From PowerMizzou: Eight Magic Words
http://missouri.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1361583
Last weekend, Stilwell (KS) Blue Valley offensive tackle Clay Rhodes was 95 percent sure he wanted to commit to Missouri.
He wanted to add five percent to that total before making it official, however.
On Tuesday, Rhodes said he thought and prayed on his decision. He also picked up the phone to call his friend -- and now future teammate -- Trent Hosick.
"He gave me some advice and help with the way I should go about committing," Rhodes said. "He knew for a while I was stuck between Mizzou and Oklahoma State, and his advice was that I needed to be 100 percent sure. I needed to be comfortable where ever I go.
"He didn't push me one way or the other. He said, 'I want you to be happy with whatever you do.'"
In the end, that was the final push Rhodes needed.
"I get to go into a good program and block for a guy like that," Rhodes said. "I'm blessed to be in that position."
Rhodes headed to Columbia on Wednesday to meet with Missouri's staff in person. Missouri's coaches appeared to know something was coming -- "They were pushing it a little bit, talking about committing," Rhodes said -- but he waited to commit in his own way.
Wearing a black Mizzou shirt under a white Blue Valley shirt, Rhodes said he didn't want to get a stain on his shirt. He took off his high school shirt to reveal his undershirt.
"Then I said the eight magic words," Rhodes said. "Coach Hill, I want to be a Tiger."
Rhodes said there's no need for Missouri fans to worry about flirtations with other schools.
"I'm committed, a hundred percent," Rhodes said. "That's what the word means, and I'm done."
Like Hosick, Rhodes now intends to turn from recruit to recruiter. While he wouldn't name names, Rhodes expects to be a busy man over the next few months.
Luckily, he's learned how to recruit from Hosick.
"I have a few guys that I'm going to contact," Rhodes said. "I'm going to send help, be supportive, and hopefully they'll choose Mizzou."