Who is participating in Missouri football’s Pro Day? 16 Tigers set to run drills
Missouri football will have 16 players run drills during its Pro Day on Friday morning at the team’s Stephens Indoor Facility in Columbia.
Eight Missouri players were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in late February and early March, which is a school record. They’ll all be in attendance, along with another eight of their 11-2, Cotton Bowl-winning Mizzou teammates from 2023.
“We talk about, in our program, chasing two dreams: a life in football and a life outside of the game,” MU coach Eli Drinkwitz said Wednesday. “It's going to be the 20th straight year that Missouri has had a player drafted. But now to have those (recruiting) conversations with potential first-round draft picks, potential of breaking the record of the total number of draft picks that Mizzou’s had in any one year — that's a different level.”
Here’s who will be involved in the Tigers’ Pro Day, their relevant results from the NFL Scouting Combine and where they stand heading into Friday’s drills:
Darius Robinson, defensive end
Height; weight: 6-foot-4; 285 pounds
40-yard dash; 10-yard split: 4.95 seconds; 1.73 seconds
Bench press: 21 reps
Vertical jump; broad jump: 35 inches; 9-foot-3
If Missouri has a first-round pick this year, it’s Darius Robinson.
According to reports from NFL Network's Ian Rappoport, the defensive end has had meetings with the Pittsburgh Steelers recently as well as 20 other teams.
There’s not much left for Robinson to do but wait and see where he falls. He left Indianapolis as one of the top-ranked edge rushers available this year, but if there’s anywhere he can improve, it’s his bench press score.
Cody Schrader, running back
Height; weight: 5-8½; 202
40-yard dash; 10-yard split: 4.61; 1.55
Bench press: NA
Vertical jump; broad jump: 33; NA
MU running backs coach Curtis Luper offered a reminder to scouts during media availability March 12.
“Cody's not a tester,” Luper said, “he's a football player. So, there will be a team or two that realize that for him.”
An improved 40 time wouldn’t hurt Schrader’s shot at a draft pick. He injured his hamstring during the drill in Indianapolis, so is likely to see an uptick when he runs in Columbia. Even if it doesn’t, Schrader’s sensational 2023 season should be enough to solidify a late-round draft pick for the St. Louis product.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., cornerback
Height; weight: 5-11; 183
40-yard dash; 10-yard split: 4.51; 1.54
Bench press: NA
Vertical jump; broad jump: NA; 10-0
Another Combine casualty, Rakestraw only managed the 40-yard dash and broad jump earlier this month due to a groin injury.
The corner was drawing first-round love prior to the injury, and that’s seen most mock drafts drop him to Day 2. Rakestraw has the short-yardage quickness to improve on both his sprint times, especially if he’s healthy.
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Kris Abrams-Draine, cornerback
Height; weight: 5-11; 179
40-yard dash; 10-yard split: 4.44; 1.53
Bench press: NA
Vertical jump; broad jump: 33½; NA
Missouri’s PBU leader from last season did nothing to hurt his draft chances in Indianapolis.
The wide-receiver-turned-corner is projecting as a Day 3 selection after his Combine results. A good showing on Pro Day would solidify that.
Ty’Ron Hopper, linebacker
Height; weight: 6-2; 231
40-yard dash; 10-yard split: NA; NA
Bench press: NA
Vertical jump; broad jump: NA; NA
Hopper didn’t undergo any of the explosiveness or athleticism drills at the Combine, which would indicate those will come Friday in Columbia.
The linebacker has the measurables for a team to take him on Day 2, especially with a good Pro Day showing.
JC Carlies, safety
Height; weight: 6-foot-4; 227 pounds
40-yard dash; 10-yard split: 4.50; 1.54
Bench press: 20 reps
Vertical jump; broad jump: 32½; 10-5
JC Carlies put in one of the more productive days in Indianapolis among Missouri players — at 227 pounds, his 4.5-second 40 time is impressive.
Some scouts have tipped the free safety for a move to linebacker to fit in the NFL.
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Javon Foster, offensive tackle
Height; weight: 6-3; 227
40-yard dash; 10-yard split: 5.30; 1.79
Bench press: NA
Vertical jump; broad jump: 32½; 8-10
Foster shapes up to be a Day 3 pick, with the earlier rounds on the draft’s final day a likely landing spot.
If that works out, he’d be the first Missouri offensive lineman taken in the draft since Larry Borom (Chicago Bears) in the fifth round in 2021.
Harrison Mevis, kicker
Height; weight: 6-0; 241 pounds
Mevis is one of very few kicking prospects with a 60-yarder on his college resume, coming on an unforgettable game winner versus Kansas State last September.
His performance on kickoffs from last season may hurt his draft stock, but few kickers boast a bigger leg over field goals.
Running on Pro Day
Missouri defensive linemen Realus George Jr., Jayden Jernigan and Josh Landry; linebackers Nyles Gaddy and Ben Straatmann; offensive linemen Xavier Delgado and Marcellus Johnson; and running back Nathaniel Peat will participate in MU’s Pro Day.
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This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Who is participating in Missouri football’s Pro Day? 16 Tigers set to run
