North Texas roundup, and a little ‘crootin tidbit...
Before we get to the football news and notes, just a little something to address...
H ME‼️ Pumped to add a HUGE piece to this class!#NewZou22 #MIZ
— Kevin Pendleton (@KevinP_71) October 10, 2021
The #MizzouMade offensive lineman (turned recruiting specialist for the program) dropped this little nugget on Sunday afternoon, signaling that the Tigers had officially added someone to the 2022 class. This is a bit head-scratcher for a few reasons:
1. Pendleton teased it, but no one on staff (Drinkwitz especially) followed up on the tease. I suppose it’s not uncommon to have a staffer offer their prelude to the official announcement, but this felt... minor. This is especially true considering Pendleton soon followed his initial statement up with a retweet from a walk-on kicker who committed to the Tigers.
2. There is the matter, however, of the fact that several visitors were in town for Mizzou’s homecoming victory over North Texas. One player specifically to keep an eye on is JUCO offensive lineman Tyrone Webber. Everything we can see suggests Webber is an Oklahoma State lean... but that doesn’t mean a weekend in Columbia didn’t persuade him.
3. I know what everyone is thinking because it’s what I immediately started thinking, too. Five-star wide receiver Luther Burden is about one week away from announcing his decision, and things aren’t looking too bad for the Tigers right now. Even with the struggles on the field, Burden is still considered (loosely) a Mizzou lean or at the very least heavily interested. Getting him on campus for Homecoming was a slick move... specifically with Sam Horn and Max Whisner tagging along.
A big test is coming, though. Burden will cap off his series of officials to the University of Georgia this coming weekend. You know, the number one team in the country? The one who’s about to host Kentucky for an undefeated SEC matchup in Athens? Gameday will be there?
We have no reason to doubt Eli Drinkwitz’s recruiting bonafides at this point. He’s done everything we could’ve asked of him. But I have to tell y’all — pulling a consensus five-star player out of the pocket of Oklahoma and then preventing him from heading to Athens when Georgia is putting on this hard of a sell? That would be a trick no Mizzou coach has ever pulled.
Anyway, onto the news and notes from Sunday...
- In his snap counts and PFF grades analysis piece for the Post-Dispatch, Dave Matter highlights some small changes that took place in Mizzou’s defense and deciphers whether or not they worked out against the Mean Green.
- Eric Blum at the Tribune collated all the things we learned from Mizzou’s 48-35 win over North Texas while separately breaking down the play that effectively iced the victory — Mekhi Wingo’s pick-six.
- Lila Bromberg hands out her grades which feature a now-traditional passing-with-flying-colors grade for special teams along with her analysis of how the offense and defense performed.
Yesterday at Rock M
- In which Sam lobbies for more straight talk and less theatrics from Eli Drinkwitz
- In which Kortay waxes poetic about our current favorite player in college football
More Links:
- You think Luther Burden would be a big add for Mizzou Football? Try imagining consensus five-star combo forward Mark Mitchell suiting up for Cuonzo Martin...
Five-Star @sunrisehoops forward Mark Mitchell shared this pic from his official visit to #Mizzou this weekend. pic.twitter.com/QW8X1Bp3kd
— Jacob Polacheck (@JacobPolacheck) October 10, 2021
Mitchell was on his official to Columbia this weekend.
- In case you hadn’t heard, Sophie Cunningham is in the WNBA finals with the Phoenix Mercury. Unfortunately, the Mercury dropped Game 1 91-77 to the Chicago Sky. The good news, however, is that Cunningham is due to make her finals debut in the coming game.
The Chicago Sky took game one of the WNBA Finals over Phoenix, 91-77, today.
— Nathalie Jones (@NathalieABC17) October 10, 2021
Sophie Cunningham did not dress out for the game. She was listed as questionable for today with a left calf strain. Good news though - the broadcast said the team expects her back for Wednesday!
- Going quickly back to Mizzou Football recruiting: You’ve gotta check out this highlight from Tiger WR commit Ja’Marion Wayne.
#Mizzou Football recruit @Jamarionwayne2 from Parkway West hurdles defender in HS game on @FOX2now.
— Charlie Marlow (@CharlieMarlow_) October 10, 2021
Check out his full highlight reel
https://t.co/sXIN903jIE pic.twitter.com/HnNaNJsjGL
I think the term hurdle tends to get overused when it comes to football. Some guys will leap over a defender and get smashed in mid-air only to crumple to the ground shortly thereafter. But this is a bonafide hurdle. Too bad MSHSAA is dumb and calls hurdles in high school a penalty.
- Mizzou Hoops commit Aidan Shaw, when he wasn’t working Mark Mitchell this weekend, was accompanying his sister, who is very highly regarded, on her own visit of the Hoops facilities.
I am grateful to receive an offer from the University of Missouri! ⚫️ @CoachPingeton @MizzouWBB @MizzouAthletics @ChrisBracey10 @Abracey40 @MizzouCoachPut #bluestar30 pic.twitter.com/LVHmI6jZQ8
— Aubrey Shaw (@AubreyShaw23) October 11, 2021
- Not sure if anyone bumped this earlier this week, but I’ll do it again anyway: if you know any students at Mizzou, tell them to be careful where they party. A recent sunshine request highlighted several areas on/around campus and downtown where drugged drinks are being reported. Can’t say I’m shocked by the repeat offenders, but here we are.
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