:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48584747/GettyImages-185352609.0.jpg)
The next two weekends are going to be insane
It was a mostly calm recruiting weekend, with only Alabama transfer Chris Black and three-star Olathe safety Isaiah Simmons visiting. Mizzou sent out a couple more offers and whatnot, but this was the calm before the storm. The visitor lists for Jan. 22 and Jan. 29 should be pretty immense. This is a new experience for Mizzou recruiting followers used to the lion's share of visit work being done by mid-December. (That really wasn't an option this year, was it?)
PowerMizzou: Mizzou football recruiting roundup
The Trib: MU staff has work cut out for it as signing day nears
Under normal circumstances, it’s wise to sign at least one quarterback in every class. For Missouri, which isn’t sure how many returning scholarship quarterbacks will be here in the fall, it’s almost imperative.
The Tigers offered Keondre Wudtee, a 6-4, 195-pound dual-threat from Bossier City, La., on Thursday. He’s scheduled to visit campus the final weekend before signing day — after visits to Oklahoma State and TCU — according to Rivals.
Missouri has offered Dillon Sterling-Cole, a 6-2, 185-pound prospect from Houston who committed to Arizona State over the summer.
Another new assistant, another former Sooner
We don't know anything official yet, but it appears former Oklahoma lineman Jon Cooper, a favorite of Josh Heupel from the latter's days with the Sooners, is on staff in some role.
The Trib (David Morrison): Former OU center Jon Cooper joins MU offensive staff
Jon Cooper, a former Oklahoma center who has worked as a graduate assistant under Josh Heupel for the past three years, has joined Missouri's offensive staff.
Cooper, who spent the past year at Utah State with Heupel, indicated the move on Twitter, changing his profile to read "University of Missouri Assistant Football Coach."
In case you're curious, here's Cooper's Utah State bio.
Cooper comes to Utah State after spending the past two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Oklahoma, helping the Sooners compile a 19-7 overall record, including 45-31 victory over Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl.
Prior to joining the staff at Oklahoma, his alma mater, Cooper spent four seasons in the NFL. He spent his first three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, playing in 13 games with one start. In 2010 with the Vikings, Cooper played in 12 games and made his first career start against the Dallas Cowboys at center.
Cooper originally joined the Vikings in 2009 as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma. The native of Fort Collins, Colo., signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2012 and retired after spending one season with the club.
A three-year starter at center for Oklahoma, Cooper was tabbed the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior in 2008 while blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. During his playing days with the Sooners, Cooper helped lead OU to a 42-12 overall record and spot in the BCS National Championship game as a senior.
One assumes Cooper will be working pretty extensively with new Mizzou OL coach Glen Elarbee.
#TigerStyle business as usual
After a close call against Cornell last week, Mizzou went back to dominating this week on the mat.
MUtigers.com: No. 4 @MizzouWrestling Downs No. 19 Central Michigan, 26-9
Mizzou Wrestling (9-0, 6-0) won its 37th consecutive dual Sunday afternoon as the No. 4-ranked Tigers took down No. 19 Central Michigan (5-2, 2-1), 26-9, in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. #TigerStyle claimed seven individual wins on the day, led by redshirt sophomore 184-pounder Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa), who earned a first-period fall. Junior 197-pounder J'den Cox (Columbia, Mo.) and redshirt freshman 165-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.) each picked up major decision wins for the Tigers.
With the win, Mizzou extends its dual win streak to 37 consecutive victories. The No. 19-ranked Chippewas was Mizzou's 14th win over a ranked opponent during the streak.
The Trib: Barnes gives MU wrestling team a boost
Not as good a weekend for the Fightin' Pingetons
MUtigers.com: No. 24 @MizzouWBB Beaten at Arkansas, 64-52
This game was a little, uh, frustrating for those watching at home.
When is the Missouri women's basketball team going to learn that fouls 80 feet from the basket when the opponent is in the bonus are unwise?
— Blake Toppmeyer (@btoppmeyer) January 17, 2016
Tigers now 0-4 in Fayetteville since joining SEC.
— Blake Toppmeyer (@btoppmeyer) January 17, 2016
.@BradTregnago summed up foul differential well: Arkansas might have gotten a bit of home cookin', but MU needs to play smarter on defense
— Blake Toppmeyer (@btoppmeyer) January 17, 2016
Robin Pingeton on KTGR postgame: "We’ve got to adjust to the way the game is being called, and we’ve got to eliminate the ticky-tack fouls."
— Blake Toppmeyer (@btoppmeyer) January 17, 2016
My last Varsity Numbers
Out of pure loyalty and gratefulness to Aaron Schatz for helping me to develop an audience, I continued to write weekly Varsity Numbers columns at FO when I got the full-time gig with SBN. After five seasons of this, I figured it was time to call it quits. I'll still post data there and whatnot, but the column wasn't receiving my full attention, so it was time to cut it off.