Coaches on the Class

We spoke to seven Missouri assistant coaches about the 24 individual players that made up the 2017 Tiger signing class. Read what the coaches had to say about all the prospects.

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Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee: "We knew we wanted a center, we knew we needed a couple tackles and after that look to see where guys would fit in guard wise.

"We’re breeding competition. There wasn’t a while lot of it this past spring and fall. Hopefully Yaya (Yasir Durant) will come in and compete, Case will come in and compete, Hyrin will come in and compete. Pomp, he’s got to get over that injury and what not, but I could see him having a chance and Larry same thing. Just such a big physical guy he’ll have a chance.

"It’s always the same. The speed of the game’s so much different. All of them in some way can benefit in pass protection, just where they’re placing their hands or where they’re setting. The run game, there are some techniques that we use that are a little bit different. There are some things all of them can work on but that’s no different than any kid moving from high school to college.

Offensive Coordinator Josh Heupel on Miller: "It does help because by the time they get to training camp they feel like they’re a seasoned vet versus the first time just trying to get your feet on the ground and get comfortable in the game. he’s got an opportunity to learn all our run schemes and the blocking, the speed of the game, learn how to get behind his pads and also pass protection as well. He’s a little bit different than Larry not as big. He is powerful though. He’s a 400-pound bencher, extremely strong in squat rack as well. He’s got a little bit of shiftiness to him, a little bit more of a scatback, got great vision, jump cuts and making the last guy miss. Has enough speed to make it a home run too."

Heupel on Rountree: "With our run game we want to go North and South. Having somebody that’s got a little bit of size to him is beneficial. He’s 205 pounds right. He’ll probably end up 215, maybe 220 by the time we get to training camp. Similar to what Damarea was when we signed him a year ago. Has the ability to get behind his pads, loves contact. Has the ability to take it the distance too. He comes from a great high school program. They’ve had a bunch of Division One backs. Coaches there feel like this is the best one. We’re really excited about him and his future."

Wide receivers coach Andy Hill on Clark: "That’s the thing you weigh is his size can he hold up? But if your’e a small guy do you have some meat to you? Can they tackle the guy? Can they touch him? It’s not even gonna matter. You've got top end speed.

That’s a pretty big number 1700 yards receiving in 6A Texas"

Hill on Davis: "It was great because he’a s Mizzou guy all the way through and his family and all the people in Kansas City are saying yeah he’s Mizzou all the way. There were some times there this summer I might go here, I might go there, but ultimately he said I’m gong to commit myself and try to be a Missouri Tiger and that was darn good down the stretch.

"We saw him in camp three years ago as a guy that was a playmaker at receiver. Then he went back to high school and played running back for a couple years. Truthfully, I liked to see that because you’re used to running with the ball after you make a catch at reciever. We know he has good hands, we know he has great speed, the size. His jumping ability and vertical jump and all that are pretty special. He got dinged up a little bit even this year. Transferring schools is always a little bit of a challenge. He hasn’t gotten to show really what we think he can really do. He’s a pretty special guy."

Tight Ends coach Joe Jon Finley: "Logan committed early to us and he never wavered from there on out. He didn’t talk to anybody else, he didn’t even think about anybody else and I think that’s due to our relationship I have with him and he had with coach Odom and with his family as well. The fact that he has a cousin that goes to graduate school here, that helped us, but we got him on campus early, he loved it and we hit it off. He never looked back.

"He’s similar to Kendall Blanton in that he’s extremely long. He’s not quite as big as Kendall yet, but that’s natural for a kid that tall and that young. Once they stop getting tall, now they get to broaden out a little bit. He’s 220 pounds right now and he didn’t get to lift a weight this year because he got hurt the third week of the season. He’s a violent player. He likes contact which is what I look for first and I look at size and all the other attributes. He likes to play the game violently plus he can split out, catch the ball and do something with it after. Those are all positives for me.

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel: "Smart, competitive, winner. He’s got every intangible in my opinion of what you are looking for in a quarterback. Extremely smart. Came in on his official visit and all he wanted to do was watch and talk ball and when he was in there he was dialed in. He understands protections. Won two state championships, won every player of the year award in the state of Arkansas. He’s a guy that’s got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. He’s very competitive, he’s used to winning, he’s accustomed to it and he knows what it looks like on a daily basis to get yourself prepared. I think he’ll be a driving force of continuing to push us down the road as a program."

Defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross: "Anytime you go the junior college route, those guys have got to have an immediate impact. Being able to get those guys along with a Kobie Whiteside…those two young guys Caleb and Whiteside, who I think is a steal for us this late in the game have a physical presence that we need to back up guys that are coming back for us."

Defensive line coach Brick Haley on Anderson and Brandon: "I think Rashad is a big strong young man that brings a lot to the table. I think he’s going to bring us some strength inside and I’m really excited about having him. Nate outside he should be a good pass edge rush guy for us. I think he will be able to hold up against the run. Still got to get them on campus, get them coached up but for the most part all their measurable are what you look for at each position."

Haley on Chris Turner: "He’s actually gained some weight since the recruitment started. he’s done a good job there. He’s running about 235 now, 232 somewhrere in there. He’s a guy that we want to put it on slow, make sure it’s good weight. But he’s a guy that brings a great presence, great pass rush, great motor, great young man. I think he’s gonna be a really, really good add to our room."

Haley on Caleb Sampson: "Felt good about the family. Had an opportunity to go in visit with that family. He has a great family and they loved Mizzou when they came up on their official visit. I think it was a matter of time and just had to work through all the red tape of it. I think for the most part when he came to Mizzou he fell in love with Mizzou, this is where he wanted to be and he’s going to be a great addition to our football family."

Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach DeMontie Cross: "Aubrey has a little bit more versatility to play in space whereas Jamal is more of our inside presence, a guy that’s gonna plug up the middle a little bit but has enough athleticism to drop into coverage if need be. He’s definitely more of a MIKE linebacker where Aubrey’s more of the outside linebacker that could be versatile inside or outside the box."

Cross on Brooks as a leader: "Every day. You like that. He knows all the ins and outs personality of guys, if we’ve got a guy on the fringe of maybe wanting to jump in he could fill us in on it. He’s kind of the glue of the recruiting class in the coaches’ opinion and I think all of the other recruits would agree with that. He did a really good job and he’s a really good player so it makes a world of difference for us knowing we’ve got a really good player but also a really good kid with some leadership qualities."

Defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross: "Super excited. We felt like we wanted another one, just couldn’t find another one really to go on that was at the caliber of those two guys. Speed. Both guys are hovering right around the 6-foot, 5-11 mark, but speed was really good and knowing that those kids were a little bit taller brings a different element for us we feel. Not only can you put those guys in coverage, but they help us in zone and can also play on some special teams."

Safeties coach Ryan Walters on Jordan Ulmer: "Jordan Ulmer, he’s an enforcer. He’s 6-2, 190 pounds and he’s gonna be a big kid. He loves contact. He stops you right in your tracks once he makes contact. I’m excited about him. He’s also got some range, 6-2 and to be able to run and change direction."

Walters on Bledsoe: "Josh Bledsoe is a versatile guy, he can play down in the box and can also play on the back end. He’s got good ball skills, understands the game, also plays on offense a little bit. He’s a versatile cat."

Walters on Gillespie: "Tyree Gillespie is a guy that can do it all. 6 foot, 207 pounds, he’ll be as fast as anybody we’ve got in the program. Was a great running back in high school. He’s physical, got great ball skills. The sky’s the limit for that kid."