Missouri football recruiting: National Signing Day updates for Tigers’ Class of 2020
After signing 10 players during the early signing period Dec. 18-20, the Missouri Tigers had scholarships open for the Class of 2020.
It’s why Mizzou coach Eliah Drinkwitz and his assistant coaching staff have been hard at work on the recruiting trail in the past month. There’s been little time to talk scheme, as instead all 10 assistants have been pushing toward what’s been branded the #NewZou.
It’s an interesting process for the staff, which was finalized in January. While other SEC programs are looking to the future in Class of 2021 recruits, Mizzou was wrapping up 2020.
Of the 10 recruits who already signed, they pledged to former coach Barry Odom. When Drinkwitz was hired as Mizzou’s coach, his first priority was retaining those recruits and having them visit Columbia for an official visit.
After the NCAA denied Missouri’s infractions appeal, it left Drinkwitz with 81 scholarships available this cycle. Despite a bulk of recruits already signing in December, there are still players looking for their next step.
The Tigers signed seven newcomers to their program Wednesday on National Signing Day.
Two newcomers — wide receiver Damon Hazelton, a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech, and junior college prospect Ben Key, a defensive lineman — are already enrolled at Mizzou. Hazelton has one year of eligibility remaining while Key has two years.
The other recruits and their National Letters of Intent rolled in Wednesday as Drinkwitz puts the finishing touches on his first recruiting class.
WEDNESDAY’S SIGNINGS
The Tigers started off National Signing Day with Johnny Walker, a three-star defensive lineman from Tampa, Florida. Along with #NewZou, Drinkwitz also used a lot of #DLineZou during the recruitment period.
Next up for Mizzou was three-star offensive lineman Dylan Spencer as the second commit of the day.
Drinkwitz and his staff also earned a huge commitment from three-star cornerback Ennis Rakestraw. The Duncanville, Texas, native was recruited by Alabama and Texas, taking official visits to both schools in the past month. But the Tigers came out on top. Rakestraw was also high school teammates with Mizzou safety Stacy Brown.
Drinkwitz was more than excited to have Rakestraw commit to his program, with his live reaction shown in a video tweeted about from Mizzou.
Mizzou also added Montra Edwards Jr., a three-star defensive lineman from Lexington, Mississippi, as the fourth commit signed on Wednesday.
The Tigers signed another wide receiver in Kris Abrams-Draine, a three-star recruit from Mobile, Alabama. Including Hazelton, he’s the fifth wide receiver who’s a part of the Class of 2020. He’s one of the highest-ranked recruits in the class, according to 247Sports, alongside fellow wide receiver recruit JJ Hester.
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)
Damon Hazelton, WR, 6-3, 213, Virginia Tech (Towson, Maryland)
Ben Key, DL, 6-3, 274, East Los Angeles College (Cranbourne West, Australia)
Johnny Walker Jr., DL, 6-3, 204, Chamberlain (Tampa, Florida)
Dylan Spencer, OL, 6-4, 300, Madison Central (Madison, Mississippi)
Ennis Rakestraw, CB, 6-0, 170, Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas)
Montra Edwards Jr., 6-3, 293, Holmes County Central (Lexington, Mississippi)
Kris Abrams-Draine, WR, 5-11, 179, Spanish Fort (Mobile, Alabama)
*signed during early period
This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 8:32 AM.