With Gary Pinkel's 13th recruiting class at Missouri officially in the books, PowerMizzou.com is taking a look back at each recruiting class by position. Today we continue our "Recruiting Rewind" series with a look at the tight ends.

When you've recruited and coached three of the best tight ends in school history, it's hard to argue with the results. Sure, Gary Pinkel has had some misses at the tight end position. 4-star prospects Zach Zwilling and Josh Barbo combined for zero catches in their Tiger careers. But Pinkel will be remembered for bringing in three record setters in Martin Rucker (2003), Chase Coffman (2005), and Michael Egnew (2008). All three were drafted into the NFL. While their results in the pros are questionable, their college production is not. Coffman is Mizzou's all-time receptions leader, Rucker is second and Egnew is ninth. All three were All-Americans.

Overall, Pinkel and his staff have signed 18 tight end prospects. Eight exhausted their eligibility at Missouri, six left the program early, three are still on the roster, and one is in high school. In some years, Missouri has gone without a traditional tight end. Technically, Danario Alexander and even Dorial Green-Beckham have played "tight end" for the Tigers. However, our list only includes players who were listed as a tight end on the official school roster.


2001
Ben Fredrickson: Westminster, CA, - recruiting rankings unavailable
2-year player (recruited from junior college)
18 catches, 188 yards, 10.4 avg., 3 touchdowns

Verdict: Pinkel brought in Fredrickson from the junior college ranks and he saw significant playing time in his two years on campus. At the time, Missouri didn't utilize tight ends the way they would with future players like Rucker and Coffman.

2002
DeQuincy Howard: Tyler, TX - 2-star recruit
5-year player
Career statistics: 2 catches, 14 yards, 1 touchdown

Zach Zwilling: St. Peters, MO - 4-star recruit
Never made it to campus
Career statistics: None

Verdict: This class turned out to be a swing and a miss by Pinkel and the staff. Zwilling, a highly-ranked 4-star recruit never played a down for the Tigers.

2003
Josh Barbo: Conway Springs, KS - 4-star recruit
Left program after four seasons
Career statistics: Moved to defense after his redshirt freshman season, never caught a pass for the Tigers

Martin Rucker: St. Joseph, MO - 3-star recruit
5-year player: 2007 consensus All-American, 2007 2nd team All-Big 12, 2006 1st team All Big-12, 2005 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Career statistics: 203 catches, 2,175 yards, 10.7 avg., 18 touchdowns
Rushing: 16 attempts, 56 yards, 3.5 avg.

Victor Sesay: Sliver Spring, MD - 3-star recruit
2-year player (recruited from junior college)
Career statistics: 46 catches, 468 yards, 10.2 avg., 5 touchdowns

Verdict: Barbo, the highest ranked recruit in this class never made an impact. However, Rucker will go down as one of the best tight ends in school history. He ranks second in Mizzou history in receptions and fifth in receiving yards. Rucker was a team leader and helped establish Mizzou as one of the better teams in the Big 12. His All-American season of 2007 ended with a Missouri Cotton Bowl victory.

2004
Brian Barmann: Weston, MO - 2-star recruit
Left program after two seasons
Career statistics: none

Verdict: Barmann never made an impact for the Tigers.

2005
Chase Coffman: Peculiar, MO - 3-star recruit
4-year player: 3-time All-Big 12, 2008 1st team All-American, 2008 John Mackey Award winner, drafted in 3rd round of 2009 NFL Draft
Career statistics: 247 catches (Best in MU history), 2,659 yards, 10.8 avg., 30 touchdowns
Rushing: 1 attempt, 8 yards
Passing: 1 completion, 3 attempts, 29 yards, 1 touchdown

Jon Gissinger: Poway, CA - 2-star recruit
5-year player
Career statistics: 1 catch, 10 yards

Chris Hudgins: Van Vleck, TX - 2-star recruit
Left during first season
Career statistics: none

Verdict: This class produced the best tight end in school history. It doesn't get much better than that. Coffman was a model of consistency, catching at least 47 passes in each of his first three seasons before exploding for 90 catches and winning the Mackey Award as a senior. He is MU's career-leader in catches and is third in receiving yards. It's amusing that Coffman was an All-American and Mackey Award winner in 2008 yet still wasn't 1st team All-Big 12.

2006
None

2007
None

2008
Michael Egnew: Plainview, TX - 2-star recruit
4-year player: 2010 Consensus All-American, 2-time 1st team All-Big 12, 2010 Mackey Award Finalist, drafted in the 3rd round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Career statistics: 147 catches, 1,332 yards, 9.1 avg., 8 touchdowns

Andrew Jones: Smithville, MO - 4-star recruit
4-year player
Career statistics: 30 catches, 200 yards

Verdict: Jones was a highly-regarded recruit but never achieved the statistical achievements some expected. He was still a valuable member of the team and described by Mizzou's official web site as a "true son of Mizzou to the core." Meanwhile, Egnew was an unknown wide receiver prospect who developed into one of the best tight ends in school history. Egnew ranks 9th in Mizzou history in receptions.

2009
Alex Sanders: Springfield, MO - 3-star recruit
Left program after two seasons
Career statistics: Battled injuries and never recorded a stat for Missouri

Verdict: Sanders had the size and speed to be a factor in Missouri's offense but injury problems kept him from ever contributing.

2010
Matt Hoch: Harlan, IA - 3-star recruit
Still in program
Career statistics: Spent his first season as a redshirt tight end before being moved to defense.

Eric Waters: Mansfield, TX - 3-star recruit
Still in program
Career statistics: 6 catches, 73 yards, 1 touchdown

Verdict: Eric Waters is a veteran player who should contribute for the Tigers in 2013. Originally, a tight end, Matt Hoch is now a staple in Missouri's defensive front.

2011
None

2012
Sean Culkin: Largo, FL - 3-star recruit
Still in program
Career statistics: none

Brandon Holifield: Tallahassee, FL - 3-star recruit
Left program during first season
Career statistics: 0 games

Verdict: Culkin has drawn rave reviews in practice and will see his first game action in 2013. Holifield, a late addition to the 2012 class was dismissed from the team during the season.

2013
Jason Reese: Euless, TX - 3-star recruit
Still in high school
Career statistics: n/a

Verdict: Missouri badly wanted a tight end in this class and landed one in 6-foot-4, 220 lb. Reese, a former Arizona State commit.

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