Eli Drinkwitz recalls 'best recruiting night of my career' involving Luther Burden, Cody Schrader
One night can change an entire college football program. Just ask Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz, who within the space of a few hours, took steps toward landing both Cody Schrader and Luther Burden ahead of the 2022 season. Two different conversations ultimately led the offensive stars to join forces in Columbia.
Drinkwitz had been recruiting Burden for a long time. After all, the wide receiver was a Five-Star Plus+ product out of Saint Louis. Alabama and Georgia were fighting for his services as well, hoping to insert a dynamic player into their respective offenses.
Schrader is a bit of a different story. Drinkwitz took the running back sight unseen off the back of a suggestion from a Mizzou donor. Originally just looking for some money to improve the indoor facility, Drinkwitz wound up with the SEC’s leading rusher.
“Probably the best recruiting night of my career,” Drinkwitz said during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. “I went to dinner with a donor to try to get a donation for our indoor. He recommended Cody Schrader, who was transferring from Truman State, to me as a walk-on. I said ‘Sure, I’ll look at it.’ Then, I left dinner and went to an in-home visit with Luther Burden and his family. It turned out both of them had a huge impact on Mizzou Football.
“The next day, Mr. (Steve) Trulaske followed up with me on ‘Would we have an opportunity for Cody?’ I said ‘Sure.’ I had not even watched the tape yet. Was just thinking he would come and be one of our eight walk-on running backs. We have three spots for walk-ons and knew we needed one. Took him. Showed up in January, worked his butt off, and was the starter by the first game of last season.”
Missouri made a bit of school history on Tuesday night. Fresh off a huge win against Tennessee at home, the College Football Playoff committee placing the Tigers at No. 9 is the program’s highest-ever ranking. Two more wins could mean a New Year’s Six bowl game as well, their first in the BCS/CFP era.
Without the night Eli Drinkwitz discussed, Missouri would not be in this position. Schrader has already rushed for 1,124 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, while Burden has caught 68 passes for 984 yards and eight touchdowns.
Yes, other pieces have turned Mizzou into a team starting at 10-2 right in the face. But they certainly have benefitted from a Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver and a former walk-on joining the team from Truman State.