Raytown senior WR Dominic Gicinto signs with Missouri football

Raytown senior Dominic Gicinto first thought about playing college football when he was 7 years old, and he shortly thereafter asked his mom if it would ever be a possibility. He was a fan of the Missouri Tigers, the first team he remembers the two of them watching on TV.

For the next four seasons, his mom will turn on the TV hoping to see her son. Gicinto signed a national letter of intent on Wednesday to attend Missouri on a football scholarship.

Gicinto had offers from Memphis and Arkansas State before Missouri presented its offer this month.

“When I was going through the recruiting process and everything, I couldn’t find anywhere I thought I’d rather be,” Gicinto said. “It’s my home state. I really couldn’t see myself at any other school. So when they offered, I jumped at the opportunity.”

Gicinto had a breakout season at Raytown, recording 85 receptions, 1,346 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. He also returned three kicks for touchdowns.

He is listed at 5-9, 170, and he initially worried his size might stall his recruitment. After an official visit to Columbia this month, he learned otherwise.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve always been the smallest person on the field,” Gicinto said. “In the back of my mind, I just knew that meant I always had to work harder than everyone else. If you’re smaller, you have to be faster, better with your technique and all that stuff.”

This story was originally published December 20, 2017 at 6:38 PM with the headline "Raytown senior WR Dominic Gicinto signs with Missouri football."