Mizzou lands commitment from 4-star running back out of Knoxville
The Missouri Tigers are off to a slow start in the 2020 recruiting class, but that isn’t a huge surprise given how they’ve fared over the past few seasons.
However, on Tuesday, they landed a huge piece for their class, going into Knoxville to land 4-star all-purpose back Elijah Young out of South-Doyle High School.
As you can see below, Young announced via Twitter that he’d be heading to Columbia to play for the Tigers in 2020 and beyond:
Per the 247Sports rankings, Young is the No. 7 all-purpose back in the class of 2020 and the No. 10 overall recruit from the state of Tennessee.
The Tigers now have nine players in their 2020 recruiting class, which ranked No. 43 in the nation and No. 14 in the SEC prior to Young’s commitment, according to 247Sports.
Below, check out some of Young’s high school highlights, courtesy of Hudl:
Was UT interested?
According to 247Sports, they were interested in him, he was not in them.
Every UT fan will say no, but they were.
wildcat I was typing my first post while you were posting yours. I don’t know why you say that. of course we want our higher ranked in state kids. That is a ludicrous statement. But we have always had to recruit out of state and have our sights set on a lot of higher ranked prospects just like always. It doesn’t mean we don’t want this guy but come on, he isn’t a top priority. idiots like ugarmy like to say the sky is falling on everyone but UGA. fact is we closed with a flurry last year and will be fine again this year. We will likely not sign all the top in state players. That will come with more wins.
Tee Hodge is who I’ve read they are focusing on. Randall Cobb’s cousin another local recruit. He is a bigger back at 6-2 230
He had an offer so we were interested. I don’t see this as a big loss. Not sure who ranked him as a 4 star. he is a 3 star in both 247 and rivals. His best offers were from Mizzou, UT and SC. We could use some more depth at RB and guys like this are signed to play 2-3 years down the road at schools like ours. Think we will be ok but don’t really like losing guys in our own back yard. Am much more interested in some of the other highly ranked TN kids. Pruitt and co. still have to prove they are righting the ship to keep some of the higher ranked kids. Comes with the last decade of performances. Congrats on landing him.
No, he is a 4 star on 247. You are looking at the 247 “composite rating.” Nonetheless, even the composite is still an .889, which will be a four star shortly, sans injury or issues. He is just a junior.
There are a lot of issues about where kids go, but like Bryant at QB following Lock, there is an upcoming gap for the #2 and #3 RB for next year if Rountree goes pro, so he could play quite a bit immediately. This Young kid is a good catch; but UT will be just fine, I’m sure.
247 actually ranked him at 4 stars as a service but the composite is still 3.
So another quality player leaves Knoxville and shows no interest in the UT program. Typical. Congrats to the Tigers.
so another stupid comment from ugarmy.
Let’s ask Cade Mays here at Georgia (5* if you forgot) why he did not stay in Knoxville, even being a legacy. Let’s ask this latest defection why he did not stay. I doubt if they think the comment is stupid. I can see where the facts would really hurt in cases like these.
Ok and ask 5* Wanya morris why he chose Vols over doggies. Ask why Georgia has only signed 5 of the top players in Georgia and the #1 player in Georgia went elsewhere. The fact is we and Georgia won’t get all the top players in our state. What matters is the quality of the class you sign. You are such a dumbarse.
Cade May went somewhere else because we fired the coach who recruited him. Can’t say anything for this kid. Haven’t heard his name on Tennessee recruiting boards so either no interest or we knew he wasn’t interested.
YES! Two 4 stars in a row, really need this momentum to continue. Was starting to look like another 3-star buffet at Mizzou.
Welcome Mr. Young! Impressed by his elusiveness and patience for a junior. He has that odd change of direction move that’s hard to defend. There’s room for him as of 2020, so he’ll get to play. Welcome again.
Barry Odom’s staff is turning into a better recruiting machine than Gary Pinkel. If he can turn into the same level of on-field coach, Mizzou’s set for a long time.
Enjoyed watching Emmitt Smith play for the Escambia High School Gators back in the 1980’s. Elijah Young runs a lot like him. Georgia boy Derek Dooley is bringing some quality athletes to Columbia, MO.
I actually was bewildered and angry at Dooley hiring. But I have to say he’s as good as anyone we’ve had. I hate to think what replaces him as we all know he will get another HC job.
Welcome to the Zou. Missouri has a long history of recruiting backs who can tear up top 20 defenses and regularly gets a back who can have big games against top 5 defenses. Crockett, Josey, Temple, West, Wallace, Olivo, Abron, Wilder, Meyer, Stowers, Drain, and so many Joe Moore. Tennessee may already have their back field snaps promised thru 2023, But Missouri is predictably doing well in SEC neighboring states like TN, AR, and has always done very well in TX, Rountree is a NC recruit and I’ve noticed that California, the northeast, Ohio, and other area’s have opened up to Missouri, and why not, 5 division Championships in two top football conferences in the last dozen years.
If you have ever been to South Knoxville, you would understand why he would settle for the worst facilities in the SEC compared to some of the best at UT.
I think everyone can understand why he chose MU over UT.
Mizzou will have a brand new $100 million state of the art football facility when he comes to campus…are you sure it’s the “worst in the SEC”?
throwing your own city or state under the bus to soften a recruiting punch. Ouch, that probably hurt worse.