Scout's Take: Missouri gets 'franchise-type' talent with Five-Star Plus+ DL Williams Nwaneri

Landing Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Luther Burden III out of East St. Louis (Ill.) in the 2022 cycle was a massive recruiting victory for Eli Drinkwitz and Missouri football two years ago.

The Tigers’ last five-star commitment prior to that was Terry Beckner Jr. in 2015, and stealing Burden away from Oklahoma and Georgia was a statement that Drinkwitz wouldn’t back down from any program on the trail. Eighteen months later, on the eve of a make-or-break season for Drinkwitz’ tenure, they’ve secured another landmark recruiting win with the commitment of Five-Star Plus+ defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri over Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Oregon.

Nwaneri is the No. 3 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. In the On300 rankings though, he is the nation’s No. 1 prospect, regardless of position. And according to Charles Power, On3’s Director of Scouting and Rankings, he is a foundation-building piece for the Tigers to shape their defense around in the years to come.

“He has a real case as the most physically gifted prospect in the 2024 cycle, regardless of position,” Power said. “He’s one who just has a lot physical ability, and I think that’s where you have to start. He’s over 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, and he has elite length with 36-inch arms and huge 11-inch hands. He just has a massive and unique frame you don’t always see among even the top prospects at the defensive line position.”

Nwaneri could project to multiple different spots for the Tigers

In addition to his size, Nwaneri is considered an above-average athlete for his position. He ran a sub 5-second electronically timed 40-yard dash as a rising junior and totaled 12 sacks and 22 tackles for loss as the main focus for opposing offenses last fall. But what truly sets him apart as a prospect is his ability to play all over the defensive line with his size and athleticism.

“He lines up all over the front and is a major mismatch inside against interior offensive linemen,” Power added. “And he also has the ability to line up on the edge. He’s ranked as a defensive lineman for us, but could easily be ranked as an EDGE and I could see that going either way. Nwaneri is a classic hybrid type of defensive lineman, and it some of that might hinge on where his body goes.

… He could end up being a Travon Walker type, who is just a big defensive end or he could continue to put on weight and muscle mass and be a 310-pound defensive lineman. That remains to be seen.”

Areas for improvement only heighten his ceiling

Potentially the most exciting thing for Missouri — and concerning for opposing offenses — is how much room for growth there is with Nwaneri. Even as a No. 1-type prospect, he still has a chance to improve in his run defense and his technical skills as a pass-rusher, Power says. Should he continue his growth and improvement in those areas, the ceiling is exceptionally high.

Landing Burden was a undoubtedly a major statement, but Nwaneri is the type of prospect who can help take the Tigers’ defense — and program — to new heights.

“For Missouri, it’s a marquee recruiting win. They kept Luther Burden home two cycles ago, and I think landing Nwaneri would be even bigger just given that he plays a premium position and the schools that were really after him,” Power said. “I think it huge for Eli Drinkwitz, and Nwaneri is a franchise-type defensive line prospect and can really make a big difference at a position where you need guys like that to win in the SEC.”