With the Early Signing Period this Wednesday, things aren’t heating up just on the field but on the recruiting landscape for the Mizzou Tigers, who are trending up in head coach Eli Drinkwitz’s 1st year.

However Mizzou’s 2021 class ends up, there shouldn’t be any harsh judgements toward Drinkwitz. It can’t be easy to recruit kids while being handcuffed by a pandemic.

But Drinkwitz has proven he can convince talent to come to Columbia on short notice. After being hired in early December 2019, the former Appalachian State head coach beat Nick Saban and Texas for the services of Ennis Rakestraw, who has shown great promise as a true freshman corner in the SEC. Drinkwitz has also already snagged Oklahoma transfer offensive lineman EJ Ndoma-Ogar, a former 4-star.

In such an odd year, anything can happen with these recruits. It certainly helps that Mizzou is winning games under a likable head coach, which kids should start noticing. Maybe that pays off with a flip or 2 when the time comes.

As it stands right now, Mizzou’s class ranks 27th in the nation and 9th in the SEC (all rankings via 247Sports). There are 2 4-star and 19 3-star players. Mizzou’s 2020 class ranked 51st nationally and 13th in the SEC.

Let’s dive into what the Tigers currently have as we get close to the Early Signing Period:

By the numbers

  • SEC rank: 9th
  • National rank: 27th
  • 5-stars: 0
  • 4-stars: 2
  • 3-stars: 19

Top player: Travion Ford, defensive end, 4-star

Ford is the top-rated player in the 2021 class and No. 3 overall in Missouri. Following the news of starting defensive end/outside linebacker Tre Williams leaving the team, Ford’s commitment is all the more important as redshirt sophomore Trajan Jeffcoat now becomes the most experienced D-end/outside ‘backer on the defense.

At 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds, Ford is big and fast and will likely compete for reps right away next season. He’s a St. Louis native, which is an area Drinkwitz and his staff obviously want to own as there’s a ton of talent there.

https://twitter.com/Tre_Got_Skills/status/1336371048665780225?s=20

Ford had offers from all the big-boy programs, including Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Texas.

Class strength: Defensive line

The strength of this class is probably either the defensive line or defensive backs, but let’s go with the D-line in this case.

Depending on who is willing to come back and take advantage of the extra season of eligibility, Mizzou’s D-line might be in the most need of bodies. If all the senior contributors decide to leave, that’s around 5 guys, including Williams, who’s already gone, Akial Byers, Markell Utsey, Chris Turner and Kobie Whiteside.

This 2021 class has 7 D-line commits, including Ford and 3-stars Kyran Montgomery (6-4, 251 pounds), Shemar Pearl (6-5, 235), Daniel Robledo (6-5, 280), Jonathan Jones (6-4, 230), Mekhi Wingo (6-0, 280) and Realus George (6-2, 295).

Again, depending on who’s willing to come back, Mizzou could lose senior safeties Tyree Gillespie and Joshuah Bledsoe. Those would be tough losses for the defense, but Martez Manuel, one of the best safeties in the SEC, should relieve some of that stress by returning for his junior season. Plus, Mizzou fans have already seen redshirt freshman Jalani Williams spell Gillespie at times this season — Williams was a 4-star and the top-rated recruit in the 2019 class.

Class weakness: Wide receiver

As of right now, Mizzou’s 2021 class has only 1 true wideout — 4-star Dominic Lovett, who commited on Friday. Depending on what grad transfer receivers Keke Chism and Damon Hazelton decide to do at the end of the season, you’d want there to be a little more quality depth at the position.

Mizzou currently has 2 tight ends committed in 3-stars Ryan Hoerstkamp (6-4, 225) and Gavin McKay (6-4, 215).

Mizzou does have wideouts who are slated to return next season in redshirt sophomore Tauskie Dove (25 catches, 249 yards, 2 touchdowns), juniors Jalen Knox (28, 280) and running back Tyler Badie (23, 314, 2) and redshirt junior Barrett Banister (22, 206). But, again, those guys aren’t exactly scaring many SEC defenses.

Grading the QB class

Tyler Macon is the guy here.

The dual-threat Macon — this is another good pull out of East St. Louis — is a 3-star who is rated as the No. 15 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 8 player overall in Illinois.

The best part of Macon is his confidence that Mizzou is the right place for him. He has never wavered from his commitment.

https://twitter.com/EstlMaco5/status/1337083797456760834?s=20

Redshirt freshman Connor Bazelak is in the midst of a breakout season, so Mizzou’s quarterback situation seems to be in good hands. Having more than 1 reliable quarterback on a roster is a must, and Macon will most likely have an uphill battle once he gets to Columbia. Facing adversity is nothing new to him, though. Here’s what he said about his national ranking to St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Dave Matter this past July:

“It matters to me because I know the work I’ve put in,” Macon said. “I know what I deserve. I feel like I need my proper respect because I’ve done everything those other guys have done. So why can’t I have the same ranking or even better?”

Macon is listed as 5-11, which is a bit short for a quarterback, especially in the best conference in college football. It should be interesting to see how Macon’s career starts with Bazelak in front of him.

It wouldn’t be shocking to see Drinkwitz have an open competition next spring, giving Macon a fair shake. But considering how well Bazelak is playing, it’s hard to see Macon unseating the current starter so early in his career.

Did Mizzou defend their borders?

The Tigers have 6 of the state’s top 20 recruits committed in Ford and 3-star offensive tackle Connor Tollison (6-5, 300), running back Taj Butts (5-11, 205), safety Tyler Hibbler (6-1, 198), Hoerstkamp and Wingo.

Mizzou’s top 2 players in the state are committed elsewhere, as the top-rated player, 4-star corner Jakailin Johnson, is pledged to Ohio State while 4-star defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio is committed to Notre Dame. The state’s No. 4-rated player, 4-star offensive tackle Beau Stephens, is pledged to Iowa.

Final thoughts

Mizzou’s defensive line has a lot of senior contributors this season, but it looks like Drinkwitz and his staff loaded up well in that area, especially with the potential addition of Ford.

Macon would be a solid addition as well — he’d likely be the most athletic and elusive quarterback the Tigers have. The QB room at Mizzou could be a solid one, and it wouldn’t hurt if Macon could push Bazelak in the offseason, too. Healthy competition is good for everyone.

Although Mizzou has wideouts that are set to come back, it wouldn’t hurt if the Tigers could snatch another receiver or 2 in for this class.

This is a solid 1st recruiting haul in Drinkwitz’s 1st full season at Mizzou. It should be interesting to see if the recent success on the field will result in a flip from someone at the last minute.