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With the late signing day behind us, we're set to hit a lull in recruiting here for at least a couple of weeks. Missouri is likely to reschedule the junior day that was canceled a couple of weeks ago, but there are ten inches of snow on the ground this weekend and no home basketball game so it's obviously not this weekend. When we find out when it is, we'll keep you informed and we'll find out who will be here. But for now, this is going to be more of a recap/reset edition of the Chamber.
Before we move to what could still be happening in this class, let's do a quick review of what did happen:
Now that the dust has settled on Missouri's historic 2022 class, let's take a look at the numbers and comparisons:
- The 2022 class finished ranked 17th nationally, Missouri's highest-ranking in the Rivals era.
- Missouri signed 17 total prospects in this year's class. That's the lowest signees since the 2011 class, when the Tigers also inked 17 in a class that featured Sheldon Richardson, Shane Ray, and Kentrell Brothers.
- The Tigers signed seven players rated a 5.8, four-star prospect or higher. That's the most since the 2010 class, which also features seven four-star signees highlighted by quarterback James Franklin.
- Luther Burden became Missouri's first five-star signee since Dorial Green-Beckham back in the 2012 class. Missouri also signed five-stars Sheldon Richardson in 2009 and Blaine Gabbert in the 2008 class.
Just in case you missed it, here's the full class, along with a rundown of which players are already enrolled in classes
The class is actually 27 scholarship players. Cody Schrader is listed here, but he's a walk-on. The NCAA is allowing up to 32 players to sign in a class, which means Mizzou has five spots left to use if it so chooses. The more important number is 85. That's both the total scholarship limit and the number at which Mizzou currently sits.
So Mizzou has up to five spots, but only if five more players transfer out. That is certainly possible. Everyone in college football expects another wave of transfers out following spring football. Missouri's ends in mid-March. Between then and May 1, we'll keep an eye on how many spots open up.
If Missouri is still going to add to the class, where will it do so? Let's go position by position:
Quarterback: We asked Eli Drinkwitz about this on Wednesday and he gave the answer you'd expect. Missouri will take any kid they think can help them win, regardless of position. They didn't find a transfer QB that fit so far but that doesn't mean they won't find one over the next few months. As we've said over and over, it has to be a guy that has no more than two years left and preferably one. At least if it's going to be a guy that competes for the starting job. And you wouldn't think a QB is interested in transferring somewhere that he knows he's going to be a backup. If you bring in a transfer quarterback, you're almost certainly losing at least one...and maybe two. So if you're doing it, you've got to KNOW it's an upgrade and you don't do anything that's going to give Sam Horn second thoughts about the depth chart past this year.
Running Back: Can't see a need to add anyone. Even if someone transfers out, you brought in Nate Peat and Tavorus Jones.
Wide Receiver: If there's a no-brainer out there, Missouri could add one, but by no means would we think they'd be actively looking.
Tight End: This is the most obvious spot where you can add someone. You don't HAVE to, but it wouldn't hurt at all.
Offensive Line: We don't think Missouri will go shopping here.
Defensive End: Missouri has quite a few young guys here and Drinkwitz specifically mentioned liking some of them on Wednesday so while not impossible, this would be low on the priority list.
Defensive Tackle: You don't have to have one, but Missouri is still waiting on a decision from Auburn transfer Marquis Robinson, so they're open to adding another DT. This is probably just behind tight end as the most obvious spot to get a guy.
Linebacker: With the additions of Ty'Ron Hopper and Carmycah Glass and the possibility that DJ Wesolak could play some linebacker, Missouri is fine here.
Cornerback: Mizzou has eight corners on the roster and they all have at least three years left. If you find a grad transfer that you think can start, okay, but otherwise it wouldn't seem to make a lot of sense.
Safety: This is a dark horse spot to watch, especially if Joseph Charleston is a guy that you only expect to get one year out of. We think this would be more of a spot for a younger developmental transfer, especially if one of the younger guys transfers out after the spring.
Special Teams: As of right now, we think Sean Koetting will be in line to be the punter. Wouldn't be shocked to see Mizzou take a transfer here if it finds a guy it likes.
So, in order, we'd probably go tight end, defensive tackle, quarterback, punter, safety as the possibilities for the five extra spots. Again, we aren't saying Missouri takes all of those--or even any of them--but those are the spots we think would be most likely at this point in time. That can always change based on who might transfer out after spring ball.
As far as the 2023 guys, they'll obviously take center stage now and we'll start to dig into them and have stories on them soon.
