Akial Byers Season 2019

One of the top freshman defensive tackles in the nation who wants to add to the lineage of great Tiger defensive linemen ... Comes to Mizzou from enemy territory in the state of Arkansas, and he was a late addition to the 2017 recruiting class, joining the program after clearing the qualifying process in April ... Was high school teammates with incoming QB prospect Taylor Powell, where the two combined to help lead Fayetteville High School to state championships in both 2015 and 2016 ... Selected to play in the prestigious Under Armour All-American Game following his prep career ... 24/7 Sports ranks him as a 4-star prospect, and among the top-300 prep players in the nation at any position, and as the nation’s #17-ranked prep defensive tackle ... Rivals ranked him as the #2 overall prospect coming out of the state of Arkansas at any position ... Chose Mizzou over numerous prominent programs, including Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Oklahoma and South Carolina, among many others.