Mizzou football recruiting: Live updates on the Tigers’ early signees
Drinkwitz has hit the recruiting trail hard since being officially introduced in his new role Dec. 10. He was recently in St. Louis visiting recruits who pledged to former coach Barry Odom and made a stop at the Missouri Football Coaches Association’s annual convention.
The new coach and his staff hosted recruits in Columbia for official visits last weekend. With the NCAA’s early signing period now underway, recruits are signing their National Letters of Intent to formally commit to the program.
Mizzou was expected to sign around 12 recruits Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period. That period runs through Friday, but that doesn’t mean Drinkwitz is finished recruiting. National Signing Day is Feb. 5, giving coaches time to enlist additional recruits. Drinkwitz can also target transfers or junior-college prospects to fill out his first recruiting class.
The new coach is dealing with NCAA sanctions imposed after a rogue tutor completed schoolwork for 12 Mizzou athletes. The Tigers lost four scholarships as part of those penalties, including recruiting restrictions.
“I know what recruiting is: It’s about relationships,” Drinkwitz said at his introductory news conference Dec. 10. “We’re looking for the right fit for Mizzou football. We’re looking for focus, intangibles, talented and tough (players). Those four characteristics are the hallmark of a championship football program.”
Stay tuned here for updates throughout the early signing period.
Wednesday’s signings
Drinkwitz’s first recruit to sign with Mizzou was at 6:27 a.m. Wednesday with Jaylon Carlies, a three-star defensive back from Winter Garden, Florida.
Next up for Mizzou was kicker Harrison Mevis, a three-star kicker from Warsaw, Indiana. According to 247Sports, he’s the No. 8 kicker this class.
The Tigers’ third commit Wednesday was also their first in-state get: three-star offensive lineman Drake Heismeyer from Francis Howell. Mizzou continued that theme with Will Norris, a linebacker from nearby Rock Bridge. He’s considered to be a project going forward.
Defensive back Tyler Jones became Mizzou’s fifth signing Wednesday. He’s teammates with Carlies, both Florida natives.
In a positive twist to the Tigers’ day, four-star wide receiver JJ Hester said on Twitter he’s headed to Mizzou. After Odom was fired, Hester said he would look at other schools in his recruitment. But Hester was part of a group of commits who officially visited Columbia last weekend as Drinkwitz retained the wideout. Hester officially signed on to Drinkwitz’s program Wednesday.
Mizzou also signed quarterback Brady Cook from Chaminade. The St. Louis native is the lone quarterback of Drinkwitz’s first class.
Along with Hester, Drinkwitz was able to earn another recruit’s trust after they re-opened their recruitment. Three-star running back Elijah Young decommitted after Odom was fired. But he signed to Mizzou after an in-home visit from Drinkwitz and defensive line coach Brick Haley then taking an official visit last weekend.
Wide receiver Jay Maclin will also play for Mizzou, just like his cousin, former All-American Jeremy Maclin. The 10th player of Mizzou’s class was offensive lineman Mitchell Walters.
Mizzou signed 10 recruits, with the final recruit, Kevon Billingsley, not yet faxing in his Letter of Intent as of 4:15 p.m. Wednesday. The Tigers also offered Boise State commit and wide receiver Chance Luper on Wednesday morning. They have until Friday to officially sign.
However, Mizzou lost a recruit: three-star running back Dominique Long. He was considered to be a surefire Tiger commit, but the Crowley, Texas, native flipped to Arkansas. At his signing day, he wore a Mizzou hat then dropped it to reveal an Arkansas shirt under his jacket.
Mizzou’s 2020 recruiting class
Player, Position, Height, Weight, Previous school (Hometown)
Jaylon Carlies, DB, 6-2, 193, West Orange (Winter Garden, Florida)
Harrison Mevis, K, 6-0, 220, Warsaw (Warsaw, Indiana)
Drake Heismeyer, OL, 6-3, 283, Francis Howell (St. Louis)
Will Norris, LB, 6-1, 220, Rock Bridge (Columbia)
Tyler Jones, DB, 5-10, 185, West Orange (Winter Garden, Florida)
JJ Hester, WR, 6-3, 190, Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Brady Cook, QB, 6-3, 210, Chaminade (St. Louis)
Elijah Young, RB, 5-9, 175, South Doyle (Knoxville, Tennessee)
Jay Maclin, WR, 5-11, 178, Kirkwood (St. Louis)
Mitchell Walters, OL, 6-8, 290, Mehlville (St. Louis)
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 5:00 AM.