Missouri
Missouri football cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. declares for the 2024 NFL Draft
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.
Lost in the shuffle of Saturday’s dramatic double-OT win: Missouri football is bowl eligible.
No. 14/15 Missouri football secured its sixth win of the season and qualified for a postseason berth courtesy of a 23-17, double-overtime win over Auburn on Saturday in Auburn, Alabama.
Mizzou (6-1, 2-1 SEC) has bigger ambitions for the season, all of which are still on the table. MU’s trip to Vanderbilt (6-1, 2-1) this upcoming Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee, was selected as the College GameDay matchup, partly because both teams still have a say in the College Football Playoff and SEC title races.
We know it’s early. Missouri has five games left and a lot can and will change over the upcoming weeks and months.
But the Tigers are bowl eligible, so let’s see what folks are saying.
With five games left to play in the regular season, here is where various national media outlets have Missouri projected to play in the postseason in their updated bowl projections:
ESPN: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Michigan; Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. Duke
Neither Kyle Bonagura nor Mark Schlabach of ESPN have Mizzou in the College Football Playoff field, instead opting for Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss and Texas A&M out of the SEC — popular choices in most projections.
Bonagura, in his updated projections, has tabbed the Tigers for a ReliaQuest Bowl appearance on Dec. 31 in Tampa, Florida, against Michigan — a battle of the Block Ms. Michigan is currently 5-2 with a 3-1 mark in Big Ten play. One of the Wolverines’ losses this year was to Oklahoma.
Schlabach currently projects Mizzou to go to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a Jan. 2 game against Duke in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Duke is 4-3, but the Blue Devils have a 3-1 mark in ACC play and absolutely could factor into the conference’s title race.
Missouri has never appeared in either bowl game, but did travel to Tampa for the Gasparilla Bowl in 2022, when it lost to Wake Forest.
CBS Sports: Texas Bowl vs. TCU
Brad Crawford of CBS Sports projected that Missouri will take on TCU on Dec. 27 in the Texas Bowl in Houston.
The Horned Frogs are 5-2 with two losses in Big 12 Conference play, coming against Kansas State and Arizona State.
Mizzou last played in the Texas Bowl in 2017, falling to Texas under then-head coach Barry Odom.
Sports Illustrated: Liberty Bowl vs. Cincinnati
Bryan Fischer of Sports Illustrated has tabbed Missouri for a Jan. 2 game against Cincinnati in Memphis, Tennessee, in the Liberty Bowl. The Gator Bowl is one of the final non-CFP games on the college football calendar.
The Bearcats are ranked No. 21 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll and shape up as a contender for the Big 12 title. They’re unbeaten through four games in conference play after losing their season-opening game against Nebraska in Kansas City.
The game would take place a day after the final College Football Playoff quarterfinals matchups.
Mizzou last played in the Liberty Bowl in 2018, losing to Oklahoma State.
Pro Football Sports Network: Texas Bowl vs Houston
Pro Football Sports Network’s updated prognostications have Mizzou facing Houston in its hometown in the Texas Bowl.
The Cougars are putting together a strong season under second-year head coach Willie Fritz, who was a longtime coach at Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Houston is currently 6-1, with its lone loss coming against Texas Tech.
Mizzou hasn’t faced the Cougars since 1994.
NEW MADRID COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) – Monday morning in the Missouri Bootheel began with a minor earthquake.
The U.S. Geological Survey registered the quake at 2:58 a.m. Oct. 20. It had a preliminary magnitude of 2.3.
The tremor was located less than a mile west of Risco and about 25 miles north-northeast of Kennett. It had a depth of approximately 3.7 miles.
As of 8 a.m. Monday, no one had reported feeling it to the USGS.
To report a typo or correction, please click here.
Copyright 2025 KAIT. All rights reserved.
Missouri Football,The Broncos are riding high after handing the Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles their first loss of the 2025 season in a 21-17 stunner in Philadelphia. Denver trailed 17-3 and then ripped off 18 consecutive points for just the franchise’s second road win ever when trailing by at least 14 points. Quarterback Bo Nix locked in during the final quarter, completing 9 of his 10 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown..
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