Why Some of Mizzou's NFL Draft Hopefuls Might Have a Leg Up on Other Prospects

Six of the Missouri Tigers eight NFL Scouting Combine invites spent their entire collegiate career at Missouri.

INDIANAPOLIS —Eight Missouri Tigers will step on to the field at Lucas Oil Stadium this week at the NFL Scouting Combine in hopes to boost their stock for the 2024 NFL Draft.

In this video, MizzouCentral's Joey Van Zummeren and Quentin Corpuel are both in Indianapolis this week to cover all of the action in the NFL's premier pre-draft event. In this video, they discuss their takeaways after head coaches and general managers of most NFL teams met with the media Tuesday to discuss the upcoming offseason.

They discuss the fact that one way that Missouri players' draft stock may increase from is that six of the combine invites played their whole careers at Missouri without transferring, almost a rarity for prospects in the modern college football landscape. 

The six players who spent their whole career in Columbia include Darius Robinson, Kris Abrams-Draine, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Harrison Mevis, J.C. Carlies and Javon Foster. 

The two that transferred at one point in their careers are running back Cody Schrader and linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper. Schrader spent the first three years of his career (2018-'21) at Division-II Truman State before walking on to Missouri in 2022. Hopper spent his first three years at Florida (2018-'21) before joining Missouri in 2022 and instantly contributing as a starter.

The NFL Scouting Combine will take place this week with workouts starting Thursday, Feb. 29 at 3 p.m. when defensive linemen, edge rushers and linebackers take the field. 

Here's the schedule for this week's drills and which Missouri players will be participating in each:

• Thursday, February 29, 2 p.m. CT: Ty'ron Hopper and Darius Robinson
• Friday, March 1, 2 p.m.: Jaylon Carlies, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Kris Abrams-Draine
• Saturday, March 2, 12 p.m.: Cody Schrader
• Sunday, March 3, 12 p.m.: Javon Foster

Stay tuned all week for more coverage Combine coverage from MizzouCentral.

How to Watch: Mizzou at the NFL Combine