Mizzou lands commitment from Texas three-star wide receiver
Missouri landed its fifth verbal commitment in the current NCAA open recruiting period Sunday, picking up a pledge from Kemp (Texas) High wide receiver Elijah Gardiner.
Gardiner, who visited Columbia this weekend, tweeted that he’ll “look good in these for the next 4 years” along with a series of photos dressed in Tigers football gear.
I'd say I'll look good in these for the next 4 years.#showme @MizzouFootball pic.twitter.com/y4H2UIlenA
— Eli (@elijahgardiner) December 12, 2016
Gardiner, a 6-foot-5 and 185-pound Rivals three-star prospect, also is the fifth known commitment from Texas among 18 players in Mizzou’s 2017 recruiting class.
He’s also the fourth wide receiver — joining Lee’s Summit North four-star DaRon Davis, Bishop Miege three-star Jafar Armstrong and Southwest High three-star Roderick Ford from Fort Worth, Texas.
Gardiner also is a 247 Sports three-star recruit and had offers from Houston and Texas Southern.
The Tigers’ recruiting focus had shifted away from Texas after the move to the Southeastern Conference, but first-year coach Barry Odom redoubled his staff’s efforts in the Lone Star State and it appears to be paying dividends.
Mizzou has landed commitments from De Soto (Texas) offensive lineman Hyrin White; Dekaney High safety Joshuah Bledsoe from Spring, Texas; and Ridge Point cornerback Terry Petry from Missouri City, Texas, in addition to Gardiner and Ford.
Tod Palmer: 816-234-4389, @todpalmer
This story was originally published December 11, 2016 at 9:59 PM with the headline "Mizzou lands commitment from Texas three-star wide receiver."