Two top Missouri Tigers football players declare their intent to enter 2024 NFL Draft

A pair of top performers from this season’s highly successful University of Missouri football team on Thursday declared their intent to enter the 2024 NFL Draft.

Neither announcement comes as much of a surprise, but for Tigers running back Cody Schrader and cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, that next step is now official.

Cody Schrader declares for NFL Draft

A former Division-II running back and Missouri walk-on, Schrader was out of eligibility and was expected to pursue a future in pro football.

Schrader broke the Missouri single-season rushing yards record (1,627 yards) during the Tigers’ 14-3 win over Ohio State in Cotton Bowl last week in Arlington, Texas. He scored the touchdown that put the Tigers on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, sparking a near-flawless 15 minutes of football that led Missouri to a New Year’s Six Bowl win.

He was one of the central figures in Mizzou reaching that point, too.

Schrader was a consensus All-American. He won the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the nation’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. He was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, given to the best running back in the nation. He finished eighth place in Heisman Trophy voting.

All of that came after leading the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards by nearly 500 yards, totaling 125.2 yards per game. The St. Louis native scored 14 touchdowns in the Tigers’ 11-2 season, only failing to find the end zone in two games.

Schrader recorded more than 100 rushing yards in nine games this season. He finished two games with more than 200 yards, and put up 321 all-purpose yards against Tennessee on Nov. 11. The running back was the sixth Missouri player overall — but the first on offense — to announce his pro aspirations, following cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., defensive end Darius Robinson, safety JC Carlies, Abrams-Draine and defensive end Nyles Gaddy.

The Tigers landed first-team All-Sun Belt running back Marcus Carroll (Georgia State) from the transfer portal in December. MU is also set to return promising underclassmen Jamal Roberts and Tavorus Jones next season, while four-star prospect Kewan Lacy is signed to the Tigers’ Class of 2024.

Kris Abrams-Draine declares for NFL Draft

Star cornerback Abrams-Draine also announced his intention to enter the NFL Draft on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, defensive end Nyles Gaddy also announced his intention to enter the draft. Abrams-Draine joined Gaddy, fellow cornerback Ennis Rakestraw, safety JC Carlies and defensive end Darius Robinson on the growing list of NFL-hopeful Tigers.

Abrams-Draine’s announcement, like Rakestraw, was expected, but does leave MU without both of its starting cornerbacks from the 2023 campaign.

The Mobile, Alabama, native was a first-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and by SEC coaches after leading the league in passes defended. Abrams-Draine tallied four interceptions — all in a five-game span between Week 3 and Week 7 — and 12 pass breakups.

Abrams-Draine is likely to hear his name called on Day 2 of the draft after playing all but one defensive snap in the Tigers’ 14-3 Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State. He was Missouri’s most frequently used player in 2023 on defense, totaling 813 plays — more than 100 more than Carlies at No. 2.

Abrams-Draine was originally recruited in the class of 2020 as a wide receiver out of Spanish Fort High in Alabama, where he played quarterback. He switched to nickel in 2021 before moving to corner in 2022.

Over 39 career games for Missouri, Abrams-Draine amassed 40 passes defensed, seven interceptions, 135 total tackles and a fumble recovery. He scored a touchdown on a 100-yard kick return against Tennessee in 2021.

The Tigers have landed one potential replacement for Abrams-Draine and Rakestraw out of the portal, in Clemson transfer Toriano Pride. Dreyden Norwood, the only MU defensive player who played more than Abrams-Draine in the Cotton Bowl, and Marcus Clarke are both expected to return for the 2024 campaign.

Freshman Shamar McNeil could be in line for more reps next season, and the Tigers have two incoming corners in their class of 2024 — including four-star recruits Cameron Keys and Jaren Sensabaugh.

The Star has partnered with the Columbia Daily Tribune for coverage of Missouri Tigers athletics.