Winning recruiting battles over Alabama and Texas is fun!

And that’s exactly what Eli Drinkwitz did on National Signing Day by landing three-star cornerback Ennis Rakestraw, Jr. from Duncanville, Texas. The head coach’s reaction on early Wednesday morning? Absolutely priceless.

Honestly, same.

It was just last month that Rakestraw Jr. was named Dallas Morning News’ 2019 SportsDay HS Defensive Player of the Year.

“A player who entered his senior season with no offers from Power 5 schools is now one of the most coveted corner back recruits in the nation.”

Missouri closed the second National Signing Day with a total of six signees, including Rakestraw. For now, Mizzou’s 2020 recruiting class is set with a total of 17 commitments.

Mizzou’s 2020 recruiting class currently ranks 50th on 247Sports and tied for 56th on Rivals, if you’re into that kind of thing.

To the NBA.... Michael Porter, Jr. was named Player of the Month for the Denver Nuggets (and it was hard to imagine anyone else winning with the numbers he put up)!

Unfortunately, he didn’t play Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz with a right ankle injury, but one former Missouri Tiger was in this game. Jordan Clarkson finished with 16 points and 6-7 from the field, but the Nuggets beat the Jazz 98-95.

Onto the links!

Yesterday at Rock M

• Eli Drinkwitz is bringing energy to the Mizzou football program, writes Brandon Kiley. Right on cue!
• From Josh Matejka, Missouri beats out Texas, Alabama for coveted CB recruit. You love to see it!
• Missouri Football recruiting: News and updates from late signing day 2020, from Sam Snelling and Ryan Herrera
• A very exciting announcement for Rock M Nation upcoming on Saturday! Take part in the Rally For Rhyan Pledge Drive 2020: Mizzou vs Arkansas

More Links:

• Former Tiger Sophie Cunningham shooting for a cause Down Under, writes STLToday’s Christina Long
• Some sad news to pass along... Rest In Peace to longtime Mizzou Athletics employee, Connie Sprague

• Back on January 20th, top CB target Ennis Rakestraw Details Mizzou Official, writes PowerMizzou’s Sean Williams ($$)
• Ennis Rakestraw spurns Alabama for Mizzou on National Signing Day, writes CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford
• From Power Mizzou’s Mitchell Forde: How Mizzou landed Ennis Rakestraw
• From STLToday’s Dave Matter: Mizzou beats Alabama, Texas for coveted defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
• From Rivals’ Josh Helmholdt, Mizzou was among the National Signing Day winners
• Notebook: Mizzou might not be done adding to 2020 class, writes PowerMizzou’s Mitchell Forde
• Voice of the Fantlebury: Signing Day memories, from PowerMizzou’s Pete Scantlebury
• STLToday’s Dave Matter writes that Drinkwitz’s first Mizzou class ends with signing day drama, jubliation
• From KCStar’s Souichi Terada. Drinkwitz puts finishing touches on Class of 2020
• According to The Athletic’s Peter Baugh, former defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat has entered the transfer portal

• On the Paul Finebaum Show, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin showed his support from Eli Drinkwitz’s reaction on the Ennis Rakestraw commitment

• Mizzou Softball has released a hype video for their upcoming season! The Tigers start the 2020 campaign on Friday in Florida against Notre Dame

• From ABC17’s Tyler Murry, Eli Drinkwitz at his National Signing Day press conference said that “It’s not hard to sell Mizzou.”

• Ex-Mizzou receivers (L’Damian Washington and Marcus Lucas) excited to play for Battlehawks, from STLToday’s Joe Lyons
• Drinkwitz closes first Mizzou signing class with dramatic finish, writes STLToday’s Dave Matter
• Mizzou Women’s Basketball Set to Face Georgia on Thursday. Game preview on MUTigers.com.
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