Harry Ballard III signs NLI with Mizzou
Three-star McCluer North (Mo.) wide receiver Harry Ballard III signed his National Letter of Intent with Missouri today, the school announced, bringing the 2016 Mizzou class to 22 signed. Ballard verbally committed to the Tigers on February 9 picking Missouri over Iowa State and Illinois.
The signing of Ballard brings an end to an interesting recruitment. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound prospect was one of the most dynamic players in St. Louis his high school career. Despite that, he never garnered the attention from colleges that his on the field production and athletic potential would seem to justify.
"Ballard is big-bodied wide receiver who is a powerful strider and has a strong pair of hands. Everything about his game revolves around physical power," Rivals.com midwest analyst Josh Helmholdt explained. "From the way he gets rid of press coverage to the way he runs his routes to how he goes out and attacks the football at its highest point."
In ten games Ballard caught 32 passes for 606 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 30 times for 395 yards and four touchdowns. The No. 90 ranked wide receiver in the country accounted for more than 50% of the Stars' total offense and offensive touchdowns.
Concerns about his academics played a role in the lack of offers for Ballard, but earlier today sources at McCluer North and Mizzou echoed what Ballard has said recently. The No. 7 ranked player in Missouri looks good to qualify.
Ballard's signing is expected to bump Missouri up four spots in the 2016 Rivals team rankings from 52 to 48. Two signees Mizzou announced on February 3 (Chris Black and Tyler Howell) do not count towards the Rivals team rankings, but additional late additions at offensive line and running back could further bolster the Tigers' standing in the rankings.
Ballard told PowerMizzou.com when he committed that he expects to immediately contribute to the 2016 team.
“I’m trying to come in and make big plays. That’s what I always do. I’m going to try and be a program changer. [Cornell Ford] is looking forward to me playing right away. I told him that’s what I’m coming for,” he said in February. “It’s very exciting. I’m fixing to make some big plays. This offense is going to make a lot of plays. It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be a fun year.”
Talk about Ballard's signing with other Tiger fans on The Tigers' Lair.
Subscribe to PowerMizzou.com here for all the latest recruiting news on the Missouri Tigers.