Football Announces 2008 Recruiting Class
2/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 6, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Twenty-three standout student-athletes have signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to attend the University of Missouri and play football for Head Coach Gary Pinkel, as announced today by Mizzou's head coach.
Momentum from Mizzou's historic 2007 season which saw the Tigers win a school-record 12 games and claim the Big 12 Conference North Division title, as well as the Cotton Bowl championship, undoubtedly carried over into recruiting efforts this year. Mizzou's coaching staff has assembled a recruiting class which was ranked today by Rivals.com as the nation's 24th-best recruiting class overall, based on their point system. The Tiger class stood as 5th-highest in the Big 12 according to Rivals, which is the best showing in Pinkel's time at Mizzou, beating the previous bests of 6th in 2003, 2004, and 2007.
The top-25 ranking for the class of 23 high school standouts marks the highest ranking under Pinkel. The previous six classes rated, according to Rivals: 29th in 2002, 28th in 2003, 29th in 2004, 39th in 2005, 47th in 2006 and 33rd in 2007.
Mizzou fared perhaps as well as it ever has in-state, as it signed seven of the state's top-10 players, according to Rivals, including five-star blue-chip quarterback Blaine Gabbert (Ballwin, Mo.), who was rated as the state's top-rated player, as well as the nation's top-ranked pro-style quarterback prospect. Nine in-state standouts in all signed with MU this year.
The Tiger coaching staff continued its outstanding work mining the pipelines of Texas, as it signed 12 Lone Star state student-athletes. Mizzou also signed one student-athlete each from the states of Iowa and Michigan.
According to the Rivals.com rankings, Mizzou's 2008 recruiting class rates ahead of 44 other schools that participated in bowl games during the 2007 season. Just a handful of the other bowl teams from last year that Missouri bettered include: Maryland (31st), Boston College (32nd), California (33rd), Tennessee (34th), Kansas (38th), Arkansas (39th), Penn State (40th), Wisconsin (41st), and West Virginia (42nd), among many others.
Five different position groups were ranked among Rivals' top-25 classes, including quarterback (1st in the nation), tight end (15th), defensive back (20th), offensive line (21st) and defensive end (25th).
"We are very pleased to have such a talented group join our program and our University," said MU Head Coach Gary Pinkel. "I feel that this is an outstanding class that will help the program continue to move forward. We've had a great season, and it is good to see the excitement about our program, in the state of Missouri, and around the country. I don't think there's any question that this season helped, and I'd like to commend the efforts of our entire staff who worked so hard to make this happen. As always, we continued to emphasize keeping the best Missouri kids home, and we feel very good about our success there, and of course, our hard work in the state of Texas has paid off again." he said.
Following is a roster and biographical sketches for each of MU's 23 signees...
MIZZOU FOOTBALL CLASS OF 2008 -- FINAL (23) |
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| Video | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (High School/Jr. College) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Burge | OL/DL | 6-2 | 280 | Houston, Texas (Stratford HS) | |
| Taylor Davis | OL/DL | 6-5 | 270 | Plano, Texas (Prestonwood Christian Academy) | |
| Will Ebner | RB/LB | 6-1 | 225 | Friendswood, Texas (Friendswood HS) | |
| Kip Edwards | WR/DB | 6-1 | 185 | Arlington, Texas (Bowie HS) | |
| Michael Egnew | TE/DB | 6-5 | 210 | Plainview, Texas (Plainview HS) | |
| Blaine Gabbert | QB | 6-5 | 225 | Ballwin, Mo. (Parkway West HS) | |
| Zaviar Gooden | RB/DB | 6-2 | 210 | Pflugerville, Texas (Pflugerville HS) | |
| Dan Hoch | OL/DL | 6-6 | 295 | Harlan, Iowa (Harlan HS) | |
| Jerrell Jackson | WR/DB | 6-2 | 180 | Houston, Texas (Jefferson Davis HS) | |
| Kenji Jackson | RB/DB | 5-10 | 200 | Mansfield, Texas (Mansfield HS) | |
| Daniel Jenkins | OL/DL | 6-4 | 290 | Gilmer, Texas (Gilmer HS) | |
| Andrew Jones | TE/DL | 6-5 | 230 | Smithville, Mo. (Smithville HS) | |
| Wes Kemp | WR/DL | 6-4 | 225 | St. Louis, Mo. (DeSmet HS) | |
| Brad Madison | OL/DL | 6-5 | 255 | Bethany, Mo. (South Harrison HS) | |
| Marcus Malbrough | TE/DL | 6-5 | 225 | Beaumont, Texas (Westbrook HS) | |
| Gahn McGaffie | WR/DB | 5-11 | 180 | Galena Park, Texas (Galena Park HS) | |
| Travis Ruth | OL/DL | 6-3 | 300 | Jefferson City, Mo. (Jefferson City HS) | |
| Aldon Smith | TE/DL | 6-5 | 235 | Raytown, Mo. (Raytown HS) | |
| Jacquies Smith | TE/DL | 6-4 | 225 | Dallas, Texas (South Oak Cliff HS) | |
| Robert Steeples | WR/DB | 6-1 | 190 | St. Louis, Mo. (DeSmet HS) | |
| Drew Temple | RB/DB | 5-10 | 190 | Kansas City, Mo. (Rockhurst HS) | |
| George White | LB | 6-2 | 250 | Flint, Mich. (Carman-Ainsworth HS/Cincinnati Harmony Prep) | |
| Rolandis Woodland | WR | 6-5 | 185 | St. Louis, Mo. (Rockwood Summit HS/Cincinnati Harmony Prep) | |
JIMMY BURGE
Fr., OL/DL, 6-2, 280, Houston, Texas (Stratford High School)
Athletic, run-stopping defensive tackle who was an early find for the Tigers ... Named an all-midwest region defensive lineman by PrepStar ... Ranked as the nation's No. 50 defensive tackle prospect by Scout.com ... Committed to Mizzou during the summer of 2007, and later saw his very first college football game in person, as Mizzou downed Nebraska, 41-6 in Columbia on Oct. 6th ... Had 8 QB sacks in 2007, helping his team to a bi-district and an area championship ... As a senior, was a 1st-Team All-District selection who also was named 2nd-Team greater Houston team ... Pulled in 2nd-Team All-State honors in the 5A ranks, while serving as team captain ... As a junior, won 1st-Team All-District acclaim with 4 QB sacks as his team claimed a district championship ... Also lettered in track and field as a sophomore at Stratford ... High school coach - Elliot Allen ... Parents - Bill & Janice Burge ... Father is a Mizzou graduate, and he has grandparents that live in Columbia, near the Mizzou campus ... Interested in studying architecture at Mizzou ... Lists hobbies as hunting, fishing and playing video games ... Identified MU's outstanding facilities and the family atmosphere of the football program as major draws for him ... Chose Mizzou over Texas A&M, Kansas, Boise State, Fresno State, Stanford, Houston and TCU, among others ... MU primary recruiting coach - Craig Kuligowski.
TAYLOR DAVIS
Fr., OL/DL, 6-5, 270, Plano, Texas (Prestonwood Christian Academy)
Ranked as the No. 76 offensive tackle in the nation, according to Rivals ... Named an all-midwest region offensive lineman by PrepStar ... Developed as a strong pass-blocker in an offensive system that is similar to Mizzou's spread-style attack ... Was a 1st-Team All-State and 1st-Team All-District performer as a senior in 2007, and took home District Lineman of the Year honors, as well, as he helped lead his team to a district runner-up finish and a 4th-consecutive state playoff appearance ... As a junior, won 1st-Team All-District and Hon. Men. All-State honors for a district championship team that reached the regional finals of the state playoffs ... Lettered as both a sophomore and freshman for teams that won the state championship (2005) and finished as state runners up (2004) ... Was a four-year letterwinner in football, and also lettered one year in swimming (2007) ... High school coach - Mike Hall ... Parents - Bryan & Kimberly Davis ... Wants to study in MU's esteemed College of Business, with an ultimate goal of working in the sports management field ... Lists snow skiing, wakeboarding, hunting, fishing and playing the guitar as hobbies ... Was very impressed with the closeness of the MU players, as well as the integrity of the MU coaching staff during his recruitment ... Also listed MU's facilities, as well as the MU School of Business, as major draws ... Spends a lot of his time working with disadvantaged children and adults in his community, and will be traveling to Costa Rica this spring to help children in impoverished areas ... Is part of his school's student leadership institute as well as the choir, and is a member of church's student ministry ... Chose Mizzou over Kansas, Iowa State, Tulsa, North Texas and Kent, among others ... MU primary recruiting coach - Bruce Walker.
WILL EBNER
Fr., RB/LB, 6-1, 225, Friendswood, Texas (Friendswood High School)
Ranked as the nation's No. 29 middle linebacker prospect, according to Scout.com, while rating as the No. 39 inside linebacker in the nation, according to Rivals ... Named an all-midwest region linebacker by PrepStar ... Had a tremendous senior season at linebacker, and also played running back ... Grew up playing quarterback primarily, and credits his time there to helping his pre-snap reads on defense ... Named 2nd-Team All-State and District 23-4A Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 after registering 134 tackles, including 25 tackles for loss, while grabbing 3 INTs and blocking 2 field goals ... Other honors in 2007 included being named the district and county defensive MVP, and was also named to the greater Houston area 1st-Team, while being a finalist for the Touchdown Club of Greater Houston Area Defensive Player of the Year ... Was also a 1st-Team All-District punter, while earning honorable mention Academic All-State acclaim for his work in the classroom ... Lost all but one game of his junior season to a knee injury that kept him out of action ... Had 115 tackles as a sophomore, while earning district newcomer of the year honors, as well as county sophomore of the year ... Three-year letterwinner in both the sports of football and track and field ... Was a district champion in the discus in 2007, and also finished 2nd in his regional, while qualifying for the state championships ... Took 3rd in the discus and was a regional qualifier in 2006 ... High school coach - Steve Van Meter ... Parents - Tommy & Elaine Ebner ... Older brother Jake currently plays tight end at the University of Houston, where their father Tommy also played college ball ... Lists hunting, fishing and ultimate Frisbee as his hobbies ... Is interested in studying in Mizzou's College of Business ... A National Honor Society member who also is involved in Young Life, as well as Peer Assistance Leadership Society ... Chose Mizzou over Northwestern, Houston and UAB, among others ... MU primary recruiting coach - Craig Kuligowski.
KIP EDWARDS
Fr., WR/DB, 6-1, 185, Arlington, Texas (Bowie High School)
Ranked by Rivals as the nation's No. 42 cornerback prospect, as well as the No. 97 overall prospect (any position) in the state of Texas .. Named a midlands all-region player by PrepStar Magazine ... Named a 1st-Team All-State player as a senior in 2007, as he recorded 65 tackles, broke up 15 passes and nabbed 7 INTs, while blocking 2 punts and 1 field goal on special teams units ... Was a team captain as a senior ... Earned All-District honors in 2006 as a junior, with 59 tackles, adding 13 pass break ups and 4 INTs ... Has a potential academic interest in studying early childhood development or sports medicine ... Lists hobbies as working on cars, listening to music, playing video games and watching television ... Says he would like to learn how to play soccer sometime ... Has worked at Six Flags Over Texas, as well as Chuck E. Cheese's in the past ... High school coach - Kenny Perry ... Parents - Kip & Lecia Edwards ... Says that Mizzou's academic reputation and dedication to students, as well as the relationship he forged with MU's coaches, as well as the new Mizzou Athletic Training Complex, were all instrumental in his choosing to become a Tigers ... Chose Mizzou over Wisconsin, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Louisville and Kansas, among others ... MU primary recruiting coach - Dave Steckel.
MICHAEL EGNEW
Fr., TE/DB, 6-5, 210, Plainview, Texas (Plainview High School)
A two-time All-District wideout who was named an all-midwest region wide receiver by PrepStar ... Served as a team captain in 2007, and turned in 34 receptions for 587 yards and 5 TDs on the year, while also rushing 10 times for 53 yards ... As a junior in 2006, caught 8 passes in his first varsity season for 266 yards ... Three-sport standout who also excelled in basketball and track and field, where he placed 2nd in the state championships in the long jump ... Has a career best long jump of 24-4 and a triple jump best of 43-feet ... High school coach - Marty McClintock ... Parents - Richard & Ersa Egnew ... Is the eighth of nine siblings ... Is interested in studying in MU's College of Business, perhaps in the area of international business ... Lists football, basketball and listening to music as his hobbies ... Major attractions to Mizzou included the Tiger coaches, players and campus ... Chose the Tigers over Purdue, TCU and New Mexico, among others ... MU primary recruiting coach - Dave Steckel.
BLAINE GABBERT
Fr., QB, 6-5, 225, Ballwin, Mo. (Parkway West High School)
One of the most highly sought-after quarterback prospects in the nation who chose to go with his in-state school ... Is a five-star blue-chip All-American who is hailed as the nation's top pro-style quarterback prospect, according to Rivals, and is that outlet's No. 14 national player overall at any position ...Is also the consensus No. 1 player in the state of Missouri ... ESPN.com calls him one of the best quarterbacks they have seen in the last three classes combined ... Ranked as the nation's No. 5 quarterback, and as the country's No. 38 overall prospect at any position by ESPN.com, and comes in at No. 47 nationwide by PrepStar Magazine ... Was invited to participate in the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback camp last summer (winning camp MVP honors), and in January of 2008, was impressive playing in the U.S. Army All-American Game ... Gained all those accolades, and many more, despite playing in only 5 games as a senior, as he began the year hobbled with an injured foot, and once past that setback, was lost for the season with a shoulder injury soon after ... Injuries limited his statistics to 623 passing yards and 5 TDs as a senior in 4 games, after he posted impressive figures of 1,523 yards and 20 TDs (on 119-of-231 passing) as a junior, as he also added another 458 yards rushing and 8 TDs ... Threw for approximately 1,100 yards and 11 TDs as a first-year starter during his sophomore season of 2005 ... Has the height, arm and field presence to make all the throws, and is a very impressive pocket passer with excellent accuracy ... Is also deceptively fast when getting outside of the pocket ... After his commitment to Mizzou during the fall, he became an additional recruiter for the Tigers, and along with fellow signee Andrew Jones, did a lot of work to champion Mizzou's cause to his friends ... Also a standout in the sport of baseball who has earned all-conference recognition there ... Lists sports, hanging out with friends and fishing as his primary hobbies ... Cites his strong relationship with Mizzou's players and coaches, for a primary reason why he chose Mizzou, as well as the school's proximity to his hometown ... High school coach - Mike Roth ... Parents - Chuck & Beverly Gabbert ... Chose Mizzou over virtually any school in the nation, but primarily over Nebraska, Oregon, Tennesse, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State and Minnesota, among numerous others ... MU primary recruiting coach - David Yost.
ZAVIAR GOODEN
Fr., RB/DB, 6-2, 210, Pflugerville, Texas (Pflugerville High School)
Fast-rising safety prospect who committed to Mizzou in late January ... Rated as the nation's No. 32 safety prospect by Rivals, as well as the No. 56 overall player (any position) in the state of Texas ... Was also a standout running back for Pflugerville, as he rushed for 1,128 yards and 9 TDs ... Played a major role on his team which went 12-4 in 2007 and finished as 5A state runners up ... Won district all-purpose player of the year honors in 2007, and was also a 1st-Team All-District safety and 2nd-Team All-District running back ... Had 2 INTs and a fumble recovery on defense ... Was a 2nd-Team All-District defensive back as a junior in 2006 ... Also rushed for 800 yards and 10 TDs on offense ... Notched 50 tackles and added 2 INTs and a forced fumble on defense as a sophomore for Pflugerville ... Also starred in track, running on his team's sprint relay and mile relay squads which have qualified for regionals each year ... Has a 400-meter personal best of 48 seconds ... High school coach - George Herrman ... Parents Maury & Tonia Gooden ... Has an interest in studying entrepreneurship in MU's College of Business ... Lists hobbies as football, basketball, bowling and track ... Spent time volunteering in his local PALS program, as well as the Ready, Set, Teach program ... Chose Mizzou over Oklahoma, Purdue, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Texas Tech and Iowa State, among others ... Indicated that the family atmosphere he experienced from the Mizzou coaches, players and Columbia community were a big factor in his choosing MU ... MU primary recruiting coach - Brian Jones.
DAN HOCH
Fr., OL/DL, 6-6, 295, Harlan, Iowa (Harlan High School)
A blue-chip, four-star offensive lineman who was named the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year in 2007 for his dominant play on the offensive line, who also starred on the defensive line ... Ranked as the No. 1 prospect at any position in the state of Iowa by Rivals and Scout.com, and is also Scout's No. 17 offensive tackle in the nation, while rating as Rivals' No. 18 offensive guard nationwide ... Named a prep All-American by PrepStar Magazine ... Won 1st-Team All-State and 1st-Team All-Conference honors each of his last two seasons as an offensive lineman, while starting three years on the line overall ... Helped his school win a 3A state championship on the gridiron as a first-year starter at left tackle in 2005 ... Playing defensive tackle, registered 65 tackles, 17 TFLs and 5 QB sacks as a senior in 2007, while adding 64 stops, 15 TFLs and 3 QB sacks as a junior in 2006 ... Outstanding all-around athlete who is a three-year letterman in football, basketball and baseball and track and field ... Played on basketball team which won the Iowa state 3A championship in 2005 and took 3rd in 2006 ... Was a 2nd-Team All-State selection in basketball as a junior ... Also placed 5th in the shot put one year in the state championships ... Parents - Kyle & Lori Hoch ... High school coach - Curt Bladt ... Lists fishing, playing video games and paint ball as his hobbies ... Listed MU's facilities and educational opportunities as a major drawing point for him, as well as the direction of the football program and the Tigers' explosive offense, as well as his friendship with incoming recruits Andrew Jones and Blaine Gabbert ... Is interested in studying in MU's School of Education, with an ultimate goal of working in secondary education ... Chose Mizzou over Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State, among many others ... MU primary recruiting coach - Andy Hill.
JERRELL JACKSON
Fr., WR/DB, 6-2, 180, Houston, Texas (Jefferson Davis High School)
Skilled two-way player out of the Houston area who has the athleticism to end up in a number of different spots on the field at the collegiate level ... ESPN.com ranks him as the No. 81 wide receiver prospect in the country, calling him a gifted, fluid athlete with long arms, a long stride, and very deceptive speed ... Caught 42 passes as a senior wideout in 2007, for 978 yards and 18 TDs, while adding 5 INTs as a defensive back ... Was a 1st-Team All-District honoree as a senior, as well as earning 1st-Team All-Greater Houston, and District 20-4A MVP honors ... Also was a 1st-Team All-District winner on both sides of the ball as a junior, when he caught 35 passes for 760 yards and 14 TDs, while contributing 6 INTs defensively ... Had 21 receptions for 402 yards and 7 TDs as a sophomore, as he earned all-district acclaim on both sides of the ball ... Three-sport standout at Davis High school who was a three-time all-district performer in basketball, and a regional qualifier in track three years, in addition to his football achievements ... Chose Mizzou over TCU, among others ... High school coach - Chuck Arnold ... Parents - Vernon Jackson & Denise Robinson ... MU primary recruiting coach - Brian Jones.
KENJI JACKSON
Fr., RB/DB, 5-10, 200, Mansfield, Texas (Mansfield High School)
Highly-coveted safety prospect who ESPN.com calls one of the most underrated safeties in the nation, and ranks him as their No. 12 player at that spot in the country ... First name is pronounced KEN-juh ... Ranks as the No. 74 player overall out of the state of Texas by Rivals ... Named an all-midwest region defensive back by PrepStar ... Earned Hon. Men. All-State honors at safety as a senior in 2007, while helping lead Mansfield to an 8-3 record (the school's best record since 1977) and a playoff appearance ... Was a 1st-Team All-Area selection in 2007, as well, and took home district and team defensive MVP honors for a year that saw him record 77 tackles, and add 11 pass break ups, 2 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and 1 INT ...Registered 125 tackles as a junior in 2006, while forcing 3 fumbles and earning 1st-Team All-District honors at safety ... Was an Hon. Men. All-District performer as a sophomore in 2005 while recording 53 tackles, recovering 2 fumbles, grabbing 1 INT and forcing 1 fumble ... Speedster who was a three-year letterwinner in track, as well as football ... Has a personal best of 22.4 seconds in the 200 meter dash ... High school coach - Kirk Thor ... Parents - Dwight & Wanda Jackson ... Identified Mizzou's beautiful campus, impressive football facilities and the positive family-like atmosphere of the Tiger football program as major draws ... Has an interest in business or nutrition and fitness as his area of study at MU ... Chose Mizzou over Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and TCU, among others ... MU primary recruiting coach - Dave Steckel.
DANIEL JENKINS
OL/DL, 6-4, 290, Gilmer, Texas (Gilmer High School)
Offensive line prospect who ranks as the nation's No. 60 guard by ESPN.com, and as the nation's No. 64 guard by Rivals ... Named an all-midwest region offensive lineman by PrepStar ... Regarded as a natural athlete who possesses a tremendous work ethic to go along with his considerable frame suited for the offensive line ... Three-year starter on the offensive line for Gilmer High School in East Texas, and also played eight games as a freshman in 2004 when his team won the class 3A state championship ... Won 1st-Team All-District and All-East Texas honors as a senior in 2007, while helping lead his team to a 14-1 final record, and a state runner-up showing ... Comes from an offensive system that is very similar to Mizzou's spread-style attack ... Had 94 pancake blocks in 2007, as he earned 2nd-Team All-State honors, as well ... Had 88 pancake blocks as a junior in 2006, while earning 1st-Team All-District and All-East Texas honors, as well ... Credited with 110 pancake blocks in his first year as a starter during his sophomore season, taking home 1st-Team All-District honors in the process ... Made 66 pancake blocks as a freshman in 2004, moving up from the junior varsity for the final eight games of the year ... High school coach - Jeff Traylor ... Parents - Bobby & Kim Jenkins ... Is interested in studying in MU's School of Agriculture, in the area of agriculture nutrition ... Lists camping, fishing, hunting and country music concerts as his hobbies away from football ... Mentioned the prolific Tiger offense as a major reason for his decision to attend Mizzou, as well as the MU coaches and players, and how they carry themselves ... MU primary recruiting coach - Matt Eberflus.
ANDREW JONES
Fr., TE/DL, 6-5, 230, Smithville, Mo. (Smithville High School)
Four-star blue-chip national recruit who ranks as the No. 2 player overall in the state of Missouri by both Scout.com and Rivals, while Scout puts him as the nation's No. 9 tight end prospect, while Rivals has him as the nation's No. 14 tight end prospect ... Ranked No. 16 nationally among tight ends according to ESPN.com ... Named an All-American by PrepStar Magazine ... Was invited to play in the prestigious Army All-American Bowl in 2008, where he showed he can stretch the field, and that he should be a good fit in Mizzou's spread-style attack that heavily utilizes athletic, pass-catching tight ends ... An early commitment to the Tigers who served as a defacto recruiter, helping sell the program to other highly-touted prospects ... 1st-Team All-State tight end selection in his last two seasons, who also earned 1st-Team All-District honors as a defensive end in 2007 ... Prolific pass-catching tight end/receiver who had 154 receptions for 1,858 yards and 15 TDs in his Smithville career ... 2007 statistics: 44 receptions, 558 yards, 5 TDs, 31 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT and 1 fumble recovery ... 2006 statistics: 53 receptions, 618 yards, 6 TDs, 45 tackles, 8 sacks, 1 INT, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble ... Was a 1st-Team All-District and 2nd-Team All-Conference tight end in 2005, while pulling in Hon. Men. Honors at defensive end ... 2005 statistics: 42 receptions, 508 yards, 4 TDs, 50 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles ... 2004 statistics: 21 receptions, 236 yards, 1 TD, 28 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble ... An outstanding all-around athlete who starred in football, basketball and baseball at Smithville ... Was a 1st-Team All-State selection in in basketball in both 2006 and 2007, while earning 1st-Team All-District honors as a first baseman and 1st-Team All-Conference honors as a pitcher in 2007 ... Parents - Carl & Betty Jones ... High school coach - Greg Smith ... Is interested in studying in MU's renowned College of Business, with an ultimate interest in the field of business management ... Lists fishing as his primary hobby outside of football ... Has been involved with his school's FFA, FCCLA, student council and science club for multiple years ... Lists his primary reasons for choosing Mizzou as wanting to play for the home state team as well as continuing the tradition of great tight ends, and that he feels home in Columbia ... Had more than 30 scholarship offers, and could have gone to virtually any school in the country, but he chose Mizzou over such programs as Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Wisconsin, Clemson, Colorado, Kansas State and Vanderbilt, among many others ... Served as a recruiter, of sorts, for the Tiger program, as he was instrumental in getting several fellow MU signees to come to Columbia ... MU primary recruiting coach - Andy Hill.
WES KEMP
Fr., WR/DL, 6-4, 225, St. Louis, Mo. (DeSmet High School)
A highly-touted in-state athlete with strong family ties to Mizzou who ranks as the No. 3 overall player (any position) in the state of Missouri, as well as the nation's No. 33 wide receiver by Scout ... Rivals' rankings include him as the No. 6 overall player (any position) in the state of Missouri, as well as the nation's No. 49 receiver ... PrepStar ranks him as the nation's No. 27 overall prospect at any position ... Has impressive size and athletic ability to go along with his stellar play-making skills at the wideout spot ... A three-time 1st-Team All-State selection at the wide receiver position ... Helped lead his team to the class 6 state quarterfinals in 2007 while catching 39 passes for 781 yards and 9 TDs as a senior ... Had 39 receptions for 769 yards and 8 TDs as a junior in 2006, playing in only 9 games ... Burst onto the scene with an explosive sophomore season that saw him catch 49 passes for 1,082 yards (a whopping 21.7 average) and 8 TDs while helping lead DeSmet to a class 6 state championship ... Broke the class 6 state championship game record by catching 11 passes for 246 yards (with 1 TD) as DeSmet downed Hazelwood Central, 48-31, for the title ... Excellent all-around athlete who starred in football and basketball primarily at DeSmet, while also participating in track as well ... High school coach - Pat Mahoney ... Parents - Randy & Doris Kemp ... Father is a 1975 graduate of Mizzou, as is his older brother Chris (2004 graduate), while his sister Jennifer is currently a junior at MU ... Listed MU's major draws as its closeness to his home, the great Tiger coaching staff and Mizzou's explosive offense ... Also credited the new contract awarded to Coach Pinkel and the security it offers to a player as a drawing card ... Wants to pursue a degree from Mizzou's School of Business, with an interest of studying in the areas of marketing and real estate ... Describes hobbies as X-Box 360, reading and meeting new people ... Has done work with a local Big Brothers program in his hometown ... Chose Mizzou over many prominent football programs, including Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota and Ole Miss, among numerous others ... MU primary recruiting coach - Cornell Ford.
BRAD MADISON
Fr., OL/DL, 6-5, 255, Bethany, Mo. (South Harrison High School)
Talented offensive line prospect with a big upside who grew up a Missouri fan ... Despite missing about half of his senior season due to an injured foot, still ranks as the No. 12 player overall (any position) in the state of Missouri, as well as the nation's No. 54 offensive guard, according to Rivals ... ESPN.com pegs him as the nation's No. 45 offensive guard prospect ... Named an all-midwest region offensive lineman by PrepStar ... Is the younger brother of Ryan Madison, who will be a senior offensive lineman this fall for the Tigers ... Was one of the first players to commit to Mizzou, accepting a scholarship offer back in February of 2007 ... An all-state performer on the offensive line for South Harrison in 2007 who also earned all-conference honors on the defensive line, as a senior ... Won all-state honors on the defensive line in 2006, while taking home all-conference honors on both offense and defense that year, as well as in 2005 ... A two-year team captain ... Outstanding all-around athlete who was a multi-year letterwinner in football, basketball and track ... Won a state championship in the shot put, and also finished 2nd in the state championships in the discus ... Has also won all-state honors in the sport of basketball ... High school coach - Larry Linthacum, a former MU tight end ... Parents - Leo & Sharol Madison ... Lists primary hobbies outside of football as hunting and golfing ... Involved in Future Farmers of America and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as well as other organizations ... Among the reasons cited for choosing Mizzou include the chance to play with his brother, the Tiger coaches, and the great facilities ... Received interest from Wisconsin, Nebraska and Kansas State, among others, before ending the recruiting process early and committing to Mizzou ... MU primary recruiting coach - Andy Hill.
MARCUS MALBROUGH
Fr., TE/DL, 6-5, 225, Beaumont, Texas (Westbrook High School)
Speedy defensive end prospect who has good natural reaction and instincts for his position ... Recruiting interest picked up during a big senior season that he turned in ... Won 1st-Team All-District honors as a senior in 2007, as he recorded 47 tackles and 5.5 QB sacks, while being credited with 18 QB pressures, 6 pass deflections and adding 1 forced fumble and 1 safety in 11 games played ... Was selected to play in the Bayou Bowl all-star game ... Multisport letterwinner for Beaumont, in football (2 years) and basketball (3 years) ... High school coach - Craig Stump ... Parents - Joseph & Berlinda Malbrough ... Lists fishing as his primary hobby outside of athletics ... Cited the MU coaches and how they made him feel at home as one of his primary attractions to the Tiger program ... Chose Mizzou over Iowa, Oklahoma State, Houston, Mississippi State, Baylor and Tulane, among others ... MU primary recruiting coach - Matt Eberflus.
GAHN McGAFFIE
Fr., WR/DB, 5-11, 180, Galena Park, Texas (Galena Park High School)
Versatile athlete who could play a number of positions at the college level, after starring as a quarterback and wide receiver at Galena Park High School ... Comes to Mizzou ranked as the No. 25 all-purpose back in the country, as well as the state of Texas' No. 79 overall prospect (any position) by Rivals ... ESPN.com rates him as the nation's No. 26 athlete prospect ... Named an All-Midlands region running back selection by PrepStar ... Won District MVP and All-Region honors as a senior in 2007, while being named to the Houston Chronicle Top-100 list ... Despite missing a few games to an injured ankle, turned in an amazing senior season that included 1,208 yards and 13 TDs rushing, while also throwing for nearly 600 yards and 3 more TDs ... Won Academic Top-25 honors from his school in 2007, as well ... Won District MVP honors as a junior in 2006 ... Honored as a 1st-Team All-District performer during his sophomore season of 2005, while winning his team's newcomer of the year, impact player of the year and special teams player of the year awards as a freshman in 2004 ... Started his varsity career as a wide receiver during 2004, then showed his versatility by moving to QB as a junior, and led his team to a winning record ... Also has starred on the hardcourt, as he was a 1st-Team All-District performer and newcomer of the year for his school ... High school coach - Ray Zepada ... Parents - Charles & Brenda McGaffie ... First name is prounced like "John" ... Hobbies outside of football include working out, watching college football and hanging out with his family ... Listed the overall comfort level given to him by Mizzou's coaches and players as one of the deciding factors in choosing to attend MU ... Chose Mizzou after receiving offers from Boston College, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Kansas State, Houston and Baylor, among many others who showed an interest ... MU primary recruiting coach - Craig Kuligowski.
TRAVIS RUTH
Fr., OL/DL, 6-3, 300, Jefferson City, Mo. (Jefferson City High School)
Was the first player to commit as part of the 2008 signing class, pledging his intent to attend Mizzou back on signing day in 2007 ... A highly-touted offensive line prospect who is rated by Rivals as the No. 10 overall player (any position) in the state of Missouri, as well as the nation's No. 47 offensive guard ... Scout lists him as the state's No. 10 overall prospect (any position), as well ... Named an all-midwest region defensive lineman by PrepStar ... Is the younger brother of John Ruth, who completed his eligibility on the Tiger football team as part of the 2007 Big 12 North champions ... Two-time All-State offensive lineman for nearby Jefferson City, in both 2006 and 2007 ... Helped lead his team to a district title as a junior in 2006, and to an appearance in the state championship semi-finals ... An accomplished throws man in track who won all-state honors in the shot put in 2006 and all-district honors in the shot put and discus in 2006 ... High school coach - Ted LePage, a former Tiger standout at linebacker ... Parents - John & Michelle Ruth ... Has an interest in studying in MU's College of Agriculture, where he wants to pursue a major of animal science ... Lists hunting and fishing as his primary hobbies outside of football ... Serves as his senior class president, and is a member of the student council and the National Honor Society ... Said that choosing Mizzou was an easy and obvious choice for him, as he has been a lifetime an of Tiger athletics ... Grew up going to Mizzou football camps for as long as he can remember ... Listed the new Mizzou Athletic Training Complex, as well as MU's academic reputation, as primary draws for him ... MU primary recruiting coach - Andy Hill.
ALDON SMITH
Fr., TE/DL, 6-5, 235, Raytown, Mo. (Raytown High School)
Highly-touted two-way athlete who ranks as the No. 5 overall prospect (any position) in the state of Missouri, as well as the No. 27 strongside defensive end in the nation, according to Rivals ... Scout ranks him as the state's No. 7 overall prospect (any position) ... Named an all-midwest region defensive lineman by PrepStar ... Committed to Mizzou immediately following Mizzou's impressive 41-6 win over Nebraska on Oct. 6th, and cited the outstanding fan support and atmosphere at Faurot Field as a big factor ... Was a 1st-Team All-State selection for Raytown as a senior defensive end in 2007, as he registered 60 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 12 QB sacks, while adding 7 forced fumbles, 1 blocked punt and 1 safety ... Won his team's defensive MVP honors while serving as a team captain during his senior season ... Also stood out on offense, as he caught 34 passes for 570 yards and 4 TDs as a tight end ... Was a Buck Buchanan Award finalist as a senior, as well ... Named 1st-Team All-Conference as a junior in 2006, when he made 49 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, and added 18 catches for 285 yards and 3 TDs on offense ... Standout in the sport of basketball who won 1st-Team All-Conference honors on the hardcourt ... High school coach - Ken Clemons ... Parents - Thurston Smith & Kimberly Smith ... Has an interest of studying in MU's College of Business, with a plan to major in the real estate program ... Lists video games, sports, swimming, traveling and listening to music as his primary hobbies ... Cited the family-like atmosphere presented to him by both Mizzou's coaching staff and the players as well as the nice athletics and campus facilities as a major reason for his attraction to the school ... Chose Mizzou over Nebraska, Kansas and Kansas State, among many others ... MU primary recruiting coach - Andy Hill.
JACQUIES SMITH
Fr., TE/DL, 6-4, 225, Dallas, Texas (South Oak Cliff High School)
Ranked by Rivals as the No. 26 weakside defensive end prospect in the nation ... First name is pronounced ja-QWEESE ... ESPN.com ranks him as the nation's No. 75 defensive end (either side) prospect ... Tabbed an all-midlands region defensive lineman by PrepStar Magazine ... Comes from the same high school as current Tiger La'Roderick Thomas ... Two-time 1st-Team All-District performer, who also earned Hon. Men. All-State honors as a senior in 2007 ... Outstanding all-around athlete who has won all-district honors and a state championship as a starting power forward in basketball, in addition to being a regional champion in track ... Chose Mizzou over many other big-name schools, including Nebraska, Texas A&M, Michigan State, Colorado, Colorado State and Kentucky, among others ... Has an interest in studying sports medicine while at Mizzou ... Lists playing basketball and watching television as some of his hobbies outside of football ... Has worked in the past for the Dallas Morning News ... Stated that the primary draw for him to Mizzou was the relationships built with him by the coaches and the family atmosphere he felt a part of during his recruiting visits ... High school coach - Chris Gilbert ... Parents - Jimmy & Opal Smith ... MU primary recruiting coach - Bruce Walker.
ROBERT STEEPLES
Fr., WR/DB, 6-1, 190, St. Louis, Mo. (DeSmet High School)
One of the top players in the state of Missouri who was an early commit to play for his in-state school ... Scout's rankings has him as the state of Missouri's No. 6-ranked player overall (any position), and as the nation's No. 32-ranked cornerback ... Ranked by Rivals as the state's No. 8 player at any position, and the same outlet puts him as the No. 40-ranked cornerback prospect in the nation ... ESPN.com lists him as the nation's No. 45 cornerback prospect ... Named an midlands All-Region team selection by SuperPrep Magazine ... Earned 1st-Team All-State recognition as a senior cornerback in 2007 for his season which included 24 tackles, 12 pass break ups, 5 INTs and 1 forced fumble ... Was a team captain who also returned kickoffs (24.0 avg.) and punts (17.17 avg.) ... Had 40 tackles as a junior, with 11 pass breakups, while rushing for 250 yards and averaging 30 yards per kickoff return (including one he ran back 99 yards for a TD) ... Played on DeSmet's 2005 Class 6 state championship team that won the state title with a 48-31 win over Hazelwood Central ... Had 4 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 pass break up in the title game victory ... Ended his sophomore season with 33 tackles, 3 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries, and 2 defensive TDs scored ... Is a three-sport standout at DeSmet, excelling in basketball, where he was a three-year varsity starting point guard, and in track, where he was a conference champion in the 200 meter dash, in addition to his gridiron exploits ... High school coach - Pat Mahoney ... Parents - Robert & Phyllis Steeples ... Lists hobbies as drawing, video games, being with family and music ... Serves as president of his school's Minority Awareness Club, and also volunteers his time as a football coach at a local city recreation center ... Chose Mizzou over Northwestern, Kansas State and Iowa, among others ... Has an interest in studying business in MU's renowned College of Business ... Listed his great relationship with MU's coaches for a major reason why he chose Mizzou, as well as the great blend of academic and athletic opportunities awaiting him here ... MU primary recruiting coach - Cornell Ford.
DREW TEMPLE
Fr., RB/DB, 5-10, 190, Kansas City, Mo. (Rockhurst High School)
Rated by Rivals as the No. 7 overall player in the state of Missouri (any position), and as the nation's No. 31 running back prospect ... Named a midlands All-Region selection by SuperPrep Magazine ... ESPN.com says that he runs harder than listed measurables and is a well-rounded running back prospect ... Is the younger brother of Tony Temple, who just completed his Tiger career by breaking the Cotton Bowl record with 281 yards and 4 TDs rushing in Mizzou's 38-7 win over Arkansas ... Helped lead his Rockhurst squad to a perfect 13-0 season and a Missouri class 6 state championship ... Ran for 174 yards and 2 TDs (63 yds., 15 yds.) in the state title game against Mehlville, on the same weekend that older brother Tony and the Tigers defeated 2nd-ranked Kansas to win the Big 12 North title and take over the #1 spot in the Associated Press and BCS polls ... Consensus 1st-Team All-State running back as a senior, rushing for over 1,500 yards and 22 TDs while averaging 8.2 yards per carry ... Missed most of his junior season due to injury, but as a sophomore ran for over 500 yards and 11 TDs for the Hawklets, who reached the state semi-finals ... Interested in studying business management in MU's esteemed College of Business ... Lists sports, friends, music, movies and church as his interests ... Chose Mizzou over Tennessee, Boston College, Kansas and Kansas State, among others ... High school coach - Tony Severino ... Parents - Tony Temple & Diana Temple ... Listed the vibrant life and energy of the football program and the University of Missouri as a major attraction for him, as well as the stellar reputation of the business school ... MU primary recruiting coach - Andy Hill.
GEORGE WHITE
Fr., RB/LB, 6-2, 250, Flint, Mich. (Carman-Ainsworth High School/Cincinnati [Ohio] Harmony Prep)
Originally part of Mizzou's 2007 recruiting class who commits once again after taking a brief detour to Cincinnati's Harmony Prep School, where he starred as a defensive end ... Was a teammate at Harmony with fellow 2008 class signee Rolandis Woodland ... Is rated by Rivals as the nation's No. 25 prep school prospect at any position ... Named a prep school All-American by PrepStar ... In 2007, was rated by Rivals as the nation's No. 24-ranked inside linebacker prospect, and also as the No. 17 overall prospect (any position) to come out of the state of Michigan in 2007 ... Super Prep rated him as the No. 18-ranked overall prospect (all positions) in Michigan, and as the nation's No. 50-ranked middle linebacker recruit ... Earned 1st-Team All-State acclaim from the Detroit News as a senior in 2006 after collecting 103 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 1 QB sack and 4 pass deflections for Carman-Ainsworth High School in Flint, Mich. ... Was a 1st-Team All-League choice on both sides of the ball in 2006, and was also his team's captain ... Had 68 tackles and 8 tackles for loss during his junior season of 2005 that saw him win honorable-mention honors while starting on both sides of the ball ... Was moved up to the varsity as a freshman, and played primarily at offensive guard, where he started as both a sophomore and junior ... During his junior year, moved to linebacker on defense ... An excellent all-around athlete who also participated in basketball and track at his school ... High school coach - Jerry Parker ... Prep school coach - David Pool ... Parents - George White & Bertha Johnson ... Plans to pursue a degree in business at Mizzou's esteemed School of Business ... Lists hobbies as basketball, video games, cooking, computers, movies and winter sports ... Cited the relationships he established with MU coaches and players as one of the primary reasons for coming to MU ... Chose Mizzou over Michigan State, Iowa, Pittsburgh, Illinois, Indiana and Central Michigan, among others ... Primary Mizzou recruiter - Cornell Ford.
ROLANDIS WOODLAND
Fr., WR/DB, 6-5, 185, St. Louis, Mo. (Rockwood Summit High School/Cincinnati [Ohio] Harmony Prep)
Originally part of Mizzou's 2007 recruiting class who commits once again after taking a brief detour to Cincinnati's Harmony Prep School, where he starred as a wide receiver ... Was a teammate at Harmony with fellow 2008 class signee George White ... Is rated by Rivals as the nation's No. 28 prep school prospect at any position ... Named a prep school All-American by PrepStar ... In 2007, was rated by Rivals as the No. 9 overall prospect (any position) in the state of Missouri for 2007, and as the No. 69 wide receiver in the nation ... Ranked by SuperPrep as the state of Missouri's No. 12-ranked overall prospect (any position), and also as the nation's No. 94-ranked wide receiver ... As a senior in 2006, caught 30 passes for 800 yards and 13 TDs, while adding 71 tackles, 3 INTs and 2 QB sacks on defense ... Won 1st-Team All-State honors as a senior wideout, and also took home 1st-Team All-Conference mention as a wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner ... As a junior in 2005, caught 15 passes for 404 yards (a whopping 26.9 avg.) and 10 TDs, and also averaged 25.8 yards per kickoff return ... Transferred to Rockwood Summit High School prior to his junior season, after playing as a sophomore at Lutheran North High School ... As a sophomore, he played primarily as a defensive back, and registered 101 tackles and grabbed 9 INTs on the year while earning 1st-Team All-Conference mention on defense ... Also was a standout on the hardcourt, where he helped lead Lutheran North to a Class 3 state championship, scoring 16 points in the title victory over Charleston in 2005 ... Was named the championship game player of the game ... High school coach - Mike Bellers ... Prep school coach - David Pool ... Son of Rolanda Woodland ... Chose Mizzou over Nebraska, UCLA, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Michigan State and Illinois, among others ... Primary Mizzou recruiter - Cornell Ford.
