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Missouri secures commitment from VA Tech grad transfer

This is Missouri’s 14th commitment of the 2020 class.

While Mizzou Twitter was in the dumps after another loss by the men’s basketball team, this time to West Virginia, on Saturday, the football team had something brewing.

Damon Hazelton Jr. first Tweeted a picture with Missouri graphics, then followed it up about 30 minutes later with the single word, “Committed!” which means Eliah Drinkwitz just nailed down a graduate transfer receiver from Virginia Tech.

Hazelton started his career at Ball State, where he caught 51 passes for 505 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman in 2016. He transferred to Virginia Tech after that season, and transfer rules forced him to sit out 2017. In the next two seasons with the Hokies, he caught 82 passes for 1,329 yards and 16 touchdowns over 22 games, including a team-high eight receiving touchdowns in 2019.

When Jonathan Nance and Kelly Bryant came to Missouri as grad transfers last season, they were able to play right away, just like most grad transfers. However, as The Athletic’s Andy Bitter reported on Jan. 17, because Hazelton has already transferred once in his college career, NCAA rules may still force him to apply for an immediate eligibility waiver.

Either way, with Hazelton’s commitment, Drinkwitz’s promise to add “touchdown-makers” looks to be coming to fruition.

Get to know: Damon Hazelton Jr.

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

High School: Franklin High School

Position: WR

Ht/Wt: 6-2/215

Rivals Ranking: 2-star, 5.3

247Composite Ranking: 2-star, .79

Total announced offers: Five

Offers to note: Ball State

What they’re saying:

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 5.5 N/A 0.8478 6'7 230
TE-OL Ryan Jostes Washington, MO 3/11/2023 3-star 5.6 3-star 0.8619 6'6 280
QB Daniel Kaelin Bellevue, NE 3/13/2023 3-star 5.7 3-star 0.8826 6'2 198
DL Tionne Gray St. Louis, MO 3/18/2023 4-star 5.9 4-star 0.9007 6'6 305
5.68 0.8733