Tiger coaches think class meets needs at key positions
Fans love the idea of their favorite school winning recruiting battles for Top100 prospects and five-star recruits. Putting together Top 10 classes that bring in a wave of newcomers all expecting to play from day one.
Schools like Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, LSU, Georgia, Florida State, Clemson and a few others live in that world. Unfortunately for Mizzou fans the Tigers do not.
Missouri coaches aren't opposed to recruiting the highest ranked players, but dumping resources into a lost cause is generally not the best move.
Barry Odom touched on on the subject in his signing day media session. As a competitor he wants to finish as high as he can in the recruiting team rankings put out by Rivals.com, ESPN, Scout and 247.
"As long as they're keeping track of something I want to win it," he said.
"But also I want to do it within the structure fitting the positions that we have and the need," Odom continued while answering questions about his second class as Mizzou head coach. "I don't want to go chase a higher rated guy because he's higher rated. I want to chase a guy because I think he's the right fit for our program."
It is a reliable formula that Odom picked up for Gary Pinkel while working for the former Missouri head coach. Identify needs. Identify players that fit those needs. Don't worry about rankings that much.
"I thought our staff did a hell of a job of identifying guys and getting our roster back closer to where it needs to be," said Odom. "The guys that we targeted we feel like they can come in and help us immediately. We're going to coach them as if they have to."
Mizzou especially needed help on the defensive and offensive lines as well as at defensive back. Those three positions account for 17 of the 25 signees.
Case Cook, Hyrin White and Terry Petry are the top rated prospects to sign at those positions. Each is rated as 5.7 three-star. Below is a look at each of the position groups and how the newcomers are expected to fit in.
Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee expects Yasir Durant, Cook and White to come in and compete for playing time immediately. Pompey Coleman will need some time to get over his injury, but Elarbee said he could see him and Larry Borom having a chance to contribute.
As to filling the Tigers' needs Elarbee was pleased with Missouri's offensive line haul.
"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," he explained.
As expected the three junior college prospects are being counted on to help right away. Defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross went so far as to say any time a junior college prospect is signed they have to make an immediate impact. Nate Anderson, Rashad Brandon, Walter Palmore and Malik Young all arrive over the summer, so they will just have the preseason camp to get up to speed.
The high school signees will not be expected to contribute as much, but that doesn't mean they won't at all. Cross called Kobie Whiteside the steal of the class and the most likely freshman to contribute immediately. Caleb Sampson and Chris Turner will likely need to really stand out in camp to skip a redshirt season.
Joshuah Bledsoe, Tyree Gillespie and Jordan Ulmer will add depth to the safety position and each has a chance to make an impact on special teams as true freshman. With four different players who started at safety returning for 2017 and Kansas State transfer Kaleb Prewett in the mix to start as well finding a role on the defense will be more difficult for the newcomers.
Cornerback is a little different with the two starters graduating. Terry Petry and Adam Sparks will have the chance to earn some significant playing time if they can perform well at preseason camp. They'll be competing with a fairly inexperienced group. Logan Cheadle brings back the most experience. Then there is DeMarkus Acy, Christian Holmes, Finish Stribling and Anthony Hines. Each of those four has played, but not enough to have a spot locked down.
What does it all mean for Mizzou? Well preseason camp should be very interesting. The offensive line now has the depth needed to really get after it in practice. Defensive line and defensive back now have players that will challenge for starting spots in addition to strengthening the depth.
The Missouri coaches knew going into this class that these positions needed the most help. It shouldn't really be a surprise that they were able to find some under-recruited players that will battle on the field and fit in with the culture of the program. It's what Mizzou does.