekend was the biggest recruiting weekend I can remember at Missouri. 70-some prospects, major prospects in other sports, a jam-packed stadium and a raucous atmosphere. It was the first time in years I can remember walking into the stadium thinking "This is the weekend you bring kids in and show them what this place can be." Missouri did it and it looks like it's working.
If Mizzou could get Wingo and McClellan and add them to Nwaneri, it's already the best recruiting class in school history no matter what else happens. That's three top 100ish players, which doesn't happen around here much (maybe it's happened before, but my guess without looking is it hasn't). But what if that's not all?
This one's certainly not nearly as far along as Wingo or McClellan. But multiple sources tell me the lines of communication with Mizzou are back open. There's hope when there hasn't been much hope for a while. Beating out the No. 1 team in the country and two-time defending national champs selling "You can be the next Brock Bowers" is hardly an easy task. But Missouri's trying. And if they get Wingo and McClellan, it helps quite a bit. Those guys, along with Nwaneri and Burden, could turn into major recruiters for Missouri.
So that's where we're at. We'll keep you updated as we can.
Coming off another unofficial visit, the tide is most definitely turning Missouri's way here. I say that with the warning that the tide has turned a few times here and nothing is done until it's done. Ryan is a recruiting vet and he's giving away nothing publicly. As of now, the commitment date is still December 20. I would not be shocked to see that change. If it does, I think it's very good news for the home team. The thought this week is that Missouri has re-taken momentum. That wasn't the case two weeks ago, so we'll stay tuned. Again, it could change, but there's reason for optimism.
Have heard from multiple people that think Missouri is in great shape after getting him on campus last weekend (with Wingo and Williams Nwaneri). In fact, some believe that Missouri's in even better shape with McClellan than it is with Wingo. Many will immediately think that getting one might hurt with the other. I've actually heard the opposite. Getting one makes it more likely Missouri gets the other. I've heard for weeks that they've talked about both playing at Mizzou. If they play together, it's here. If it's not here for Wingo it's Texas and if it's not here for McClellan it's Ohio State or Oregon. But Mizzou is the common denominator.
I am hearing that McClellan is scheduled to be in Columbus next weekend. So things can always turn. We'll see where it goes.
There are many factors here. First, you can't discount NIL. It's been an absolute game-changer for Mizzou, especially with in-state kids. Missouri is fully aware that the landscape is going to change with NIL in the next couple of years. They know they have a window here and there is a department wide emphasis on taking full advantage of that window.
Second, the offense has gone out and impressed. And they've done it with a St. Louis quarterback and a St. Louis receiver leading the way. That matters to these guys. Ohio State rode Ezekiel Elliott momentum for years. STL kids went there because they thought they were the next Zeke. None of them were, but that didn't matter. Now, Missouri is selling being the next Luther Burden (and to a lesser extent the next Brady Cook or Mookie Cooper). It's not just a factor in high school recruiting. I'm hearing talk that there could be some St. Louis kids looking to enter the portal after the season and Missouri would be in prime position if that happens.
Finally, last weekend was the biggest recruiting weekend I can remember at Missouri. 70-some prospects, major prospects in other sports, a jam-packed stadium and a raucous atmosphere. It was the first time in years I can remember walking into the stadium thinking "This is the weekend you bring kids in and show them what this place can be." Missouri did it and it looks like it's working.
If Mizzou could get Wingo and McClellan and add them to Nwaneri, it's already the best recruiting class in school history no matter what else happens. That's three top 100ish players, which doesn't happen around here much (maybe it's happened before, but my guess without looking is it hasn't). But what if that's not all?
This one's certainly not nearly as far along as Wingo or McClellan. But multiple sources tell me the lines of communication with Mizzou are back open. There's hope when there hasn't been much hope for a while. Beating out the No. 1 team in the country and two-time defending national champs selling "You can be the next Brock Bowers" is hardly an easy task. But Missouri's trying. And if they get Wingo and McClellan, it helps quite a bit. Those guys, along with Nwaneri and Burden, could turn into major recruiters for Missouri.
So that's where we're at. We'll keep you updated as we can.
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