Terry Beckner Jr. coming back to Mizzou football team because education is most important

There are a few football reasons for why Terry Beckner Jr. has decided to come back to Missouri for his senior year, rather than go early to the NFL. He wants to continue to build back his confidence after two serious knee injuries, and he wants to become an every-down player.

But the biggest reason Beckner, Missouri’s star junior defensive tackle, is coming back is because he wants to earn his degree in communications. He called it “mandatory.”

“I want to better myself,” the former No. 1 recruit in the country said. “You can’t better yourself without your education. That’s the main part.”

Beckner, who spoke to reporters Sunday for the first time since the football team announced his decision on Dec. 1, said he couldn’t remember exactly when he decided he would come back for his senior season, but he “kind of knew” all season that he wouldn’t enter his name in the NFL draft. He’s not even interested in hearing what grade the NFL draft advisory board would have given him.

“That ain’t me,” Beckner said. “I just like to worry about one thing at a time. Take it slow and it’ll work itself out.”

That’s why Beckner didn’t like the idea of going to the NFL and coming back to MU to earn his degree later.

“I want to leave and have that part taken care of,” said Beckner, who has 10  1/2 tackles for loss this season, including seven sacks. “I don’t want to leave and come back and have everything else. Now you’re doing too much and you can’t focus on what you’re trying to focus on.”

Staff additions

Missouri announced the hires of Brad Davis and Vernon Hargreaves on Thursday and Friday to fill the voids of offensive line coach and outside linebackers coach, respectively. Coach Barry Odom said Friday that he doesn’t anticipate hiring an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach until after the team plays in the Texas Bowl. Current UCLA interim coach and offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch was at the Tigers’ practice on Friday and is considered to be a leading candidate for the job.

Odom said that neither Davis nor Hargreaves will coach in the bowl game but could travel to the game if they want to. Missouri defensive line coach Brick Haley has known Hargreaves for a while and said he’s excited to work with his newest colleague.

“I think he brings experience,” Haley said. “I think he brings knowledge of the game. I think he brings some energy, attitude. I think our guys will embrace him. I think he’s just a fantastic dude.”

Tigers junior linebacker Terez Hall said he’s spoken to Hargreaves on the phone and is excited to be coached by someone who has a pedigree of sending linebackers into the NFL, like former Miami star Jonathan Vilma.

Offensive tackle Paul Adams has yet to meet Davis but said he’s spoken to Odom about his new position coach and likes what he’s heard.

“He said he’s a great guy, one of the best in the business,” Adams said. “He’s going to fit great into our system. Really excited to meet him and get to know him.”

Tigers’ recruiting class grows

Missouri picked up a commitment from Gerald Nathan of North Carolina. Nathan is a 6-foot-2 outside linebacker who was previously committed to Colorado State. He was in town over the weekend for an official visit and announced his pledge while on campus. Rated a three-star recruit, Nathan is Missouri’s 14th commitment in the class and plans to sign on Wednesday.

The Tigers also hosted Verdis Brown, a consensus four-star offensive line recruit, for an official visit. Brown played his senior season at national power IMG Academy but is originally from the Chicago area. He committed to Florida State in July but reopened his recruitment recently, after Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher left for Texas A&M. He plans to announce his commitment on Friday.

Hall practicing, Crockett’s status for game uncertain

Wide receiver Emanuel Hall began practicing again this weekend. Hall, who suffered a hamstring injury against Arkansas in the Tigers’ last regular season game, wore a red penny, which means he is still limited.

The junior, who caught 33 passes for 817 yards and 8 touchdowns, said he will be ready for Mizzou’s Dec. 27 bowl game against the Texas Longhorns in Houston.

“I’m just now getting back into it,” Hall said. “I’m excited. I think our guys are really prepared.”

Running backs coach Cornell Ford said sophomore Damarea Crockett, who has been out with a shoulder injury since he left Mizzou’s Oct. 14 loss at Georgia early, is still not guaranteed to play.

“He’s coming along,” Ford said of Crockett. “I think he’s still taking slow steps here. We’ll see. We’re evaluating.”

Crockett, who has missed all of Mizzou’s six-game winning streak, rushed for 481 yards and two touchdowns in 80 carries in Missouri’s first six games of the season.

Earlier this month, Odom said he planned for Crockett to have an “active role” in the Texas Bowl.

Gift season

Before the Tigers knew what bowl game they would play in, Terez Hall — a junior linebacker who had never played in a postseason game before — said he was excited for the gifts players normally receive from an official bowl game sponsor.

Now Hall knows what he’s getting, and he’s excited.

Academy Sports and Outdoors is the name sponsor of the Texas Bowl, and Hall said Missouri players received a list of items recently that had corresponding point values. Each Tiger had four points they could spend, and Hall used his on three items: a portable phone charger, a pair of wireless headphones and an electronic blender bottle.

He envisions using all three of them at once.

“I thought about a little scheme,” Hall said. “I could listen to some music in the weight room with the headphones. Plus I got my shake with the blender. Then, if my phone needs charging, portable charger man. I’m outside the box with it.”

This story was originally published December 17, 2017 at 9:25 PM with the headline "Terry Beckner Jr. coming back to Mizzou football team because education is most important."