Tigers announce ‘09 recruits
The 2009 football recruiting class was announced Wednesday at the Clinton Club of Mizzou Arena, setting the table for another strong season for the Tigers. The crown jewel of the class was five-star recruit Sheldon Richardson.
Ranked as the fourth-best player in the nation, as well as the top recruit in the state, Richardson has the option of playing nearly anything he wants. Except quarterback, coach Gary Pinkel added jokingly, suggesting there might be a better use for the 6-foot-4, 275-pound player. Mizzou also secured the state’s 10 highest-ranked players, accomplishing the staff’s goal of securing the borders.
“Sheldon wanted to stay in the state of Missouri, and I think he’s a tremendous athlete,” Pinkel said. “I think we might have four assistant coaches fighting over him because he can play a number of places. He’s such a great young guy; we’re certainly thrilled he’s a Missouri Tiger.”
Texas continued to be a fertile recruiting ground, as the Tigers landed All-American running back Kendial Lawrence. Though short in stature, the 5-foot-9 back was the top runner in the football hotbed that is Texas. Mizzou also had six other Texans joining the team, which means more than 25 players from the state will be on roster again next season.
“Kendial’s a real talented player,” Pinkel said. “He’s a strong runner and has great quickness. Certainly, he’s an impact player with the football. We’re real happy he decided to come.”
With starter Chase Daniel and backup Chase Patton graduating and moving on to the NFL, the quarterback spot is about to become a hot topic for Mizzou fans. Last year’s top recruit, Blaine Gabbert, remains on the roster, while the Tigers added high school seniors Blaine Dalton from Blue Springs, Mo., and Ashton Glazer from Springdale, Ark. All three will be in a heated competition, starting this spring.
“Having two quarterbacks, and with Blaine Gabbert here as a freshman a year ago, having those players be able to come in here and compete, it’s really, really important,” Pinkel said. “Let the competition begin. The great thing about our program is that it’s all based on competition. There’s no pecking order. … You deserve it if you earn the job.”
Rivals.com, the authority on high school football rankings, has Mizzou rated No. 35, ahead of more than 40 bowl teams from last season. Rankings have yet to be finalized as of this posting.
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