MISSOURI FOOTBALL RECRUITS

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Nick Demien

6-6, 295

Wentzville (Timberland)

Projected position: Offensive line

Notable number: 1 … Demien’s undisputed ranking among 2010 in-state recruits

“He’s just a big old country boy. But very athletic and great feet for such a young guy. Really, he’s young. He’s just a puppy. He just turned 17.” — MU assistant coach Cornell Ford

Kony Ealy

6-5, 230

New Madrid (New Madrid County Central)

Projected position: Defensive end

Notable number: 23 … Sack total in 2008-09

“He’s the type of D-end that we like to recruit. He’s the Brian Coulter, Aldon Smith, Jacquies Smith lean basketball-type guy.” — MU assistant coach David Yost

Daniel Easterly

6-4, 180

Detroit (Cass Tech)

Projected position: Safety

Notable number: 29 … Passes broken up in 2008-09

“He has a violent nature when he gets to the football for such a tall guy.” — Yost

James Franklin

6-2, 220

Corinth, Texas (Lake Dallas)

Projected position: Quarterback

Notable number: 3,642 … Yards of total offense produced last fall

“He ran for some good yards, but really, he’s a thrower. That’s what he is. He throws the ball at a high, high level.” — Yost

Tyler Gabbert

6-0, 190

Ballwin (Parkway West)

Projected position: Quarterback

Notable number: 26 … Number of TD passes thrown last two seasons

“He competes. And that’s what I like about him. Don’t doubt him. Because if you do, you’ll get burned.” — Ford

E.J. Gaines

5-10, 175

Independence (Fort Osage)

Projected position: Cornerback

Notable number: 12 … Passes intercepted the last three seasons

“He’s a guy in this class that doesn’t get a lot of notoriety compared to some others. But I really feel like he’s quite a good athlete.” — MU assistant coach Andy Hill

Anthony Gatti

6-6, 280

St. Louis (Parkway North)

Projected position: Offensive line

Notable number: 0 … Number of O-linemen named Suburban South Conference MVP before Gatti won it last season

“We got him in our camp and thought this kid, from a technician side, was really very good. That’s when he wowed us.” — Ford

Matt Hoch

6-5, 245

Harlan, Iowa (Harlan)

Projected position: Tight end

Notable number: 327 … Tackles made the last three years as a linebacker

“He’s really soft-spoken but really tough and aggressive. With the ball in his hands or as a blocker, he’s a guy that can help us out.” — Hill

Tristen Holt

6-0, 185

Gilmer, Texas (Gilmer)

Projected position: Cornerback

Notable number: 20.7 … Yards per catch averaged on 39 receptions last year

“He probably could play receiver in college if that’s what he wanted to do, but his desire is to be a shutdown corner.” — Yost

Jimmie Hunt Jr.

6-1, 195

Cahokia, Ill. (Cahokia)

Projected position: Wide receiver

Notable number: 9 … Positions played last season: receiver, tailback, safety, cornerback, linebacker, holder, punt returner, kick returner, punter

“The kid does everything. He’s one that we’ll all really be happy with down the road.” — Ford

Henry Josey

5-10, 180

Angleton, Texas (Angleton)

Projected position: Tailback

Notable number: 35 … Rushing touchdowns scored last two seasons combined

“He’s like a Kendial Lawrence type of back. He’s got those skills where he’s side-to-side, step and go.” — Yost

Marcus Lucas

6-5, 205

Liberty (Liberty)

Projected position: Wide receiver

Notable number: 16 … National ranking for wide receivers by Scout.com

“When you’re a senior in high school at that size, 18 years old, and going from football to basketball with no really offseason for lifting, I think it’ll be pretty impressive what he can do in the weight room.” — Hill

Mitch Morse

6-6, 280

Austin, Texas (St. Michael’s Catholic)

Projected position: Offensive line

Notable number: 0 … Sacks given up in three years as team’s left tackle

“He plays with a little attitude, which is a god thing. A little bit of a mean streak. But he’s one of the best kids I’ve ever coached as far as coachability.” — St. Michael’s Coach Ed McCabe

Marcus Murphy

5-9, 170

DeSoto, Texas (DeSoto)

Projected position: Tailback

Notable number: 64 … Passes caught out of the backfield last two seasons combined

“A lot of things he did in high school are the things Derrick Washington did in high school. He returns kicks. He catches passes.” — Yost

Jared Parham

6-2, 220

Coppell, Texas (Coppell)

Projected position: Linebacker

Notable number: 2 … Positions played last two years, linebacker and defensive end, both all-district campaigns

“He’s not really a defensive end, but it was the best thing to do for his team. And that says a lot about the kid.” — Yost

Darvin Ruise

6-2, 220

Glen St. Mary, Fla. (Baker County)

Projected position: Safety/inebacker

Notable number: 3 … As in triple option, the offense Ruise ran as a QB in Florida

“If you said you wanted him as a big tailback, then he’s a big tailback. I think safety’s where he’d like to play, but I think he’ll probably outgrow that and play linebacker before too long.” — Yost

Bud Sasser

6-3, 200

Denton, Texas (Ryan)

Projected position: Wide receiver

Notable number: 47 … Touchdown receptions the last two seasons, including Ryan-record 24 in 2008

“He’s got big-play playmaker written all over him. He made plays in high-level Texas, and that usually translates.” — Hill

Xavier Smith

5-11, 180

Edmond, Okla. (Edmond North)

Projected position: Cornerback

Notable number: 25 … Number of players named Smith who have lettered at Missouri.

“He’s a lockdown guy who came to our one-day camp last year and had great change of direction, great stop and go.” — Yost

Lucas Vincent

6-3, 285

Olathe, Kan. (Olathe North)

Projected position: Defensive tackle

Notable number: 2 … State titles won last year, in football and wrestling

“Defensive tackles for us, in-state or in the metro areas, they’re hard to find. He’s 285 pounds, so I think he’s got a chance.” — Hill

Kenronte Walker

6-0, 205

Fayetteville, N.C. (CC of San Francisco)

Projected position: Safety

Notable number: 2 … High school quarterbacks MU has now recruited out of CCSF. Jarrell Harrison is the other.

“He hasn’t been through our testing yet, but just watching him work out since he’s been here, he’s really an explosive, fast-twitch guy.” — MU assistant Barry Odom

Eric Waters

6-4, 215

Arlington, Texas (Summitt)

Projected position: Tight end

Notable number: 666 … Receiving yards posted last two years combined

“Very rarely do you have a guy not gain a pound in his college career, so we think he can develop. We just need to see what he can do.” — Hill

Braylon Webb

6-0, 195

Gilmer, Texas (Gilmer)

Projected position: Safety

Notable number: 122 … Number of tackles last year during state-championship season

“He played safety, inside slot receiver and started every special teams. Just really, really steady.” — Odom

Greg White

6-1, 215

De Queen, Ark. (De Queen)

Projected position: Tailback

Notable number: 3,648 … Rushing yards produced last three years combined

“He’s got the record in the state of Arkansas for consecutive” basketball “double-doubles. Just an athletic guy who’s good with the ball in his hands.” — Odom

1 reader comment

The opinions expressed below are those of the readers who submitted them and not those of the Tribune's reporters or editors. Readers are solely responsible for the content of their comments.

rcruter says...

as critical as many of us are for coaching failures, deservedly so, you have to give them their due for this recruiting class, which features outstanding athletes and great character kids. The 3 outstanding OLinmen, WR's and DB's filled glaring needs and Ealy is going to be a beast at DE, imagine both Aldon and Kony at end meeting at the qb! Franklin had a huge sr year and has a big upside. Bringing in several outstanding corners is big and hunt could play there as well, tigers for once have an abundance at a much needed position.

Only place they don't have real studs at is DT and vincent could be outstanding. Great job coaches, now you need to rise to the level of your players.

February 5, 2010 at 7:46 a.m. ( link | suggest removal )

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