The final weekend prior to the early signing period is here. Missouri currently has 17 commitments. At this point, there are none we know for sure won't sign in December.
Honestly, we think Vincent Gray is the only real question mark. The kid doesn't do interviews. We've talked to him maybe one time. We know at one point other visits were a consideration. We have no idea if he took them. He may sign next week. But that one is really up in the air at least as far as we know and if we had to guess he's going to wait. West Virginia is a factor here.
We expect the rest of the kids are pretty solid commitments. That doesn't necessarily mean all will sign early, but we have no real reason to believe they're looking around.
Here are this weekend's visitors to our knowledge:
Solid commit. Expected to sign early.
Was supposed to visit last weekend. Expect a commitment when he does make it to town.
Certainly the headliner as far as fans are concerned. Really not sure where his recruitment stands after opening things up. Missouri was in good shape early on and it's a great sign to be getting the last visit. He's supposed to announce his decision next Friday, so we'll see.
Think he's in the discussion with Davion Taylor, who visited last weekend, for the final linebacker spot. It's possible Missouri could take both, but our guess is they won't. Taylor told us he's informing coaching staffs of his decision this weekend. Nathan will be on campus. Interested to see how this one plays out.
We put these two together because they're probably in the same boat. Missouri would take two running backs in this class. At this point, these seem to be the two most likely because the rest of the guys who have been connected to Missouri throughout the process aren't really on the board anymore. However, if either chooses not to sign in December, Missouri will certainly look at other backs to fill the spots in February. Kind of a limited time offer situation with these guys is our read.
*To our knowledge, that is the full visit list. Our guess is that Mizzou gets Hansford, at least one of the running backs and Nathan with Brown being a complete wild card. That would bring the class to 20 known commitments.
*We expect Trajan Jeffcoat to join that list, if not publicly, at least during the signing period. That's 21.
Tight end is where the next intrigue lies: Payne Durham is visiting Purdue and Messiah Swinson is visiting Nebraska. Durham will announce shortly after the visit. Missouri, Purdue and Duke are the finalists. Would expect Swinson to make a decision prior to the signing period as well. Missouri would take at least one--no longer sure it will take both. But it doesn't HAVE to take either. The Tigers are in pretty good shape at tight end with Kendall Blanton, Albert Okwuegbunam, Brendan Scales and Logan Christopherson all back next year. If they don't get one, it frees up two other spots.
*Junior college offensive linemen Jahmir Johnson and Johncarlo Valentin are visiting Tennessee together this weekend. No real feel for this one. Coming out of the visits last weekend, Mizzou felt good with both, but we'll see what the trip to Knoxville does for them.
*If the Tigers were to get both tight ends and both offensive linemen, you could see the commit list at 25 by the early signing period, leaving just three spots to get to our projected number of 28 by February.
*Missouri won't sign a quarterback in December. It will wait to see what happens with Drew Lock, because that likely impacts whether they take a guy that can have a couple years to develop or whether they need someone right now. On Lock, our intel is still that he is expected to return to Missouri for his senior season. But no concrete decision has been made. We'd look for one within a week or less after the Texas Bowl at this point in time.
*On the coaching front, Mizzou needs an OL coach (we posted yesterday that we're hearing Brad Davis' name, a current Florida assistant in limbo). It also needs a QB coach and/or offensive coordinator. If the Tigers promote Joe Jon Finley, they've got to find a QB coach. It is our feeling at this point they will go outside and hire a coordinator who is also a QB coach and Finley will remain coaching tight ends. The 10th assistant spot will also go into effect January 9, 2018. So Missouri has to fill four spots with three coaches right now. Our feeling is that they'd like to have a deal in place before they go to the Texas Bowl next Friday. But that does not mean it will be publicly announced. From what we understand, Vernon Hargreaves II has been in place for a few days now, but it was just publicly announced yesterday. So just because we don't know they've hired someone doesn't necessarily mean they haven't hired anyone. Based on our information, we do not believe an OC has agreed to a deal at this point in time though. It is our information that discussions are ongoing with multiple candidates. As we posted earlier in the week, UCLA's Jedd Fisch is one of them--but we do not believe the only one. He's the interim coach for UCLA's bowl game. So if that ends up being the guy, this could go until after the Cactus (Dec 26) and Texas Bowls (Dec 27).
Honestly, we think Vincent Gray is the only real question mark. The kid doesn't do interviews. We've talked to him maybe one time. We know at one point other visits were a consideration. We have no idea if he took them. He may sign next week. But that one is really up in the air at least as far as we know and if we had to guess he's going to wait. West Virginia is a factor here.
We expect the rest of the kids are pretty solid commitments. That doesn't necessarily mean all will sign early, but we have no real reason to believe they're looking around.
Here are this weekend's visitors to our knowledge:
Solid commit. Expected to sign early.
Was supposed to visit last weekend. Expect a commitment when he does make it to town.
Certainly the headliner as far as fans are concerned. Really not sure where his recruitment stands after opening things up. Missouri was in good shape early on and it's a great sign to be getting the last visit. He's supposed to announce his decision next Friday, so we'll see.
Think he's in the discussion with Davion Taylor, who visited last weekend, for the final linebacker spot. It's possible Missouri could take both, but our guess is they won't. Taylor told us he's informing coaching staffs of his decision this weekend. Nathan will be on campus. Interested to see how this one plays out.
We put these two together because they're probably in the same boat. Missouri would take two running backs in this class. At this point, these seem to be the two most likely because the rest of the guys who have been connected to Missouri throughout the process aren't really on the board anymore. However, if either chooses not to sign in December, Missouri will certainly look at other backs to fill the spots in February. Kind of a limited time offer situation with these guys is our read.
*To our knowledge, that is the full visit list. Our guess is that Mizzou gets Hansford, at least one of the running backs and Nathan with Brown being a complete wild card. That would bring the class to 20 known commitments.
*We expect Trajan Jeffcoat to join that list, if not publicly, at least during the signing period. That's 21.
Tight end is where the next intrigue lies: Payne Durham is visiting Purdue and Messiah Swinson is visiting Nebraska. Durham will announce shortly after the visit. Missouri, Purdue and Duke are the finalists. Would expect Swinson to make a decision prior to the signing period as well. Missouri would take at least one--no longer sure it will take both. But it doesn't HAVE to take either. The Tigers are in pretty good shape at tight end with Kendall Blanton, Albert Okwuegbunam, Brendan Scales and Logan Christopherson all back next year. If they don't get one, it frees up two other spots.
*Junior college offensive linemen Jahmir Johnson and Johncarlo Valentin are visiting Tennessee together this weekend. No real feel for this one. Coming out of the visits last weekend, Mizzou felt good with both, but we'll see what the trip to Knoxville does for them.
*If the Tigers were to get both tight ends and both offensive linemen, you could see the commit list at 25 by the early signing period, leaving just three spots to get to our projected number of 28 by February.
*Missouri won't sign a quarterback in December. It will wait to see what happens with Drew Lock, because that likely impacts whether they take a guy that can have a couple years to develop or whether they need someone right now. On Lock, our intel is still that he is expected to return to Missouri for his senior season. But no concrete decision has been made. We'd look for one within a week or less after the Texas Bowl at this point in time.
*On the coaching front, Mizzou needs an OL coach (we posted yesterday that we're hearing Brad Davis' name, a current Florida assistant in limbo). It also needs a QB coach and/or offensive coordinator. If the Tigers promote Joe Jon Finley, they've got to find a QB coach. It is our feeling at this point they will go outside and hire a coordinator who is also a QB coach and Finley will remain coaching tight ends. The 10th assistant spot will also go into effect January 9, 2018. So Missouri has to fill four spots with three coaches right now. Our feeling is that they'd like to have a deal in place before they go to the Texas Bowl next Friday. But that does not mean it will be publicly announced. From what we understand, Vernon Hargreaves II has been in place for a few days now, but it was just publicly announced yesterday. So just because we don't know they've hired someone doesn't necessarily mean they haven't hired anyone. Based on our information, we do not believe an OC has agreed to a deal at this point in time though. It is our information that discussions are ongoing with multiple candidates. As we posted earlier in the week, UCLA's Jedd Fisch is one of them--but we do not believe the only one. He's the interim coach for UCLA's bowl game. So if that ends up being the guy, this could go until after the Cactus (Dec 26) and Texas Bowls (Dec 27).
