Three-star talent will walk on at Mizzou

No one covers Tiger athletics like PowerMizzou.com. To follow the Tigers year-round, sign up today to start your Free Seven-Day Trial.

Walk-ons are generally players who were just a step away from getting a Division One scholarship offer. But that's not the case with one player who will be a walk-on at Mizzou this fall. Edmond, OK athlete Randy Ponder had four Division One scholarship offers during his senior year. Tulsa, Houston, Air Force and New Mexico all offered the three-star prospect a full ride.

But Ponder turned his back on all four to walk on at Missouri.

"Missouri called and I went down there to visit. It was between me and one other kid for a scholarship," Ponder said. "I liked the visit, but they said the other kid had committed and so I would walk on."

That's not a path that many high school seniors choose. Most would take the full ride.

"It was just the feel I got," Ponder said. "I really liked the coaches and the campus was nice. Really, it was the people. I just liked the family environment there."

Ponder played running back, receiver and defensive back at Santa Fe High School in Edmond. He said the Tigers plan to play him at corner.

Ponder will be in Columbia in June for summer conditioning with the Tigers.

No one covers Tiger athletics like PowerMizzou.com. To follow the Tigers year-round, sign up today to start your Free Seven-Day Trial.