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Missouri

Missouri jumps 17 spots in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings

Collin-headshotby: Collin Ginnan08/14/23
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COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 25: Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz before an SEC college football game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and Missouri Tigers on November 25, 2022 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)

The commitment of Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North Five-Star Plus+ defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri was a major boost to the Missouri recruiting class. The Tigers jumped 17 spots — up to No. 40 — in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings with the addition of the top player in the state.

It was quite a battle for Nwaneri’s commitment — in the end coming down to Missouri, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Oregon. Nwaneri chose the Tigers and is currently the lone top-300 prospect pledged to Mizzou.

“It was Oklahoma on top for the longest,” Nwaneri told On3. “They were on top of my list for a while. Then in June, I really thought hard about committing to Georgia, and I almost did. Tennessee was in there for a little while too. Missouri just stayed consistent, and over time, they moved up the list and I ended up committing to them over Georgia.”

Nwaneri is the nation’s No. 3 overall prospect and No. 1 defensive lineman in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 1 player in Missouri.

“What made me feel good about Missouri was comfortability, relationships with the coaching staff and the people there,” Nwaneri said. “It has a feeling like somewhere close that I could go and fit in. Staying home is extremely big for me. As a child I watched Missouri, I get to stay home and we can start something new. Having a chance to be that hometown hero and starting a trend at Missouri played into my decision.”

Nwaneri a major boost to Missouri class

Until the addition of Nwaneri, Jonesboro (Ark.) Valley View four-star linebacker Brian Huff headlined the Tigers’ class as the No. 373 recruit in the 2024 cycle. The other four-star prospect pledged to Missouri is Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver James Madison II.

Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Western three-star Justin Bodford is the lone other defensive lineman committed to Missouri in addition to Nwaneri. Elsewhere on the defense are Panama City (Fla.) A. Crawford Mosley three-star cornerback Cameron Keys, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas three-star linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez, Valley (Ala.) three-star safety Cam Dooley, Canton (Ga.) Sequoyah three-star safety Jackson Hancock and Saint Louis (Mo.) Francis Howell three-star linebacker Jude James.