When it comes to speed, DaMarion Fowlkes has a lot of it.

The three-star wide receiver started emerging as a recruit during his sophomore campaign before he stepped up in lieu of an injury his junior season at Olney (Md.) Good Counsel.

He ran away the opportunity... literally.

"I would tell either SEC schools or non-SEC schools this kid's got SEC speed," Good Counsel coach Andy Stefanelli said. "I don't know if they all believed me. It's like, 'Put the tape in, dude.'"

Fowlkes elevated his quickness on the football field, showing runs that most sprinters couldn't match. Complemented by smooth route running, soft hands and work ethic, he checked off multiple boxes for Stefanelli, who saw the potential and challenged Fowlkes early on.

Fowlkes totaled 1,247 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games his senior season. He also shined on special teams, with 241 yards on 14 punt returns, addressing an area Missouri has struggled in.

Against rival Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga this season, Fowlkes wasn't getting opportunities to field punts. Gonzaga held off until the last second to put the special teams unit on the field and quick kicked to keep the ball out of Fowlkes' hands.

But then the Good Counsel defense pinned Gonzaga inside its own yardage, giving Fowlkes an opportunity for a return. Fowlkes caught the ball, made a couple moves, put his foot in the ground and took off for a touchdown.

"He is as good of a punt returner as I've ever seen, and Stefon Diggs went to our school," Stefanelli said. "Stefon Diggs was the best punt returner I'd ever seen in high school, and DaMarion's got a lot of similar characteristics in that in that area. So I'm not saying he's Stefon, but it's close."

Good Counsel mirrors itself after a college program, prioritizing discipline, academics and year-round strength and conditioning. Within that time-consuming schedule, Fowlkes has also managed to play basketball and compete in track and field.

"He's very low maintenance is the best way to put it," Stefanelli said. "He just does what he's supposed to do."

It came out of left field.

Fowlkes, who verbally pledged to Pittsburgh in June, took an official visit to Missouri this past weekend, a few weeks after meeting Tigers wide receiver coach Jacob Peeler for the first time in person.

Missouri hasn't recruited Good Counsel often, so Fowlkes flipping his commitment to Missouri on Monday surprised Stefanelli, who thought his senior wideout was locked in with Pittsburgh.

"I'm not a big fan of the flipping, honestly, but I get it," Stefanelli said. "I understand it. It's the business of it now."

Fowlkes -- who will enroll in the summer -- got on the radar of Peeler early in the 2024 season, but with a commitment to his routine and schedule, he didn't have an opportunity to see Missouri until the final weekend of the regular season.

"(Peeler) said he likes my character and how I like really carry myself on the field," Fowlkes said. "He liked how I don't really show my emotions on the field. I'm not a very emotional person when I'm on the field, and I don't show up my teammates in bad ways and stuff."

Ryan O'Bleness: "His speed is evident, which makes him dangerous both in the passing game and as a returner. He makes plays with the ball in his hands, and can take short throws on screens and slants and hitches to the end zone at any given moment during his high school career. I like how he works himself open in the middle of the field, and he can line up on the outside or in the slot, although it looks like he was mainly used on the outside at the high school level.

I like the jet sweep/push pass action Good Counsel sometimes runs for him, too, and he runs through contact.He has a smooth release and runs good routes, but those are generally the areas true freshman wide receivers lack in, along with run blocking, so always room for improvement there. I don't necessarily know if he is somebody who can come in right away and make an impact offensively, but you never know, and he certainly could earn some special teams reps early. With that said, I like him as somebody who can develop and become a difference-maker for the Tigers in the future."