"Recruiting is the lifeblood of our program": University of Missouri HC on his visit to 4-star commit Jack Lange's high school game 

By Aman Sharma

Modified Sep 28, 2024 17:44 GMT

University of Missouri Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz made a notable appearance at St. Louis to watch Jack Lange, a four-star offensive tackle committed to the Tigers, compete in the matchup between Eureka High School and Kirkwood football.

Lange, who committed to Mizzou in March, chose the program over powerhouse schools like Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Michigan. His recruitment highlights the importance of cultivating strong relationships within local high school football programs, particularly in Missouri.

In discussing the role of recruiting, Drinkwitz spoke to KSDK News' Corey Miller and emphasized how vital it is to the success of Missouri football.

"I mean recruiting is the lifeblood of our program. Obviously St. Louis has been so good to us when you're talking about Brady Cook, Luther Byrd, Marquis Grasiel, Marvin Burks, Brett Northley. And it's about us finding those next guys coming in the future."

Drinkwitz also stressed the importance of instilling state pride, saying,

"Yeah, I mean everywhere you go, it's Mizzou country, and that's what you want. You want the state to be proud of our university and proud of our football team. And we worked really hard this week to improve so that we can continue to keep this chase going."

Lange, an offensive tackle who ranks as Missouri’s top player for the class of 2025 and the 10th best at his position nationwide, has attracted considerable attention. He is currently ranked as the 128th player overall in the 2025 class, according to 247 Sports.

Eureka head coach Jacob Sumner had high praise for Lange’s skill set.

"He’s a big body but can get into a low position and fit, and be physical, explosive and fast. He still has some growing to do but he’s only a 13-game starter at the varsity level entering his senior season, so it’s pretty exciting," head coach Jacob Sumner told 247 Sports

Missouri HC Drinkwitz defends Brady Cook amid criticism after double-OT victory against Vanderbilt

Following No. 11 ranked Missouri's double-overtime victory over Vanderbilt, head coach Eli Drinkwitz firmly defended quarterback Brady Cook, who had a challenging day despite leading Mizzou to a 30-27 win. Cook completed 23 of 37 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns but struggled with his lowest completion percentage of the season.

During a radio appearance on 101 ESPN in St. Louis, Drinkwitz addressed the criticism surrounding his quarterback, urging fans to give the team time to find its offensive rhythm.

“There are some plays out there that we all wish we were making in the pass game. We haven’t found a complete rhythm yet offensively. But the outside noise relating to him right now is ridiculous. People need to have their minds checked."

Praising Cook’s recent performances, Drinkwitz continued,

“Brady Cook is an unbelievable player. He didn’t put us in jeopardy. He didn’t throw an interception in the last two weeks. If he had, we wouldn’t win those games. Can he play better? Absolutely, just like I can coach better. But to point fingers right now, our fans need to have a reality check on that stuff.”

Heading into the bye week with a perfect 4-0 record, Cook is averaging 236.5 passing yards per game, ranking fifth in the SEC. So far, he has completed 68.7% of his passes for 946 yards and four touchdowns.