Missouri Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz Reveals How Division II Athletes Can Move Up

The starting running backs for the Missouri Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks were both in Division II before scoring touchdowns in the SEC.

The Missouri Tigers' homecoming matchup against South Carolina will feature a unique scenario, as the starting running back from each team played at a Division II school before transferring to the SEC.

Missouri running back Cody Schrader transferred from Truman State University in 2021, and South Carolina's Mario Anderson left Newberry College in 2022.

Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz explained how the two running backs moved up to the FBS and others trying to do the same should take this as a lesson.

“I think they have to have an extreme belief in themselves and believe in their talent and abilities, but on top of that they have to have a work ethic to prove themselves every day,” Drinkwitz said during Wednesday's SEC football coaches teleconference. "It’s talent plus mindset plus work ethic that ultimately leads to successful people."

Drinkwitz is a big believer in his formula of spotting the right football players, but stresses that all three factors must be included for it to work.

“They’re guys that are always going to be counted out, and there’s always going to be maybe more talented players ahead of them. But talent alone is not enough. Sometimes as coaches, we get too caught up with what their talent capabilities are, instead of what their work ethic combined with their belief in themselves and confidence is.”

Drinkwitz said that Schrader and Anderson are both "great examples" of his formula, and the numbers don't lie.

Schrader collected 17 school records at Truman State that are still held by him today. He started throughout his first year at Missouri last season, but like the rest of the team, he has truly emerged in 2023: 114 rush attempts for 648 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns.

Anderson accumulated the third-most rushing yards in Newberry history. In his first year in the SEC, Anderson has rushed 64 times for 328 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns.

The two running backs will duel on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

2023 Missouri Tigers Football Depth Chart