****Official 2015 Missouri Tigers Football Thread****

['Hamas' Jenkins]

After seizing the Citrus Bowl from Jerry Kill and the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Missouri Tigers finish 11-3.

Italics=Likely sign and place
Bold=JUCO recruit

Key Recruits:

2016 Class:

Spoiler!

Tre Williams DE, MO, ****
Nate Strong RB, IL, ****
Damarea Crockett RB, AR, ****
Marvin Terry DE, TX ***
Greg Taylor S, MO, ***
Brendan Scales TE, MO ***
Albert Okwue. TE, IL ***
Cale Garrett ILB, MO ***
Trystan Castillo OL, MO ***
Micah Wilson QB, OK ***
Trevour Simms OL, IL ***
Tucker McCann K, IL ***
Dominic Collins WR, IL ***
Jerod Alton ATH, MO ***
DeMarkus Acy DB, TX ***
Dimetrious Mason WR, GA **
Christian Holmes WR, GA **
Trey Baldwin LB, TX **
Marksell Utsey DT, AR **

Schedule:

9/5: SEMO
9/12 @Ark St.
9/19: UConn
9/26: @Kentucky
10/3: South Carolina
10/10: Florida
10/17 @ Georgia
10/24: @ Vandy
10/31: Bye
11/5 (Thu): Mississippi State
11/14: BYU (@ Arrowhead)
11/21: Tennessee
11/28: @Arkansas

[Pitt Gorilla]

Awesome finish to this class.

[Pepe Silvia]

Over/Under on when the decent players get arrested and then kicked off?

[KChiefs1]

From Bleacher Report:

Terry Beckner Jr

It is very scary to watch a defensive tackle run the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds.

Terry Beckner Jr. is a 5-star DT for a reason. For a guy who stands at 6'4" and weighs 293 pounds, it's almost poetic watching him run like a linebacker-or, in some cases, like a safety. His combination of size, speed, athleticism and explosiveness off the line has made him a wanted man for quite some time.

So, where is the East St. Louis, Illinois, star leaning?

After a productive visit to Auburn, you have to think the Tigers have moved into a position of being considered strong contenders in the Beckner sweepstakes. Florida State, Missouri and Ohio State are three other major players as we inch closer to national signing day.

If you're an Auburn fan, you have to like your odds-more so now than a couple of weeks ago. In fact, why not have some fun and throw out some percentages for the four teams thought to be in the lead?


Odds for Auburn: 3-1

Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports chatted with East St. Louis assistant coach Harith Mitchom following Beckner's visit to Auburn. The visit was a game-changer in Beckner's process.

"If you would've asked me last week, I would've said Mizzou strong and FSU edging in, but after coming back from this Auburn visit, he was more excited than I ever saw after a visit," Mitchom told Wiltfong. "Whatever they did down there really, really caught his eye."

Great news for Auburn, but there are still two official visits left for Beckner. He visits Ohio State this weekend and Missouri next weekend.


Terry Beckner Jr. Will Commit to Which School?


Auburn Ohio State Missouri Florida State Other Submit Vote vote to see results

Odds for Ohio State: 4-1

Earlier in the process, many thought Ohio State was a legitimate leader for Beckner. For whatever reason, the flame fizzled, and the Buckeyes were considered but not necessarily a lock, according to those following his recruiting.

Let's be honest: Championships talk-and they are loud when they talk. The Buckeyes are the first College Football Playoff champion, and there is room for Beckner on that defensive unit.

Don't forget about Urban Meyer. Beckner is in Columbus for an official visit this weekend-and Meyer is one of the best closers in 11th-hour recruiting. See Dontre Wilson and Ezekiel Elliott as examples.

Odds for Missouri: 5-1

Missouri is less than two hours away from East St. Louis, so proximity advantages go to the Tigers. And we must give credit where credit is due: Missouri has been a key player in the SEC East. The Tigers definitely would welcome a player of Beckner's caliber, as he could help put Missouri in national conversations.

Here's another big advantage for Missouri: The program has Beckner's last scheduled official visit. Those who know recruiting know that oftentimes, the last visit is the most memorable, and the most memorable visit could be the visit that puts a program over the top.

Missouri once was considered a front-runner. As January continues, other programs have caught the Tigers. But that doesn't mean they can't win in the end.

Odds for Florida State: 6-1

Florida State is a team that's been a program to keep an eye on. Beckner visited the campus back in November, and he's always considered the Seminoles a contender.

You've got to give credit to Florida State assistant coach Tim Brewster, who has done an outstanding job recruiting Beckner. The main disadvantage with Florida State is that, from an official visit standpoint, they won't be fresh in Beckner's mind. A positive, however, is that every visit after Florida State will have to be compared to the experience in Tallahassee.

Beckner said during the Under Armour All-America Game that Florida State was still high on his list. Seminoles fans will be paying attention from now until his decision.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by PackerinMo

Over/Under on when the decent players get arrested and then kicked off?

Seriously, nobody is dumb enough to think you're a mizzou fan. Just stop.

[Bowser]

Hey Duncan (or anyone else in the know), where is Marquise Doherty projecting for the Tigers? I know he's coming in without a set position, but I assumed he'd be a defensive backfield guy. This article seems to think he would help at receiver...

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec...eshmen-impact/

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

The best of the bunch is Nate Brown, who flashed at times last year. J'Mon Moore is there athletically but needs to grasp the offense better mentally.

Keyon Dilosa, who redshirted because he ruptured his Achilles', is apparently an absolute freak of nature (and could have played in the bowl game) on Danario Alexander levels (Huge, fast, strong, crazy vertical leap).

They're also going to need a freshman or two to flash, I think. I could see the Johnson kid earning some immediate PT as a kick returner/slot weapon (he's very good in the open field). Smith and Emmanuel Hall are both freshman WRs I'm very high on. Smith has great size and good speed to pair with it. Hall is more 6-2/6-3 but has good speed and seems polished.

Thanks....now a second question:

Is there any scenario in which you see Lock coming in and adapting so well that Pinkel is left with no option but to start him and put Mauk either on the bench or at slot receiver/possession receiver?

[KChiefs1]

From Rock M:

Brandon Martin is a 6'3, 185 lbs wide receiver from Dallas, Texas (Rivals: *** | 247: *** | ESPN: ****).

There is a lot to like about this commit so check out his film. He chose Mizzou over Louisville, West Virginia. Despite concerns, Mizzou will not be shut out of Texas.

Brandon Martin joins Richaud Floyd, Emanuel Hall, Johnathan Johnson, Justin Smith and Ronnell Perkins with reservations at the wide receiver position for the 2015 class. Mizzou may not have a lot of returning experience at the wide receiver position next year, but they will have a talented pool of athletes competing for playing time for the next few years.

From yesterday:

Martin was selected to play in the Under Armour All-American game. He is a receiver, and while Mizzou appears mostly set at this position -- to the point where other prospects recently canceled visits because of lack of availability -- Mizzou likes him enough to keep an offer on the table. (It's not hard to see why. He's only listed at 6'3, 185, but he carries himself like he's 6'5, 220 on film.) ESPN likes him quite a bit (which is the case for quite a few Mizzou prospects, actually), and Rivals lists him as the No. 100 senior in the state of Texas.

Welcome to the family Brandon Martin.

#MizzouMade

[KChiefs1]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...le8078868.html

Missouri landed two more commitments Saturday with pledges from a pair of Rivals three-star recruits, Prime Prep Academy wide receiver Brandon Martin from Dallas and Rummel High School defensive end Tyrell Jacobs from Metairie, La.

The Tigers continue to stockpile talent at wide receiver, which is position of need after losing all three starters from 2014 — Bud Sasser, Jimmie Hunt and Darius White — to graduation.

The latest addition is Martin a 6-foot-3, 205-pound speedster, who reportedly ran a 4.37 40-yard dash, is ranked No. 101 in the 2015 ESPN 300.

ESPN lists Martin, who was recruited by Pat Washington, as a four-star talent.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

From Bleacher Report:

Terry Beckner Jr

It is very scary to watch a defensive tackle run the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds.

Terry Beckner Jr. is a 5-star DT for a reason. For a guy who stands at 6'4" and weighs 293 pounds, it's almost poetic watching him run like a linebacker-or, in some cases, like a safety. His combination of size, speed, athleticism and explosiveness off the line has made him a wanted man for quite some time.

So, where is the East St. Louis, Illinois, star leaning?

After a productive visit to Auburn, you have to think the Tigers have moved into a position of being considered strong contenders in the Beckner sweepstakes. Florida State, Missouri and Ohio State are three other major players as we inch closer to national signing day.

If you're an Auburn fan, you have to like your odds-more so now than a couple of weeks ago. In fact, why not have some fun and throw out some percentages for the four teams thought to be in the lead?


Odds for Auburn: 3-1

Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports chatted with East St. Louis assistant coach Harith Mitchom following Beckner's visit to Auburn. The visit was a game-changer in Beckner's process.

"If you would've asked me last week, I would've said Mizzou strong and FSU edging in, but after coming back from this Auburn visit, he was more excited than I ever saw after a visit," Mitchom told Wiltfong. "Whatever they did down there really, really caught his eye."

Great news for Auburn, but there are still two official visits left for Beckner. He visits Ohio State this weekend and Missouri next weekend.


Terry Beckner Jr. Will Commit to Which School?


Auburn Ohio State Missouri Florida State Other Submit Vote vote to see results

Odds for Ohio State: 4-1

Earlier in the process, many thought Ohio State was a legitimate leader for Beckner. For whatever reason, the flame fizzled, and the Buckeyes were considered but not necessarily a lock, according to those following his recruiting.

Let's be honest: Championships talk-and they are loud when they talk. The Buckeyes are the first College Football Playoff champion, and there is room for Beckner on that defensive unit.

Don't forget about Urban Meyer. Beckner is in Columbus for an official visit this weekend-and Meyer is one of the best closers in 11th-hour recruiting. See Dontre Wilson and Ezekiel Elliott as examples.

Odds for Missouri: 5-1

Missouri is less than two hours away from East St. Louis, so proximity advantages go to the Tigers. And we must give credit where credit is due: Missouri has been a key player in the SEC East. The Tigers definitely would welcome a player of Beckner's caliber, as he could help put Missouri in national conversations.

Here's another big advantage for Missouri: The program has Beckner's last scheduled official visit. Those who know recruiting know that oftentimes, the last visit is the most memorable, and the most memorable visit could be the visit that puts a program over the top.

Missouri once was considered a front-runner. As January continues, other programs have caught the Tigers. But that doesn't mean they can't win in the end.

Odds for Florida State: 6-1

Florida State is a team that's been a program to keep an eye on. Beckner visited the campus back in November, and he's always considered the Seminoles a contender.

You've got to give credit to Florida State assistant coach Tim Brewster, who has done an outstanding job recruiting Beckner. The main disadvantage with Florida State is that, from an official visit standpoint, they won't be fresh in Beckner's mind. A positive, however, is that every visit after Florida State will have to be compared to the experience in Tallahassee.

Beckner said during the Under Armour All-America Game that Florida State was still high on his list. Seminoles fans will be paying attention from now until his decision.

Stop reading Bleacher Report unless it is to laugh at it. Auburn is not the front runner. Florida State is not the front runner. Missouri is still ahead. Darren Sunkett is the authority from that team to listen to, and he said this week Missouri is still in front. Sunkett is also a big ally for the Missouri program, and he is on the trip with Beckner.

Ohio State is the most dangerous competition. If Beckner makes it past the weekend without committing

Originally Posted by Bowser

Hey Duncan (or anyone else in the know), where is Marquise Doherty projecting for the Tigers? I know he's coming in without a set position, but I assumed he'd be a defensive backfield guy. This article seems to think he would help at receiver...

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec...eshmen-impact/

I think Doherty is slated for RB or the defensive backfield. SDS is, as usual, off base about how a recruit fits in for Mizzou. The Tigers got a commit from Brandon Martin, a WR who participated in the Under Armor game but has qualification questions, this weekend, to pair with jumbo WR Justin Smith and open-field guy Jonathan Johnson, as well as Ronnell Perkins, Richaud Floyd and Emmannuel Hall.

I don't think Missouri takes 6 pure WRs if the plan is to use Doherty there.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

Thanks....now a second question:

Is there any scenario in which you see Lock coming in and adapting so well that Pinkel is left with no option but to start him and put Mauk either on the bench or at slot receiver/possession receiver?

I highly doubt that.

I think Lock is a stud, but he has to get stronger and heavier to hold up to the D1 game.

I think he sits for at least a year, probably two.

If he just completely blows away Mauk, though, Pinkel might consider it. He'd have to do it in spring practice, I think, because that's the only time Pinkel has supplanted returning starters (Brad Smith/Kirk Farmer).

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

He does appear to have really special quickness and speed for a guy that big.

Couldn't quite believe it when I started watching his senior highlights and the first 5-6 plays were bubble screens. To a guy who claims he is 6-8.

Nasty.

Also had an offer from Georgia in hoops?

Shit, he and Drew Lock may be better hoops prospects than anyone Mizzou has committed to play hoops next year.

Can't teach speed or size, so that is huge.. At his size he will need to add minimum of 20lbs of muscle though depending on his routes..

[Pitt Gorilla]

Beckner is NOT going to Auburn. I'm sure they gave him a sack of 20s, but he's still Mizzou's to lose. CUM is really the only guy to worry about.

[KChiefs1]

http://www.nola.com/recruiting/index...er_armour.html

Prime Prep receiver Brandon Martin committed to Missouri Saturday. The Under Armour All-American hails from Monroe and chose the Tigers Louisiville and West Virginia among several other programs.

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune's James Smith said the 6-foot-4, 205-pound prospect has a very impressive skill-set.

Martin was set to take an official visit to LSU on Jan. 30 and LSU wide receiver coach Adam Henry recently visited Martin.

Smith reported "the Tigers are looking at all options in regards to his recruitment."

[KChiefs1]

http://www.nola.com/recruiting/index...s_commite.html

For Tyrell Jacobs, it all boiled down to family.

During an official visit to Missouri this weekend, Jacobs immediately found the atmosphere he'd been hoping to find since re-opening his commitment just over a month ago — one that resembled that of a family.

"The coaches love me and the atmosphere was just right," said Jacobs, who earlier this week told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune he intended to wait until National Signing Day on Feb. 4 to make his ultimate decision. "No one was forcing it or anything, and just the players' interactions with me and the coaches' (interaction with me), and (my family) loved it.

"I wasn't even thinking about committing. I was just waiting. It just felt like home, though. (My family) loved it ever since we stepped off the plane. They just had that feeling. It's hard to explain. ... I wanted to a part of the Zou."

Jacobs was an Oklahoma commit for the entirety of his senior season at Rummel, but re-opened his recruitment in December after the Sooners' 7-5 regular season came to an end and numerous starters declared they were returning.

Story by
Sam Spiegelman- and -Jim Derry 
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Early playing time was another critical factor in Jacobs' decision, and Missouri promised the 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive lineman just that.

"It's a good chance," Jacobs said, in reference to seeing the field as a true freshman next season.  

Offensive line coach Josh Henson and wide receivers coach Pat Washington played integral roles in recruiting Jacobs, which dated back to before he even committed to Oklahoma back in July. Jacobs met with head coach Gary Pinkel during his recent visit.

"With Tyrell, he's a great kid on and off the field," Rummel Coach Jay Roth said. "And going to play in the SEC, he's probably in a better situation (than if he had stayed at Oklahoma)."

Numerous members of the current Tigers front seven are off to the NFL in 2015. Among them: defensive ends Markus Golden and Shane Ray. Both are expected to be high draft picks.

Given that Missouri has also produced first-round NFL picks like Aldon Smith and Kony Ealy, it was an opportunity Jacobs said he had to seize.

"It really helped me (make my decision) because it shows you that there's a real chance of making it there," he said. "But anyone can make it from any school, but Missouri is the place to be."

Last weekend, Jacobs took an official visit to Kansas State and met with head coach Bill Snyder, and had left next weekend open to take a third. He has not decided if he'll take that visit still, or if he does, which school he'll head to.

He received interest from the likes of LSU, Maryland, Texas A&M and Illinois, among others, after de-committing from Oklahoma last month.

In addition, Jacobs originally planned to make his final decision on National Signing Day on Feb. 4, and told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune that once he made up his mind, he would not go back on his decision.

Jacobs remains firm that Missouri will be his college destination.

"I'm not the type of person (to change his mind)," he said. "I'm loyal. Once I commit, I'm coming there, and I promise I'll be the best player out there."

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Great news on the recruiting front the last few days, but Strong not qualifying is a nut shot. Seems like every other year we get a 4*+ kid from St. Louis who doesn't qualify (Sheldon, Abbington, Strong).