Latest news with #BrandonAnderson
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Missouri football beats out UT, UNC for four-star offensive lineman in Class of 2026
Mizzou is rounding out the week with a big pickup up front. Missouri football landed a commitment from four-star offensive lineman Brandon Anderson on Sunday evening, giving the Tigers a fourth commitment in the past week and their eighth member of their Class of 2026 overall. Advertisement Anderson, a Kennesaw, Georgia, product, chose MU over Tennessee and North Carolina. He officially visited each school in the month of June, spending time in Columbia on the weekend of June 6 before taking trips to both Rocky Top and Chapel Hill. He is the second offensive lineman committed to the Tigers' next recruiting class, following Detroit native Khalief Canty Jr., who committed to MU on Tuesday. Anderson is listed by the recruiting service 247Sports at 6 foot 4, 320 pounds, which is sound size for an SEC lineman. He is rated as the No. 355-overall player in his class by 247Sports' composite rankings, where he also is ranked as the No. 29 interior offensive lineman and the No. 45 player out of Georgia in this cycle. Seven of Mizzou's eight commitments in the 2026 class to date play on the offensive side of the ball: quarterback Gavin Sidwar; wide receivers Jabari Brady and Devyon Hill-Lomax; running back Maxwell Warner; tight end Isaac Jensen; and Anderson and Canty along the O-line. Advertisement MU's lone defensive commitment so far is from four-star, St. Louis High University linebacker Keenan Harris. Nov 16, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eliah Drinkwitz directs his team against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images With Anderson on board, Mizzou now has the No. 76-ranked recruiting class in the country. That ranks above only Auburn in the SEC. More: Missouri football reportedly will no longer play Illinois in 2026, 2032. What that means for MU More: Missouri football lands pledge on back-to-back days, adds offensive lineman to 2026 class This is expected to be a busy recruiting period for Mizzou. Multiple targets for Eli Drinkwitz and company will announce their college destination over the course of the next couple of weeks. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football lands 4-star offensive lineman in Class of 2026
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Upcoming recruiting commitment dates to know for Missouri football Class of 2026 targets
Last week featured a mixture of wins and losses on the recruiting trail for the Tigers. Missouri football landed four players between Monday and Sunday. Three-star running back Maxwell Warner, three-star wide receiver, three-star offensive lineman Khalief Canty Jr., and, to round out the week, four-star offensive lineman Brandon Anderson committed to the Tigers. Advertisement Head coach Eli Drinkwitz and company also missed out on a handful of targets, with four-star offensive lineman Evan Goodwin committing to SMU, four-star defensive lineman Danny Beale pledging to Oklahoma State, four-star wide receiver Jayden Petit heading to Wisconsin, and one-time MU defensive line commit — and re-recruiting target — Anthony Kennedy Jr. choosing Miami. As the calendar flips to July, the upcoming couple of weeks could define the Tigers' 2026 class. As it stands, the Tigers hold the No. 76-ranked Class of 2026 in the country, per the recruiting service 247Sports' national team rankings. That's wedged between Toledo and Oregon State on the leaderboard. More: Mizzou athletics' revenue-sharing plan officially begins July 1. What you need to know Advertisement There are a number of possible reasons, including an increased focus on the transfer portal over high school, but that's still much lower than Mizzou's recruiting norm in the Drinkwitz era. It's also not where MU's Class of 2026 will end up. The Tigers consistently have had top-25 recruiting classes under Drinkwitz. A bulk of their next high school class — likely to be around 15 players — could come in the next 10 days. Eight Mizzou targets will announce their college commitments over the next 10 days. Here are names and dates to keep an eye on: OL Braylon Ellison: Tuesday, July 1 247Sports composite ranking: No. 1,422 Advertisement Position ranking (IOL): No. 117 It would be a surprise to see the Boonville prospect go anywhere other than Mizzou. Ellison's father, Attiyah Ellison, played for the Tigers from 2001-04 and is MU's current director of player and alumni relations. His older brother, Tyson Ellison, was a walk-on for the team last year. Ellison, a three-star prospect listed at 6 foot 4, 285 pounds, would bring the Tigers up to three O-Lineman in this cycle, all of whom are expected to play on the interior. Linebacker JJ Bush: Wednesday, July 2 247Sports composite ranking: No. 493 Position ranking (LB): No. 35 The Theodore, Alabama, product will make his choice between Mizzou, LSU, Arkansas and Cincinnati — and it seems to be a race between the SEC schools at this point. Bush is rated a three-star prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings but as a four-star talent in their own rankings. Advertisement The linebacker, listed at 6-3, 210, officially visited Mizzou back in May and has taken other trips since then. Safety Tony Forney Jr.: Friday, July 4 247Sports composite ranking: No. 747 Position ranking (S): No. 65 Will there be another reason for fireworks? Forney, a 5-11, 185, safety out of Marietta, Georgia, will choose between Mizzou, Wisconsin, Georgia, Auburn and Pittsburgh on the Fourth. Defensive tackle Keytrin Harris: Saturday, July 5 247Sports composite ranking: No. 439 Position ranking (DT): No. 49 Mizzou is in atypical recruiting waters here, as Harris comes from Chandler, Arizona. The Tigers are dueling with California and in-state Arizona for the three-star DT's commitment. Advertisement MU was somewhat late to offer Harris, with his official offer coming in mid-May. Landing the 6-3, 290 tackle would be a significant win for the Tigers in mostly unfamiliar territory. Keytrin Harris, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound defensive tackle, is among the top 2026 football prospects in the country. And he wants to put a little CAA program called AZ Compass Prep on the map in 2025. LB Adam Balogoun-Ali: Sunday, July 6 247Sports composite ranking: No. 300 Position ranking (LB): No. 20 This is perhaps the least likely player to pick Mizzou on this list. It's an all-SEC race, with Auburn and Kentucky also vying for Balogoun-Ali's commitment. Auburn is viewed as the favorite to land the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, prospect's pledge. More: Missouri football reportedly will no longer play Illinois in 2026, 2032. What that means for MU ATH Jayden McGregory: Monday, July 7 247Sports composite ranking: No. 399 Advertisement Position ranking (ATH): No. 24 McGregory is listed as an athlete but is expected to play as a safety at the collegiate level. He will choose between the Tigers, Louisville and Minnesota, and the West Des Moines, Iowa, product has received a crystal ball prediction from 247Sports to land with MU. He did, however, seem to dispute that on his X account. He is a four-star prospect, listed at 6-2, 195. West Des Moines Valley's Jayden McGregory runs the ball during the West Des Moines Valley and Waterloo West football game at Valley Stadium on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in West Des Moines. ATH Javonte Smith: Tuesday, July 8 247Sports composite ranking: No. 956 Position ranking (WR): No. 149 Smith, a Jackson, Tennessee prospect, is expected to play wide receiver, although still listed as an athlete by 247Sports. Mizzou is competing with Arkansas, Tennessee and West Virginia for his commitment. Advertisement The Tigers have already received pledges from two wideouts in this class. They may still add another, but that could very well factor into Smith's decision, too. Safety Jowell Combay: Wednesday, July 9 247Sports composite ranking: No. 631 Position ranking (S): No. 49 Combay is a teammate with Forney, listed above, at Kell High in Georgia. Tennessee, South Carolina, and Wisconsin appear to be the main competitors for the three-star prospect, who is listed at 6-1, 190. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Commitment dates to know for Missouri football recruiting targets
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Class of 2026 Offensive Lineman Chooses Mizzou Over Bill Belichick
Class of 2026 Offensive Lineman Chooses Mizzou Over Bill Belichick originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz and company received some good news on Sunday evening. Brandon Anderson, a three-star offensive lineman from Kennesaw, Georgia (North Cobb High School) committed to Mizzou over Tennessee and North Carolina. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound product originally committed to Tennessee but reopened his search in January. Advertisement He took his official visit to Mizzou the weekend of June 6 and felt right at home. "I picked Missouri because it feels like it's my home," Anderson told 247Sports of his decision. "When I first got up there it felt like family and the coaches showed so much love to my family and throughout my recruiting process." Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Biggerstaff-Imagn Images 247Sports ranks Anderson as the No. 29 interior offensive lineman for the class of 2026. He is the eighth commit for Missouri's class, and second offensive lineman, joining Khalief Canty who pledged to the Tigers less than a week ago. During his recruiting process, Anderson, developed a connection with Tigers offensive line coach Brandon Jones. Advertisement "He is a very cool coach," Anderson said of Jones. "He grew up how I grew up and he understands the game of football. He likes my athleticism, footwork, and he said I could come in and start as a true freshman." Anderson is the fourth player to commit to the Tigers in the last week. Mizzou's recruiting class currently ranks 76th in the nation and 15th among SEC schools. However, a number of players with Mizzou among their favorites are expected to announce next month, including four-star tight end out of Iowa Evan Jacobson and JJ Bush, a four-star linebacker from Alabama. Related: Talented Four-Star Defensive Lineman Drops Mizzou for Miami Related: Mizzou Football's Top 25 Games Since 2000: No. 20-16 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
27-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
4-star OL puts Georgia football in his top five schools
4-star OL puts Georgia football in his top five schools The Georgia Bulldogs have made the top five of yet another elite recruit. Four-star interior offensive lineman Brandon Anderson listed Georgia in his top five. Anderson's top schools list also included Missouri, Alabama, Florida State, and Tennessee. Anderson is a four-star interior offensive lineman from the class of 2026. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound interior offensive lineman plays high school football for North Cobb in Kennesaw, Georgia. Of course, being in Georgia makes UGA very accessible to him. 'They'll be a factor a lot,' Anderson said. 'I like Georgia. I like them a whole lot.' Anderson originally committed to the Tennessee Volunteers on Oct. 20, 2024, a day after the Volunteers beat Alabama. Unfortunately for Tennessee, Anderson decommitted less than three months later, on Jan. 18, 2025. Anderson has an official visit set up with Georgia on May 30, 2025. He also has visits scheduled with Missouri, Florida State, Florida, and Tennessee in June. Apparently on his visit to Florida State, new offensive line coach Herb Hand made a good impression on him. 'I had a great meeting with coach Hand at Chicken and Waffles in January,' Anderson told On3's Chad Simmons. 'He is a great coach and I really like him and what they are doing at Florida State. I was there for their Junior Day and I will be back on June 13 for an official visit. When I was there, they treated me like family.' Anderson is the 42nd best prospect from the state of Georgia and the 28th ranked interior offensive lineman prospect. Georgia still does not have an offensive line commit in the class of 2026.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters want ice rink in Tumwater, financial ed in schools and re-entry readiness for inmates
I am writing in response to the Jan. 17 article titled 'Hundreds have weighed in on Tumwater's new community center.' While it is great to see community engagement, I believe one critical need for our community has been overlooked: a permanent ice rink. The proposed community center includes amenities such as basketball courts, pickleball courts, and a senior lounge — facilities that are valuable but already widely available to our community. However, it fails to address the growing demand for ice sports in the South Puget Sound region. With the recent arrival of the Seattle Kraken, interest in youth hockey is surging, yet families are now forced to travel to Tacoma to participate in youth hockey and figure skating, an inconvenient barrier that stifles local participation and limits our community's potential. An ice rink would not only foster local talent in hockey and figure skating but also attract tournaments and events, bringing visitors to our community and stimulating economic growth. Local hotels, restaurants and shops would benefit from increased foot traffic and revenue. An ice rink could even serve as a revenue-generating asset for the city. I urge Tumwater's city leaders and residents to advocate for the inclusion of an ice rink in the new community center plans. This addition could establish Tumwater as a new hub for ice sports, growing youth interest and driving economic prosperity. Let's seize this opportunity to invest in our community's future. Let's go Tumwater, and let's go Kraken! Brandon Anderson, Tumwater Thank you for your article on Jan. 29 concerning Senate Bill 5080, which would require financial education of high school students before graduation. I can't imagine a better class to require. The original Individual Retirement Account, now known as the Traditional IRA, has been on the books since the 1970s. The 401k had its 45th birthday this month, going into law on Jan. 1, 1980. And in the '90s, we gained the Roth IRA. Historically, both Democrats and Republicans have supported these bills over several decades. In your article, it was stated that one of the founding members of the Conservative Ladies of Washington is opposed to this bill. It's hard to believe that anyone would be opposed to financial education. The math that is involved with this is not much more than basic arithmetic. I know, I've been investing since the '80s and the miracle of compound math has made my wife and I very comfortable financially. It shouldn't matter if you're conservative, liberal or moderate; everyone should support financial education. Randy Moore, Olympia Gov. Ferguson plans to cut spending in many areas, while maintaining budgets for public safety. Here's one way to do that: Reentry Readiness. The Reentry Readiness bill (House Bill 1239) addresses existing racial inequities in earned time and graduated reentry for incarcerated people while saving the state money. HB 1239 builds upon previous legislation to improve reentry and reduce recidivism. It restores the ability of eligible incarcerated people to accrue up to 33% of earned time and participate in an 18-month-long graduated reentry and work release program. It is a legislative priority for the Statewide Reentry Council and the League of Women Voters. Earned time is a strong motivator for positive behavior and programming, making prison environments safer and reducing the possibility of a person committing a crime after release. The Department of Corrections (DOC) has previously requested legislation to restore earned time to the 33% originally in the Sentencing Reform Act, to improve accuracy in calculating earliest release dates and to address racial inequities in the earned time practice. DOC is also a strong supporter of graduated reentry, including work release, allowing people time to work and successfully and safely transition to full independence. The earned time calculation is an administrative process within DOC and does not require court intervention. Previous fiscal notes suggest that passing this bill could save the state millions of dollars in the short-term, with continued savings in the years to come. Please urge your legislators to vote for HB 1239. Noreen Light, Olympia
