Gardner will walk-on

While Missouri waits on the last of its top-target recruits to announce on Wednesday, the Tigers added to their 2015 class with Trotwood (Ohio) linebacker/ safety Ferrod Gardner.

Gardner, a two-star recruit, accepted an offer as a preferred walk-on with Missouri. Cornerbacks coach Cornell Ford extended the offer on Monday night, and Gardner accepted and publicly announced on Tuesday.

Gardner, once a Bowling Green commitment, spurned other offers to walk on at Missouri.

"Of the other offers I had, those schools, I didn't want to go to them and be miserable for four years," Gardner said. "I wanted to go somewhere and be happy, make the depth chart and compete at a high level. I believe I can really do that at Missouri, whether I had a scholarship or whether I walk on."

Gardner has visited Missouri multiple times, and camped with the Tigers over the summer, where he impressed the coaching staff. Ford stayed in touch with Gardner, and he may have been in the running for a scholarship offer if not for the possible commitment of Lithonia (Ga.) linebacker Terez Hall, which was confirmed to PowerMizzou.com on Tuesday.

"Missouri is where I wanted to go throughout my whole high school career," Gardner said. "They thought if Terez committed they wouldn't have a spot for me, and even if he didn't, they were going to take another d-lineman.

"So I just went ahead and took the initiative, took the offer to walk-on. My parents believe in me and they follow me 100-percent."