(Photo Credit: Dak Dillon- USA Today Sports)
With national signing day right around the corner the remaining high school recruits are taking their final visits and making their verbal commitments as to where they’ll play football next season.
Gary Pinkel and the Missouri Tigers have been active of late as the team secured three more recruits over the weekend to move the total number to 18. Four star quarterback and U.S. Army All-American Drew Lock, out of Lee Summit high school in Missouri, highlights the 2015 Tiger class. Lock, a true pocket passer amassed over 5,000 yards and 63 touchdowns in his high school career and is poised to become the eventual starting quarterback at Missouri.
Though Lock is just one of the many recruits Pinkel and his coaching staff are bringing in to help bolster the Tigers for the 2015 season. Let’s take a look at the three players that the Tigers locked up this weekend.
Johnathon Johnson (Memphis, TN)- Johnson is a three star wide receiver out of Melrose high school in Tennessee. What Johnson lacks in height standing at just 5’8” he makes up for in speed. Johnson is said to have a speed in the 4.3 to 4.5 ranges, which could make him an immediate impact player in the kick return game with the possibility of getting playing time at the wide receiver slot position with the top three Tiger receivers graduating. It’s also worth noting the Johnson chose Missouri over other SEC powerhouses Tennessee and Ole Miss along with his home school Memphis.
Justin Smith (Dublin, GA)- Missouri picked up its second wide receiver commit on the day when Justin Smith made his commitment official picking Missouri over North Carolina State. Smith, who has a great name to begin with, brings the size that the Tigers have had recently standing at 6’7”. Smith becomes the fourth wide receiver in the 2015 class an area clearly of concern for Pinkel and his staff. Richaud Floyd and Emanuel Hall are the other two wide receivers committed for the class of 2015.
Franklin Agbasimere (Montverde, FL)- Agbasimere an unrated outside linebacker from Florida was Missouri’s third pickup of the day. Agbasimere, who only came to the United States two years ago from Nigeria, has only played 18 games of organized football in his lifetime. While he lacks the experience that most division 1 players have he has the size that could eventually land him at the defensive end position, where so many Tiger athletes have succeeded. Agbasimere’s 6’2” 220 frame and quickness off the snap makes him an interesting grab that could pay big dividends down the road.
In addition to the 18 recruits Missouri has brought in the biggest prize is still deciding where he will play football next season. Terry Beckner Jr., the top recruit according to ESPN.com has his eyes set on Columbia, but is also considering Ohio State and Auburn. While the Buckeyes and Tigers pose legitimate threats to Missouri, Beckner’s coach and mother both say Missouri is his top choice. Beckner Jr. will make his final college visit to Missouri Jan. 30.
For more Missouri Tiger updates follow @NickYahl on Twitter
Our managing editor Nick Yahl is originally from St. Louis where he graduated De Smet Jesuit high school in 2012. Currently studying at the University of Missouri, majoring in broadcast journalism, he has worked with the Mizzou radio (KCOU), newspaper (Maneater), and television stations (MUTV) writing and producing coverage on Mizzou sports. He currently serves as the Mizzou beat writer for CBS Sports 920 & InsideSTL.com in St. Louis in addition to his duties at ACS.
He's also the creator and co-host of ACS podcast "The Post Game", which will soon start back up.
Besides Mizzou sports he is a die-hard Cardinals fan, but also supports the Blues and Saint Louis FC. He loves collecting jersey’s, baseball cards, and sports memorabilia. One day he hopes to work on the St. Louis Cardinals broadcast team. Follow him @NickYahl on Twitter
