Missouri Tigers: Pair of in-state athletes commit to Mizzou
Commitments continue to increase for the Missouri Tigers, as two in-state recruits announced their intent to wrestle and play football.
For many of us, playing football for the Missouri Tigers is nothing more than a dream, but for these two young men, sometimes, dreams come true. At the very least, they’re getting a chance.
On Thursday, Tolton’s Carson McCarty received an invitation to take part in training camp with the Tigers, while Hickman’s Jeremiah Kent announced his commitment to wrestle for Missouri.
McCarty, who was an all-state wide receiver, will be a freshman at Missouri in the fall. On Monday afternoon, he was invited to take part with the team in its fall practices.
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According to Cameron Teague Robinson of The Columbia Daily Tribune, McCarty’s and Kent’s dream school has been Missouri, all along.
While Kent still has a year left of high school, he is excited with his decision to commit to Mizzou.
"They were always my No. 1 school, because of the other Columbia guys who were there. It seemed perfect. It was like, ‘Why would I look anywhere else?’"
Kent’s hard work paid off though, as his performance on the mat remained among the top wrestlers in the state.
Meanwhile, McCarty is taking the experience in stride, and hoping his hard work will pay-off with a roster spot.
"I just love this game and want to play football. These two days have been all football. If you don’t love the game, you won’t be doing it, especially as a walk-on. Getting to put a helmet on from the Mizzou Tigers is a dream come true, and I’ve enjoyed playing against the best of the best."
It’s not everyday that we hear about the “Rudys” in the realm of amateur athletics. While most athletes are reserved in their excitement, it’s exciting to hear about a kid who gets excited over is shot to prove himself as a walk-on.
Many highly rated recruits are already under a tremendous amount of pressure at 18 to 19 years old – give or take a year – to say the right thing and have to know how to play the (recruiting) game.
Understandably, four and five-star recruits will bask in the glow of what could be the biggest opportunity any athlete receives. However, I still get as excited, if not more, when an athlete shows as much excitement, humility, and gratitude as a walk-on, as one who is receiving offers for full-ride scholarships.
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While many are understandably excited about the latest three, four and five-star prospects being courted by Mizzou. I will keep an eye on McCarty, whose excitement for a chance to walk-on and play for his Missouri Tigers grabbed my attention as much as a tweet from a highly rated recruit – whose heart, for dreams coming true, will make me root for him, even more.