Odom’s in-state recruiting stays hot as four-star defensive back picks Mizzou over LSU
.JPG "Missouri head coach Barry Odom")
Missouri hasn’t even kicked off against Tennessee and Barry Odom’s already having a good weekend.
The Tigers landed four-star defensive back Jalani Williams out of Parkway North in St. Louis on Friday, beating out LSU for a consensus top-300 national prospect. Williams plans to be an early enrollee, which means he’ll be at MU for spring football practice. Fellow MU commit C.J. Boone plays with Williams at Parkway North and will also be an early enrollee.
Williams is a 6-foot-2 safety who has a nose for the ball and was considered by some recruiting analysts to be the most important prospect in MU’s class. Missouri’s secondary has struggled since Odom became coach in 2015 and the program hasn’t had an established safety since William Moore, who played six seasons for the Atlanta Falcons.
With Williams’ commitment, Missouri has 16 commits for the 2019 class, six of which are in-state recruits. The Tigers are still in the mix for Rockhurst star Danielson Ike and St. Louis-area prospects Shammond Cooper and Ira Henry.
Alex Schiffer
Alex Schiffer covers University of Missouri athletics for The Star.
