Missouri
Missouri football cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. declares for the 2024 NFL Draft
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When Ennis Rakestraw Jr. announced his commitment to Missouri football, it created a viral moment where first-year head coach Eli Drinkwitz went charging around the Missouri athletics halls.
On Saturday morning, Rakestraw announced the end of his Missouri football career on his own terms.
He announced he’ll be entering the 2024 NFL Draft.
“Thank YOU COACH DRINK for recruiting me and believing I could compete right away. When I committed, a lot of people didn’t see our vision,” Rakesteaw wrote on social media announcing his declaration. “Glad by the end of my career, we turned into a reality, And to TIGER NATION I love y’all, supporting me through thick and thin.”
One of Missouri’s best defensive players, Rakestraw’s career began against the eventual national champion Alabama. He had a baptism by fire as a freshman and tragedy as a sophomore when he tore his ACL during practice in 2021.
Rakestraw endured that and returned in 2022 to put forward a standout season in 2022 where he recorded 12 pass breakups.
He finished his career with 24 pass breakups, an interception and two forced fumbles.
Cotton Bowl: Why Missouri football’s Cotton Bowl fourth quarter was some of the best football its ever played | Kwiecinski
“Truly blessed to have been on the journey I’ve been on,” Rakestraw wrote. “The journey doesn’t stop here, but the next chapter is upon us, want to emphasize without MY FAMILY wouldn’t be here- all the praise to them but MAMA thank you for the accountability and trust I’ll be something in life. You are the reason for everything. Can’t repay you for anything but I can be great and be the best son I can.”
More: How Mizzou cornerback Ennis Rakestraw’s relationship with his mom aided his 10-month torn ACL recovery
Rakestraw missed the Cotton Bowl with an injury, but that won’t damper his NFL Draft stock.
So far, he’s seen his profile rise from a late day-three pick to a day-two pick due to his technique and play style. With a solid combine and pro day, Rakestraw could improve that draft stock further.
“Thankful for all the COACHES AND STRENGTH STAFF I’ve worked relationships, and the LIFELONG FRIENDS the University of Missouri has provided me,” Rakestraw wrote.
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Missouri
U.S. Open Qualifier Jadeon Carter (2025) Sends Verbal Commitment to Missouri
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Jadeon Carter from Lincoln, Nebraska, has made a verbal commitment to the University of Missouri for the 2025-26 school year and beyond.
“I chose Missouri because of the academic resources and the athletic resources they provide. The team culture makes it feel like home and all of the staff and swimmers are very supportive of me.”
Carter is a rising senior at Lincoln East High School. He swims year-round with Lincoln Select Swimming and is a Winter U.S. Open qualifier in the 200 backstroke. In high school swimming, he is the reigning Nebraska state champion in the 200 free (1:41.20) and 500 free (4:35.12). He holds school records in the 200 fre, 500 free, and 200 free relay, and he made the Academic All-Conference and Athletic All-Conference state teams.
In club swimming, Carter holds the Midwestern Swimming LSC record in the boys’ 13-14 500 free. This summer, he clocked a handful of LCM best times at Columbia Sectionals, placing 13th in the 200 free (1:58.08, PB), 13th in the 400 free (4:11.33), 7th in the 800 free (8:36.40), 16th in the 100 back (59.76 in prelims, PB), 6th in the 200 back (2:06.44, PB), and 12th in the 200 IM (2:12.90, PB). Two weeks later he competed at Midwestern Swimming Long Course Championships, where he won the 200/400/1500 free, 200 back, and 200 IM, and was runner-up in the 100 back. He picked up new times in the 100 free (55.39), 1500 free (16:47.07), and (50 back (29.33).
Best SCY times:
- 200 free – 1:41.20
- 500 free – 4:34.01
- 1000 free – 9:38.10
- 200 back – 1:50.43
- 100 back – 52.41
Carter will join the Tigers’ class of 2029 with fellow verbal commits Drew Ploof, Ben Madson, and Sebastian Gonzalez Barboza. Mizzou finished 8th out of 10 teams in the men’s meet at the 2024 SEC Championships.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Missouri
Missouri State football vs. Montana today: Live updates, highlights from Week 1 game
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Missouri State football: Ryan Beard previews Montana
Missouri State head football coach Ryan Beard held his weekly press conference ahead of Saturday’s opener at Montana.
Missouri State football season has arrived and an offseason of looking to the 2025 season and its impending move to Conference USA will be set aside for the Bears’ final season in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and FCS.
Opening day will present quite a challenge.
Missouri State will open its 2024 season at FCS national runner-up Montana on Saturday in Missoula, Montana, at 8 p.m. This is the first time the two teams have met on the gridiron.
Ryan Beard is entering his second season as Missouri State’s head coach. His team will look to build off a 4-7 season while staying focused on this season despite being ineligible for the FCS Playoffs.
Montana finished last season as the FCS national runner-up. The Grizzlies hope to finish the job this season as they enter the season as the No. 3-ranked team in the country.
Check here for live score updates and highlights throughout the night:
Subscribe to ESPN+ to stream Missouri State vs. Montana
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Missouri
Missouri father uses a funeral to wean daughter off pacifier
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The Bishop family of Festus, Missouri, can smile now, but a few months ago the mood was much more somber as Courtney, Jake and their 3-year-old daughter Hazel said goodbye to a very important member of the family: Hazel’s beloved pacifier.
“It’s not good for her teeth and her jaws and all of that, so we had been trying to wean her off of it for some time,” Jake, 35, said.
Hazel’s beloved pacifier, affectionately known as “Paci,” had been with her for years. Jake knew saying goodbye could come with tears and tantrums, so he searched for creative approaches to ease the transition. He considered options such as cutting off the end of the pacifier, soaking it in vinegar or planting it in a pot.
Instead, Jake chose to give Paci a funeral.
Of course, before the internet, parents used to just take the thing away and deal with the tantrum. But today, for better or worse, young parents like Jake would rather not go to war over a binky. They’re “pacy-fists,” if you will.
“You need them to go through some tough times to really grow as a person but you don’t need to make extra tough times for them,” Jake said. “They’ll have plenty of those coming up.”
Parents delight in making milestones, but those milestones are often bittersweet because each turning point is a point of no return.
“She’s transitioning to the next stage of her life,” Jake said of Hazel, their first child. “We just got to hold onto those moments and those memories, because it goes fast.”
Hazel hasn’t asked for Paci again since. Although, shortly after the ceremony, Jake dug it up and buried it again in a keepsake box, making dad the one who just can’t let go.
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