
Missouri signed just one Missouri recruit in 2017, but Barry Odom and company reassured Tiger fans ... not to worry. 2018 will be a huge year for in-state recruiting and they are laser focused on locking down the border. Of course, Missouri never locks down the border. First, we're not a recruiting hotbed, and second when Nick Saban or Jim Harbaugh knocks on a recruit's door, that recruit answers. But Barry and company do have a big stable to draw from this year, and in March he proved that he's ready to take some big chances with these guys when he secured 10 visits on the same weekend from Missouri's top talent. The media dubbed them the ShowMe Ten. DeMontie Cross claimed that Missouri was going to land all 10 of them. Well, that hasn't happened.
On May 7th, Cameron Brown, a three-star wide receiver from St. Louis declared his intention to play for Nebraska, killing DeMontie's dream of an in-state sweep. A few weeks later, Mario Goodrich, a four-star all-purpose back from Lee's Summit also made his intentions known to join the Cornhuskers. Okay, fine. So we're down to eight. No biggie. Eventually one of these guys is going to reveal he bleeds black and gold. Then, we got a real gut punch. Daniel Carson, a three-star defensive end from Independence (who 247 crystal ball had at 100% Mizzou) released his top 11 schools ... and Missouri didn't even make that cut.
It's starting to look like trouble is brewing. So that takes us to the important question, given that it's still just May. That question is: How many of these Missouri guys does Barry Odom need to reel in to consider this recruiting cycle a success?
First of all, just getting two is an improvement over last year, but not much of one. Second, with this many talented players in your backyard, you have got to get several of them. We're already down to seven and you can surely predict a few more defectors so let's say we're looking at two to five, realistically. Barry put pressure on himself by publicizing his in-state effort so much. Two won't cut it. Five ... is great. It would have always been great. Anybody that predicted more than that from the outset was fooling himself. But let's say three or four commits is more likely. Is that good enough? The answer to that question must figure in variables as well. Mizzou has lived on its own out of state recruiting. If we get three of the ShowMe 10 and we boost that with big recruits out of Texas or Alabama, I know I can live with that, but does it damage Barry's attempt to build a border lock-down mentality. Probably.
This is Barry's second year on the trail, and first full cycle and as of yet ... he doesn't have a marquis recruiting win. Three guys declaring early to places not called Mizzou isn't a killer, but Barry's window for making hay in 2018 got a lot closer to shutting.
On May 7th, Cameron Brown, a three-star wide receiver from St. Louis declared his intention to play for Nebraska, killing DeMontie's dream of an in-state sweep. A few weeks later, Mario Goodrich, a four-star all-purpose back from Lee's Summit also made his intentions known to join the Cornhuskers. Okay, fine. So we're down to eight. No biggie. Eventually one of these guys is going to reveal he bleeds black and gold. Then, we got a real gut punch. Daniel Carson, a three-star defensive end from Independence (who 247 crystal ball had at 100% Mizzou) released his top 11 schools ... and Missouri didn't even make that cut.
It's starting to look like trouble is brewing. So that takes us to the important question, given that it's still just May. That question is: How many of these Missouri guys does Barry Odom need to reel in to consider this recruiting cycle a success?
First of all, just getting two is an improvement over last year, but not much of one. Second, with this many talented players in your backyard, you have got to get several of them. We're already down to seven and you can surely predict a few more defectors so let's say we're looking at two to five, realistically. Barry put pressure on himself by publicizing his in-state effort so much. Two won't cut it. Five ... is great. It would have always been great. Anybody that predicted more than that from the outset was fooling himself. But let's say three or four commits is more likely. Is that good enough? The answer to that question must figure in variables as well. Mizzou has lived on its own out of state recruiting. If we get three of the ShowMe 10 and we boost that with big recruits out of Texas or Alabama, I know I can live with that, but does it damage Barry's attempt to build a border lock-down mentality. Probably.
This is Barry's second year on the trail, and first full cycle and as of yet ... he doesn't have a marquis recruiting win. Three guys declaring early to places not called Mizzou isn't a killer, but Barry's window for making hay in 2018 got a lot closer to shutting.
The Showme 10
1. Kamryn Babb - 4* WR
2. Michael Thompson Jr. - 4* DT
3. Ayodele Adeoye - 4* LB
4. Ronnie Perkins - 4* DE
5. Trevor Trout - 4* DT
6. Mario Goodrich - 4* ATH (committed Nebraska)
7. Cameron Brown - 3* WR (committed Nebraska)
8. Dallas Craddieth - 3* WR
9. Daniel Carson - 3* DE (eliminated MU from consideration)
10. Daniel Parker - 3* DE
2. Michael Thompson Jr. - 4* DT
3. Ayodele Adeoye - 4* LB
4. Ronnie Perkins - 4* DE
5. Trevor Trout - 4* DT
6. Mario Goodrich - 4* ATH (committed Nebraska)
7. Cameron Brown - 3* WR (committed Nebraska)
8. Dallas Craddieth - 3* WR
9. Daniel Carson - 3* DE (eliminated MU from consideration)
10. Daniel Parker - 3* DE