Missouri trending late for Five-Star Plus+ DL Williams Nwaneri

In less than 24 hours, Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North Five-Star Plus+ defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri will announce his college decision. The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder is set to choose between Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon and Tennessee on Aug. 14 at 4 p.m. ET.

With his commitment imminent, there’s a new favorite to land Nwaneri’s pledge, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). Following updated industry predictions, it’s the Tigers that are now in the lead for the coveted in-state lineman. Mizzou now sits with a 42.6% chance to land Nwaneri, jumping above the Oklahoma Sooners, who are now in second at 32.8%. Georgia remains in third at 17.9%.

Nwaneri is the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 1 DL and No. 1 player in Missouri. Nwaneri is On3’s top-rated prospect in the entire class.

Eliah Drinkwitz and the Tigers’ staff have had Nwaneri on campus for five visits, the most of any program in his recruitment. He took an official visit to Columbia on June 23 after also taking OVs to Georgia, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

“Missouri is the hot team attached to Nwaneri’s name over the last 2-3 weeks,” wrote On3’s Chad Simmons on Aug. 10. “It is the in-state school, some didn’t view Eliah Drinkwitz‘ program as a legit contender for much of the process, but the Tigers have really picked up some steam in this race. They have the momentum late.”

Nwaneri currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $364K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Missouri in dire need of Nwaneri’s commitment

There’s no understating just how important the addition of Nwaneri would be for Drinkwitz’s class. Missouri currently has the No. 57 class in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking. That’s good for the No. 16 class in the SEC, the lowest-ranked in the conference.

The Tigers’ class consists of just 11 commits and only two four-stars: Jonesboro (Ark.) Valley View linebacker Brian Huff and Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver James Madison II. Panama City (Fla.) A. Crawford Mosely three-star cornerback Cameron Keys is the only other top-500 overall pledge.

Nwaneri is one of two big fish the Tigers are still fighting for in August. Mizzou is also in the thick of it for Saint Louis (Mo.) University five-star WR Ryan Wingo, the No. 24 player, No. 7 WR and No. 2 player from Missouri in the class. Mizzou is second in the On3 RPM for the wideout, currently with a 23.4% chance to earn his commitment, behind Texas’ 33.8%.