Cody Schrader calls Senior Bowl opportunity 'dream come true' after whirlwind college career

Cody Schrader‘s story is a story of resilience.

A four-year standout at Division II Truman State, Schrader entered the NCAA transfer portal after the 2021 season. He arrived in Columbia as a walk-on at Missouri with no guarantee he would receive any playing time. Not only did Schrader get a chance to tote the rock for the Tigers, but he finished his Missouri career as one of the finest running backs the program has ever seen.

Schrader rushed for 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023, surpassing Tyler Badie for the Missouri single season rushing record. In a 36-7 victory over Tennessee, Schrader became the first SEC tailback to record 200 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in a single game.

Whether in Kirksville, Missouri, or in the almighty SEC, all Schrader’s done is produce. His efforts led him to getting an invite to this year’s Reese’s Senior Bowl — a chance to impress NFL teams ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. The next stop for Schrader is indeed the NFL, but for now, his journey finds him in Mobile, Alabama.

“It’s a dream come true for me to be here,” Schrader said after Day 1 of the Senior Bowl on NFL Network. “Just kind of getting back, starting to play football again, being around some of the best players in the country. This is kind of what you ask for. This is our dream to go play in the NFL. Play at the next level. Be around the best and learn from the best. It’s just been really fun so far.”

Cody Schrader turning heads at Reese’s Senior Bowl

Schrader was one of the best performers at his position during Day 1 of the Senior Bowl, showcasing the skills which made him a complete player at Missouri. Schrader said his goal this week was to show that he could compete with the best, and clearly, he’s off to a good start.

“That’s something that hopefully I’ve proven to people by now. I love my story. I love my journey that I’ve been on,” Schrader said. “And I love how it’s impacting kids and certain people as well. But hopefully like you said, I’ve proven I can play this game at a high level. Hopefully, I can prove that I’m a great football player as well, and that’s my goal this week is to just continue to show people that I’m good. That I can play at this level, and I can compete with the best.”

On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this article.