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Recruiting has gone national, which means the challenge of signing the best in-state talent is exponentially more difficult than, say, 30 years ago.
With that in mind, we’re building a six-man all-star in-state team of sorts for each program in the SEC, looking for more recent recruits with more options who chose to stay home.
The good news for Missouri is there aren’t a lot of other SEC teams scouring its state for talent. The not-so-good news is its talent pool isn’t as deep as some of its southern counterparts.
Here are the best, by position, Missouri kids who became Tigers.
Quarterback — Blaine Gabbert
Gabbert was an exception, a prized four-star prospect who was rated the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the 2007 class.
Some services gave Gabbert a five-star rating, which Missouri touted as its first for a signee.
Gabbert starred at Parkway West High in Chesterfield.
He guided the Tigers to a pair of 10-win seasons and left in 2010, after his junior year, ranked fifth in program history with 6,822 passing yards.
Better Tiger than Jaguar – Blaine Gabbert at Mizzou (photo University of Missouri Athletics) @CommishOnline pic.twitter.com/5yZiCqouUU
— Rick Sassone (@RocketSportsEnt) September 6, 2013
Running back — Devin West
Before we get to West, a bit of trivia: How many Power 5 football programs can list a quarterback as its career rushing leader? Missouri can. Quarterback Brad Smith ran for 4,289 yards, but he couldn’t catch West in one department.
West, who arrived from Moberly before the recruiting rankings, set the program record with 1,578 yards in 1998, when he was named All-American.
Wide receiver — Jeremy Maclin
Maclin was a modest three-star recruit from St. Louis who blossomed into a two-time All-American after a preseason injury forced him to miss his freshman season.
He caught 102 passes in 2008, becoming the first Tiger to reach triple digits. He left with 182 catches and still ranks sixth on Missouri’s career list.
Arguably the most exciting offensive force in Tigers history, Maclin was much more than a receiver. He also was one of the best returners in the country and as a freshman scored touchdowns as a receiver, rusher, kickoff returner and punt returner.
Former Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin! #9Days pic.twitter.com/HixfEM4VnX
— SEC Country (@SEC_Country_) August 25, 2015
A first-round NFL Draft pick in 2009, Maclin has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons each of the past two years.
Defensive lineman — Justin Smith
Smith, one of the greatest homegrown Tigers, has come full circle, deciding to move back to Missouri after retiring following a 14-year NFL career in which he made five Pro Bowls.
A native of Holts Summit, just 30 miles from Missouri’s campus, Smith arrived before the recruiting rankings but quickly became a dominant force. He was an All-American in 2000 and left as the Tigers’ career leader in sacks (22.5).
Cincinnati drafted him with the fourth overall pick in 2001.
Linebacker — Aldon Smith
Smith was a pass-rushing specialist at Missouri who has become a Pro Bowl outside linebacker in the NFL.
The conversion was easy and natural. He lined up on the outside at Missouri as an athletic defensive end and used his speed to get to the quarterback.
Missouri's Marcus Lucas & Aldon Smith #85Days pic.twitter.com/BRI8vOhEKN
— SEC Country (@SEC_Country_) June 10, 2015
San Francisco drafted him seventh overall in 2011, stood him up and turned him loose.
Smith was a three-star recruit out of suburban Kansas City, the No. 667-ranked player overall in the 2007 class.
He finished second in the Big 12 with 11.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman, but left early for the NFL after his sophomore year. His sack total is tied for the second-best in program history.
Defensive back — William Moore
Missouri recruited Moore because of his hands. A wide receiver at Hayti High, near the Tennessee border, Moore was a three-star recruit in the 2004 class. He was the No. 750 player overall in the class.
Missouri quickly moved him to safety and as a junior, he set the program record with 8 interceptions. He also set the Tigers’ career record with four interception returns for touchdowns.
Atlanta drafted Moore in the second round in 2009, and he made the Pro Bowl in 2012.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
