Bauer is back

In April 2012, St. Louis (Mo.) DeSmet offensive tackle Andy Bauer committed to Missouri as a high school sophomore. During his junior season, Bauer re-opened his recruitment before eventually committing to Ole Miss.

After visiting Missouri on Saturday, however, Bauer decided to switch his commitment back to the Tigers. He confirmed the move to PowerMizzou.com before releasing a statement via Twitter:

"Through much prayer, discernment, and communication with my family I have decided to attend and play football for the University of Missouri. I want to thank Coach Freeze for the opportunity to play at Ole Miss. I want to thank Coach Luke as well for recruiting me and developing a very strong relationship with me, he is a great person and someone I look up to. I am disappointed that these relationships will end. This was a very tough decision and one that was not taken lightly. My relationships with Coach Gary Pinkel, Coach Josh Henson, Coach Cornell Ford, Coach Bruce Walker, Coach Alex Grinch and the rest of the staff at Mizzou have me very excited about my future there. I am very close with my family and the opportunity to be geographically close to them was too much to pass up. Almost my entire family has attended Mizzou and it is tradition for me, my heart has always been there. Mizzou has never stopped recruiting me. Coach Pinkel, Coach Henson, and Coach Ford have stuck with me through the entire process. I have had a relationship with Coach Henson since I was 14 years old. I am excited to be able to play for and represent my home state school. I want to be a part of bringing a championship to the state of Missouri and Mizzou. I am very thankful for the opportunity to study and play football at the University of Missouri."

In talks with Bauer's father, Craig, the family's plan is to have Andy shut off his phone for the next week or so before he does public interviews. From there, Craig Bauer said Andy will sit down for an in-depth interview with PowerMizzou.com, after an appropriate amount of time.

Andy Bauer is the nation's 105th rated player and the top-ranked player in Missouri. He missed his senior season with a hip injury, but is currently rehabbing the injury. He becomes Missouri's 25th-known commitment and the first four-star recruit to commit to the Tigers in the 2014 class.