Former Missouri football star Cody Schrader claimed off waivers by Los Angeles Rams

If only they were still in his hometown.

Cody Schrader, the storied former Missouri football running back, was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams — formerly Schrader’s hometown St. Louis Rams — on Wednesday.

The tailback, who is a Lutheran North High product, was waived by the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday after spending the offseason there as an undrafted free agent. That gave the remainder of the NFL’s 31 teams the opportunity to pick him up off the wires before the noon Wednesday deadline. 

Schrader had 19 carries during preseason games with San Francisco, which he took for 48 yards. He caught two passes for eight yards, and returned four kicks for an average of 30 yards.

The Rams are owned by Stan Kroenke, a Missouri native and the owner of multiple pro sports teams and franchises. Kroenke recently was ordered to pay $571 million of a $790 million in a settlement with the city of St. Louis over the relocation of the Rams to Los Angeles.

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Schrader goes straight onto the Rams’ 53-man roster, meaning the team will need to cut another player to make room for him. Coach Sean McVay’s team has Kyren Williams as a likely RB1, as well as Michigan product and rookie Blake Corum and former Fresno State tailback Ronnie Rivers on its initial 53-man roster at the position.

Early in his rookie season, Schrader is likely to see special teams action in Los Angeles.

The Rams waived multiple running backs in days leading up to Tuesday’s roster cuts: Boston Scott; Zach Evans; and SaRodorick Thompson.

If Schrader signs a professional contract with the Rams, he will no longer be eligible to play for the St. Louis Battlehawks, who selected him with a second-round pick in July’s UFL Draft.

On Tuesday, all five Missouri players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft — DE Darius Robinson; CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.; CB Kris Abrams-Draine; LB JC Carlies; and OL Javon Foster — made initial 53-man rosters, along with multiple other former Tigers.

Schrader spent two seasons with Mizzou after transferring in as a walk-on from Division-II Truman State. He became the unquestioned starter shortly into his second and final season in Columbia, where he broke the Tigers’ single-season rushing record, led the Southeastern Conference in rushing, was a consensus All-American and finished eighth place in Heisman Trophy voting.

Mizzou begins its 2024 season Thursday evening against Murray State on Faurot Field in Columbia.