Signing day: Mizzou adds two running backs in Odom's first recruiting class
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- New Missouri coach Barry Odom addressed two areas of need with his first recruiting class, adding a pair of highly touted running backs from East St. Louis, Illinois, High School, and two experienced wide receivers.
Missouri's offense was among the worst in the nation last year, averaging 13.6 points, and scored in single digits five of the last seven games.
One of the running backs, Damarea Crockett, is a four-star recruit. The other, Nate Strong, was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and played last year for Hinds Community College. Wide receiver Chris Black is a graduate transfer from Alabama who can play right away and Dominic Collins is from Saddleback Community College.
J'Mon Moore was the top wide receiver last year with 29 receptions, and Nate Brown had 27.
Ish Witter, who will be a junior, had a team-leading 518 yards rushing and a 4.1-yard average with one touchdown. Senior Russell Hansbrough battled injuries and had 436 yards and one touchdown.
Other things to know:
Top 25 Class: No
Best in class: Tre Williams, DL, Columbia, Missouri, Rock Bridge. Four recruits are among the St. Louis Post-Dispatch top 30 list -- TE Brendan Scales, P-K Tucker McCann, OL Tre'Vour Simms and RB Jerod Alton.
Best of the rest: Christian Holmes, CB, Atlanta, Georgia., McNair High
Late addition: QB Micah Wilson, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lincoln Christian High
One that got away: None.
How they'll fit in: Odom was under the gun to produce after replacing Gary Pinkel in early December. It's not a wow class but it should help the school regain its footing in the SEC.
