saw something that got me thinking. We always stress out over in-state recruiting and to some extent I get it. But here are the last few in-state classes:
2017:
Marquis Hayes-2nd team all Big 12 OL at OU
Chester Graves-Never played D1
Daron Davis-Never played D1
Jaevon McQuitty-Transferred from Nebraska to South Dakota, caught 17 passes for 145 yards last year
Larry Boyd-Issues at Illinois after good start, played last year at Davenport University
Reggie Crawford-Started at South Dakota, transferred to East Central University
Anthony Payne-Transferred from K-State to Missouri State
Shane Clenin-Special teams player for Arkansas
Andrew Clair-All-MAC back at Bowling Green, transferred to Northwestern, ran for 252 yards last year
Tony Adams-63 tackles, 5 PBU for Illinois last year
2018:
Trevor Trout-No longer playing FB
Michael Thompson-Transferred down to lower level
Mario Goodrich-NFL
Ronnie Perkins-NFL
Kamryn Babb-Injuries have prevented him from playing much at OSU
Daniel Parker-Solid, not spectacular career at Mizzou, now at OU
Dallas Craddieth-Has played in three games and made one tackle at Iowa
Daniel Carson-Transferred down to lower level
Cameron Brown-Solid rotation player for OSU, 25 tackles and a pick last year
Kaleb Eleby-Threw for 3200 yards, 23 TD, 6 INT for Western Michigan last year
2019:
Isaiah Williams-586 all purpose yards, 6 TD for Illinois last year
Jameson Williams-Superstar, No. 12 overall pick
Marcus Washington-18 catches, 277 yards, 2 TD for Texas, transferred to Nebraska
Jalani Williams-Career backup at Mizzou
Maurice Massey-Transferred down
Kyren Williams-Good career at ND, 5th round pick by Rams
Moses Okpala-Hasn't really played at Illinois, now on OL
Jack Buford-Transferred down
Etinosa Reuben-14 tackles, 3.5 TFL for Clemson last year
Shammond Cooper-10 games, 8 tackles over three years at Illinois
Stopping there because 2020 and later haven't had a full chance yet, but the 2020 class already has multiple transfers from kids ranked in the top 10 and nobody that's made a significant impact yet.
At the most (and this is being generous) that's about nine productive Power Five players over three classes. Three a year. Every year we talk about how this is the best class in state history and look at all the talent. The truth is, I think Missouri high school talent is overrated. Yes, you get some guys, but as a whole, I just don't think you're consistently seeing guys every year that go on to be really good players. It doesn't mean you never recruit the state, but I also think it points out that maybe your success rate in the state isn't the determining factor for success at Mizzou.
I think you have to get the Gabberts, Maclins and Sheldons. You need the superstar level kids. But overall, you just can't build a top 25 type football team mostly on Missouri talent. History shows us no matter how excited we get about these kids during the recruiting process, when they step up a level, more often than not, Missouri isn't producing a lot of high level college football players.
To be fair, this could also indicate that Rivals has done a poor job evaluating in state talent.
2017:
Marquis Hayes-2nd team all Big 12 OL at OU
Chester Graves-Never played D1
Daron Davis-Never played D1
Jaevon McQuitty-Transferred from Nebraska to South Dakota, caught 17 passes for 145 yards last year
Larry Boyd-Issues at Illinois after good start, played last year at Davenport University
Reggie Crawford-Started at South Dakota, transferred to East Central University
Anthony Payne-Transferred from K-State to Missouri State
Shane Clenin-Special teams player for Arkansas
Andrew Clair-All-MAC back at Bowling Green, transferred to Northwestern, ran for 252 yards last year
Tony Adams-63 tackles, 5 PBU for Illinois last year
2018:
Trevor Trout-No longer playing FB
Michael Thompson-Transferred down to lower level
Mario Goodrich-NFL
Ronnie Perkins-NFL
Kamryn Babb-Injuries have prevented him from playing much at OSU
Daniel Parker-Solid, not spectacular career at Mizzou, now at OU
Dallas Craddieth-Has played in three games and made one tackle at Iowa
Daniel Carson-Transferred down to lower level
Cameron Brown-Solid rotation player for OSU, 25 tackles and a pick last year
Kaleb Eleby-Threw for 3200 yards, 23 TD, 6 INT for Western Michigan last year
2019:
Isaiah Williams-586 all purpose yards, 6 TD for Illinois last year
Jameson Williams-Superstar, No. 12 overall pick
Marcus Washington-18 catches, 277 yards, 2 TD for Texas, transferred to Nebraska
Jalani Williams-Career backup at Mizzou
Maurice Massey-Transferred down
Kyren Williams-Good career at ND, 5th round pick by Rams
Moses Okpala-Hasn't really played at Illinois, now on OL
Jack Buford-Transferred down
Etinosa Reuben-14 tackles, 3.5 TFL for Clemson last year
Shammond Cooper-10 games, 8 tackles over three years at Illinois
Stopping there because 2020 and later haven't had a full chance yet, but the 2020 class already has multiple transfers from kids ranked in the top 10 and nobody that's made a significant impact yet.
At the most (and this is being generous) that's about nine productive Power Five players over three classes. Three a year. Every year we talk about how this is the best class in state history and look at all the talent. The truth is, I think Missouri high school talent is overrated. Yes, you get some guys, but as a whole, I just don't think you're consistently seeing guys every year that go on to be really good players. It doesn't mean you never recruit the state, but I also think it points out that maybe your success rate in the state isn't the determining factor for success at Mizzou.
I think you have to get the Gabberts, Maclins and Sheldons. You need the superstar level kids. But overall, you just can't build a top 25 type football team mostly on Missouri talent. History shows us no matter how excited we get about these kids during the recruiting process, when they step up a level, more often than not, Missouri isn't producing a lot of high level college football players.
To be fair, this could also indicate that Rivals has done a poor job evaluating in state talent.
