Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz: Acquiring Cody Schrader Was 'Best Recruiting Night of My Career'

Missouri football head coach Eli Drinkwitz has pulled the strings to the Tigers' historic season, but many players have also made a tremendous impact on the field.

Senior Cody Schrader was named the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week on Tuesday for his stellar performance against Tennessee last week. Schrader rushed for 205 yards and had 116 receiving yards in a 36-7 home thumping of the Volunteers.

Prior to Saturday, no Southeastern Conference player had ever recorded a 200-yard rushing and 100-yard receiving game. Schrader became the 10th player in Division I FBS history to accomplish that feat, and is the third player to do it against an AP-ranked opponent.

Drinkwitz opened up about the SEC's rushing leader during Wednesday's coaches teleconference, stating that the day Schrader transferred from Truman State to Missouri in 2021 ended up being "probably the best recruiting night of my career."

“I went to dinner with a donor trying to get a donation for our indoor facility and he recommended Cody Schrader, who was transferring from Truman State to me, as a walk-on," Drinkwitz said.

The donor was right to think Schrader would be a good match for Drinkwitz, as he collected 17 school records at Truman State that are still held by him today.

Drinkwitz explained that the donor followed up with him to see if there would be an opportunity for Schrader the next day, but he hadn't watched the tape yet because he thought the running back would just be another needed walk-on. However, Drinkwitz's perception of Schrader started to change rapidly.

“We took him, he showed up in January, worked his butt off and was the starter by the first game last season,” Drinkwitz said.

The graduate student started throughout his first year at Missouri last season, but like the rest of the team, he has truly emerged in 2023. His efforts have helped him become a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is handed to the nation's most outstanding former walk-on.

At the time, Drinkwitz obviously didn't know that Schrader would make history in his program, but the discussion about him joining the team wasn't the only big event that happened that night.

"After dinner, I went to an in-home visit with (wide receiver) Luther Burden and his family," Drinkwitz said. "It turned out both of them have had a huge impact on Mizzou football.”

Furthermore, Drinkwitz revealed what's made Schrader stand out this season and that it may have started when he showed up in January 2022.

"He's proven that hard work, mentality and toughness combined with talent is a rare combination and it leads to success," Drinkwitz said.