It seems that we have abandoned rural Missouri in recent

Posted on: February 17, 2018 at 09:05:07 CT

years. Perhaps the talent just isn't there anymore but over the years we have always had players from throughout the state. In fact, Odom played with many talented rural Missouri kids under Larry Smith, so it seems odd that he would disengage with them. Iowa has had success over the years with Iowa kids and they destroyed Ohio State's star studded team last year.

Kearney's Cale Garrett was a last-minute addition to fill the class in 2016, but we showed no interest until we were out of options. The same with Bobby Lawrence from St. Joseph in this year's class. Tristan Castillo 2016 from Webb City was the last player from rural Missouri that was actually recruited from the start.

It's disappointing that for whatever reason Odom has either ignored or failed to recruit in-state players. I would rather lose with Missouri kids than continue to lose with without them. Odom has only signed four players from Missouri in the past two years combined and the 2017 class only had one player from Missouri, DaRon Davis and he's yet to even enroll.

Edited by Fourth and Long at 09:09:33 on 02/17/18