Early Signing Day — or what is now unofficially National Signing Day — is always prone to give us a surprise or two. That’s just how recruiting is. Kids are making one of the biggest decisions of their life. Sometimes they get cold feet and want to give their decision some more thought. Sometimes they feel the pressure from their friends and opposing coaches and decide to change their minds at the last minute.
Some kids, though? They just have a flair for the dramatic. Such is the case with Arden Walker, the latest member of the 2021 signing class.
.@walker_arden announces here at signing day that he’ll be taking his talents to @MizzouFootball #9sports @CreekFB pic.twitter.com/Xil0i19qVy
— Arielle Orsuto (@ArielleOrsuto) December 16, 2020
Mizzou had been talking to Walker for a long time, but it was unknown where the DE out of Colorado was leaning. Word was that UCLA and the home-state Buffalos were hot on his tail. But Drinkwitz did what he has done time and again this cycle by landing his guy.
Get to know: Arden Walker
Hometown: Englewood, CO
High School: Cherry Creek
Position: Defensive End
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 240 lbs
Rivals Ranking: 5.7, 3-star
247Composite Ranking: 0.8667, 3-star
Total announced offers: 19
Offers to note: Colorado, Iowa, Iowa State, UCLA
The first thing that stands out to me on Walker’s tape is the way he finishes plays. He’s not the hyper-athletic rusher we’ve seen in Missouri’s past, but the young man is a juggernaut when he gets some momentum. He’s got good closing speed and just enough shiftiness to bounce outside and prevent QBs from getting edge on broken plays. His strength and physicality will be a big boost for a defensive line that has been pushed around a lot in 2020.
What they’re saying:
As noted above, this was the first real surprise of the day, and Eli Drinkwitz wasn’t shy about it.
BIG TIME SURPRISE! #NSD21 #NewZou21
— Eliah Drinkwitz (@CoachDrinkwitz) December 16, 2020
It sounds like some late work paid off as well, as all the latest 247 Crystal Ball predictions had Walker headed to UCLA or Colorado.
I talked to Walker on Monday, and here's what he said about his conversations with Eliah Drinkwitz:
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) December 16, 2020
“He talked to me about where the program is going. He wants to build his defense, and he sees me being a big part of what he’s doing, and I see it as well." https://t.co/8YOa3sXUcu
The one prospect who was up in the air for #Mizzou today was Colroado DL Arden Walker. He picked the Tigers over UCLA and Colorado moments ago on Instagram Live https://t.co/YQJkoQzL2i
— Power Mizzou (@PowerMizzoucom) December 16, 2020
Mizzou 2024 Commitment List
Pos | Recruit Name | Hometown | Commitment Date | Rivals Rate | Rivals Rank | 247 Rate | 247 Rank | Ht | Wt |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pos | Recruit Name | Hometown | Commitment Date | Rivals Rate | Rivals Rank | 247 Rate | 247 Rank | Ht | Wt |
TE | Whit Hafer | Joplin, MO | 2/25/2023 | 3-star | 5.6 | 3-star | 0.8639 | 6'7 | 230 |
TE-OL | Ryan Jostes | Washington, MO | 3/11/2023 | 3-star | 5.6 | 3-star | 0.8664 | 6'6 | 280 |
QB | Aidan Glover | Colliervillle, TN | 6/15/2023 | 3-star | 5.7 | 3-star | 0.8828 | 6'3 | 190 |
WR-S | Jude James | St. Charles, MO | 6/30/2023 | 3-star | 5.60 | 3-star | 0.8567 | 6'4 | 200 |
ATH | Jackson Hancock | Canton, GA | 6/30/2023 | 3-star | 5.6 | 3-star | 0.8672 | 6'0 | 175 |
DT | Justin Bodford | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 7/2/2023 | 3-star | 5.7 | 3-star | 0.8481 | 6'1 | 290 |
LB | Nicholas Rodriguez | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 7/3/2023 | 4-star | 5.8 | 3-star | 0.8775 | 6'1 | 190 |
WR | James Madison II | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 7/4/2023 | 4-star | 5.8 | 4-star | 0.8925 | 6'3 | 190 |
CB | Cameron Keys | Lynn Haven, FL | 7/4/2023 | 3-star | 5.6 | 4-star | 0.8864 | 6'0 | 160 |
LB | Brian Huff | Jonesboro, AR | 7/12/2023 | 4-star | 5.8 | 4-star | 0.9021 | 6'3 | 224 |
DE | Williams Nwaneri | Lee's Summit, MO | 8/14/2023 | 5-star | 6.1 | 5-star | 0.9992 | 6'5 | 250 |
DE | Jaylen Brown | Madison, AL | 8/22/2023 | 3-star | 5.5 | 3-star | 0.8611 | 6'6 | 230 |
DE | Elias Williams | Hudson, FL | 9/1/2023 | 4-star | 5.8 | 4-star | 0.8924 | 6'4 | 270 |
ATH | Austyn Dendy | Pine Bluff, AR | 9/30/2023 | 3-star | 5.6 | 3-star | 0.8719 | 6'1 | 200 |
OL | Talan Chandler | Nevada, MO | 11/19/2023 | 3-star | 5.6 | 3-star | 0.8753 | 6'3 | 292 |
RB | Kewan Lacy | Lancaster, TX | 12/14/2023 | 4-star | 5.8 | 4-star | 0.9153 | 6'0 | 205 |
OL | Caleb Pyfrom | Omaha, NE | 12/18/2023 | 3-star | 5.7 | 3-star | 0.8753 | 6'5 | 315 |
WR | Courtney Crutchfield | Pine Bluff, AR | 12/19/2023 | 4-star | 5.8 | 4-star | 0.9380 | 6'2 | 175 |
CB | Jaren Sensabaugh | Nashville, TN | 12/19/2023 | 3-star | 5.7 | 3-star | 0.8722 | 6'0 | 160 |
S | Trajen Greco | Hoschton, GA | 1/6/2024 | 3-star | 5.6 | 4-star | 0.9137 | 6'0 | 180 |
5.7 | 0.8879 |