FOOTBALL RECRUITING
Missouri will hold another open practice on Saturday, weather permitting. We expect more visitors to be in attendance this weekend. First of all, there are supposed to be biblical levels of rain in Columbia over the weekend. If that happens, they probably have to move the workout inside the Devine Pavilion, which would make it impossible to host spectators and maintain any social distancing whatsoever. At last check, a decision is likely to be made on Friday night whether to have the open practice or not. If it happens, we're expecting some visitors, though the list of people who will be in town isn't clear with the uncertainty.
We've heard that Mizzou's 2022 headliner is planning to be in Columbia this weekend. Obviously that could change based on what happens with practice (and simply the fact that he is from Georgia and plans for a trip to Missouri could always change).
Another 2022 commit, Thompson had considered coming in to town this weekend, but his spring break starts today and he will instead attend the spring game next Saturday.
Again, this is all in flux right now so the list isn't big at this point in time. We will try to get more information throughout the day today and if practice is open, we will certainly keep an eye out for those who are in town tomorrow.
*In case you missed our follow up with last weekend's visitors, hit the links below:
Max Whisner embracing recruiting role in 2022 class
OL target Armand Membou takes in practice
Mizzou high on the list of 2023 OL target Cayden Green
Mekhi Miller back at Mizzou
- We recently caught up with Wilson a few days ago, he's another in-state target that Missouri's coaching staff is communicating with frequently. He was also in attendance for the open practice last weekend and had this to say about his trip.
"It went really well, enjoyed watching practice. I loved the fact that Coach Johnson was right there to talk to the guys after each rep and was very active communicating."
This was Wilson's first time on Missouri's campus, although he's taken a virtual visit with the staff previously.
- Other confirmed visitors from last weekend that we are in the process of catching up with include Toriano Pride, Marquis Gracial, and we have heard rumors Luther Burden was at last week's open practice but haven't confirmed that.
*While in Tulsa this week, we are checking in with a couple of Mizzou targets
Williams recently released a top six of Oklahoma, USC, Arkansas, LSU, Mizzou and Florida. He told us he has done virtual visits with Mizzou, USC and Florida. The Gators are recruiting him as a wide receiver, while everyone else wants him at defensive back.
The key here for Missouri is Aaron Fletcher, who came from Tulsa. Williams ran track with Fletcher's son for a few years and has a personal relationship with him (Interestingly, the Booker T. Washington coach, Jonathan Brown, told us that Tulsa didn't really recruit the school all that much and he didn't know Fletcher personally). We flat out asked Williams if Missouri would have made the list without the hiring of Fletcher. He hesitated a bit and said he couldn't say that Missouri wouldn't have made the cut, but that the addition of Fletcher definitely helped.
Williams said that list is his final six. He's still talking to other schools who haven't offered, but doesn't see anything changing his final six. He had an Oklahoma hoodie on and he's from Tulsa, so we said naturally that people are going to assume he's a lock for the Sooners. He said "I don't think it's quite as much of a lock as people think." We would certainly install OU as the betting favorite here, but he's going to take visits and give other schools a chance.
Brown, the Booker T. coach, was an all-SEC selection at Tennessee and was a key contributor to the Vols 1997 SEC title team quarterbacked by Peyton Manning. He was a third-round pick of the Green Bay Packers and bounced around the league for four years before finishing his pro career in the CFL and getting into coaching. He told us that Williams is "one of the fastest players I've ever seen on a football field."
This won't be an easy one by any means, but we think Missouri will get a visit and have its shot.
Missouri just offered McClellan last week. We'll be at Owasso practice this afternoon and will talk to him then. Obviously can't really tell you a lot about the recruitment until we speak to the kid, but we'll have more on him in the coming days.
QUICK NOTE ON BASKETBALL
We've made the case for weeks that teams that are NCAA Tournament locks shouldn't play in conference tournaments. They all did. When it became clear they would, we made the case that they'd be better off losing early. That came into sharp focus this morning.
Virginia is set to be probably a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. And now, we're not sure they'll play. Understand, this is not an argument whether the Cavs should or should not be allowed to play. This is not an argument about the protocols being right, wrong or indifferent. But the simple fact is, they ARE the protocols and teams that are playing are putting their NCAA Tournament hopes on the line every single night.
We understand you want Missouri to beat Arkansas. We understand you want the Tigers to win every game they play. They want to as well. That said, it's our opinion that what would be best for Missouri is to play Arkansas tough, look really good doing it, lose a close game that won't hurt their seed and get the hell back to Columbia without any issues.
This is going to be the second time in eight years Missouri has been in the NCAA Tournament. It would be a damn shame to lose out on that chance to play in the SEC semifinals or title game. Conference tournaments are fun, but they aren't the prize. The prize starts next week. There are going to be teams we expect to be in it that won't be playing. Every fanbase in America should spend the next 48 hours simply hoping their team isn't one of them.
Missouri will hold another open practice on Saturday, weather permitting. We expect more visitors to be in attendance this weekend. First of all, there are supposed to be biblical levels of rain in Columbia over the weekend. If that happens, they probably have to move the workout inside the Devine Pavilion, which would make it impossible to host spectators and maintain any social distancing whatsoever. At last check, a decision is likely to be made on Friday night whether to have the open practice or not. If it happens, we're expecting some visitors, though the list of people who will be in town isn't clear with the uncertainty.
We've heard that Mizzou's 2022 headliner is planning to be in Columbia this weekend. Obviously that could change based on what happens with practice (and simply the fact that he is from Georgia and plans for a trip to Missouri could always change).
Another 2022 commit, Thompson had considered coming in to town this weekend, but his spring break starts today and he will instead attend the spring game next Saturday.
Again, this is all in flux right now so the list isn't big at this point in time. We will try to get more information throughout the day today and if practice is open, we will certainly keep an eye out for those who are in town tomorrow.
*In case you missed our follow up with last weekend's visitors, hit the links below:
Max Whisner embracing recruiting role in 2022 class
OL target Armand Membou takes in practice
Mizzou high on the list of 2023 OL target Cayden Green
Mekhi Miller back at Mizzou
- We recently caught up with Wilson a few days ago, he's another in-state target that Missouri's coaching staff is communicating with frequently. He was also in attendance for the open practice last weekend and had this to say about his trip.
"It went really well, enjoyed watching practice. I loved the fact that Coach Johnson was right there to talk to the guys after each rep and was very active communicating."
This was Wilson's first time on Missouri's campus, although he's taken a virtual visit with the staff previously.
- Other confirmed visitors from last weekend that we are in the process of catching up with include Toriano Pride, Marquis Gracial, and we have heard rumors Luther Burden was at last week's open practice but haven't confirmed that.
*While in Tulsa this week, we are checking in with a couple of Mizzou targets
Williams recently released a top six of Oklahoma, USC, Arkansas, LSU, Mizzou and Florida. He told us he has done virtual visits with Mizzou, USC and Florida. The Gators are recruiting him as a wide receiver, while everyone else wants him at defensive back.
The key here for Missouri is Aaron Fletcher, who came from Tulsa. Williams ran track with Fletcher's son for a few years and has a personal relationship with him (Interestingly, the Booker T. Washington coach, Jonathan Brown, told us that Tulsa didn't really recruit the school all that much and he didn't know Fletcher personally). We flat out asked Williams if Missouri would have made the list without the hiring of Fletcher. He hesitated a bit and said he couldn't say that Missouri wouldn't have made the cut, but that the addition of Fletcher definitely helped.
Williams said that list is his final six. He's still talking to other schools who haven't offered, but doesn't see anything changing his final six. He had an Oklahoma hoodie on and he's from Tulsa, so we said naturally that people are going to assume he's a lock for the Sooners. He said "I don't think it's quite as much of a lock as people think." We would certainly install OU as the betting favorite here, but he's going to take visits and give other schools a chance.
Brown, the Booker T. coach, was an all-SEC selection at Tennessee and was a key contributor to the Vols 1997 SEC title team quarterbacked by Peyton Manning. He was a third-round pick of the Green Bay Packers and bounced around the league for four years before finishing his pro career in the CFL and getting into coaching. He told us that Williams is "one of the fastest players I've ever seen on a football field."
This won't be an easy one by any means, but we think Missouri will get a visit and have its shot.
Missouri just offered McClellan last week. We'll be at Owasso practice this afternoon and will talk to him then. Obviously can't really tell you a lot about the recruitment until we speak to the kid, but we'll have more on him in the coming days.
QUICK NOTE ON BASKETBALL
We've made the case for weeks that teams that are NCAA Tournament locks shouldn't play in conference tournaments. They all did. When it became clear they would, we made the case that they'd be better off losing early. That came into sharp focus this morning.
Virginia is set to be probably a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. And now, we're not sure they'll play. Understand, this is not an argument whether the Cavs should or should not be allowed to play. This is not an argument about the protocols being right, wrong or indifferent. But the simple fact is, they ARE the protocols and teams that are playing are putting their NCAA Tournament hopes on the line every single night.
We understand you want Missouri to beat Arkansas. We understand you want the Tigers to win every game they play. They want to as well. That said, it's our opinion that what would be best for Missouri is to play Arkansas tough, look really good doing it, lose a close game that won't hurt their seed and get the hell back to Columbia without any issues.
This is going to be the second time in eight years Missouri has been in the NCAA Tournament. It would be a damn shame to lose out on that chance to play in the SEC semifinals or title game. Conference tournaments are fun, but they aren't the prize. The prize starts next week. There are going to be teams we expect to be in it that won't be playing. Every fanbase in America should spend the next 48 hours simply hoping their team isn't one of them.
