Barry Odom and staff have been working hard to flip local tight end Brendan Scales, even having him on a secret official visit to Columbia this past weekend. Looks like it worked.
I'm super excited and stoked to say I'm staying home to be a Missouri Tiger #MizzouMade #miz pic.twitter.com/WkJM09dfcL
— Brendan Scales (@bscales25) February 3, 2016
#Breaking: Brendan Scales (@bscales25), TE, Lafayette HS, told me at 5pm today that he is decommitting from #Bama & will sign with #Mizzou.
— Charlie Marlow (@CharlieMarlow_) February 3, 2016
A 6'4 230 tight end from Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri, Josh Heupel has been working to get this type of athlete who can be an in-line blocker as well as pass catching threat. Apparently the staff convinced him to come to Mizzou by explaining they wanted to run the ball significantly more.
TE Brendan Scales Flips Commitment From Alabama to Missouri - Missouri - Scout
"They are trying to do an uptempo offense," he said. "They are trying to run like 20-30 more plays per game than they have before. So more fast-paced."
It probably also helped that Bama's staff asked him to grayshirt, as they had been recruiting over him recently.
Brendan Scales DID NOT directly flip from Alabama to Mizzou. The Alabama staff asked him to grayshirt yesterday. Decommitted right after.
— Mike Mandell (@MichaelJMandell) February 3, 2016
He's rated at 3 stars according to Rivals, 247, Scout and ESPN.
Scales has been on Mizzou fans radar for a long time and for good reason, he's been a fan of the Tigers since he was young: Alabama recruit Scales surprised as offers rolled in : Stlhss
But there was a time he hoped his home state would deliver for him. There was a time Scales wanted nothing more than to play at Mizzou. Dreamed of it, actually.
"Some of my friends took a video when Alabama offered me. At the time, I had a Mizzou shirt on," Scales said. "I've always wanted to go to Mizzou." Only he soured on the Tigers.
He was invited to Mizzou's Junior Day in the winter and was given the impression an offer was coming. Only the Tigers didn't offer him. The coaches told Scales they needed to review his film. Scales was devastated and hurt.
Scales will be the second tight end in Missouri's 2016 recruiting class, joining Albert Okwuegbunam.
| Pos | Seniors | Juniors | Sophomores | Freshman | Class of 2016 | Tot |
| TE | Sean Culkin (RS) 6'6 245 | Jason Reese (RS) 6'5 240 | Kendall Blanton (RS) 6'6 250 | Albert Okwuegbunam 6'5 215 | 4 | |
Tight end coach Joe Jon Finely is certainly excited:
BIG NEWS FOR THE ZOU TONIGHT!!! We just got better.
— Joe Jon Finley (@JOE_JON_FINLEY) February 3, 2016
Welcome to Mizzou, Brendan!