A year of history-making for the Missouri football program has taken another step into uncharted territory in wrapping up perhaps its top profile recruit in school history.
Hillcrest High School senior wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, the No. 1 overall recruit by scouting services Scout and Rivals, announced his decision to join the Tigers at a press conference Wednesday, broadcasted on ESPNU from his hometown of Springfield, Mo. The announcement came on what is commonly known as National Signing Day, or the deadline for most college football recruits to sign their letters of intent.
Green-Beckham made the announcement by putting on a Missouri hat and then sat down to make his signature to play for the Tigers.
“Just having a good relationship with the coaches, the people, the players, the whole atmosphere has been outstanding for me, to be able to fulfill my dreams at the University of Missouri,” he said on ESPNU in front of a crowd of more than 13,000– most ecstatic over his selection of the hometown Tigers.
Missouri edged previous favorite Arkansas as well as final contenders Oklahoma, Texas and Alabama for the star recruit. Missouri made the very first offer to Green-Beckham prior to the receiver’s freshman year of high school.
The 6-foot-6-inch, 220-pound recruit is the nation’s all-time leading receiver with 6,447 career yards to go along with 75 touchdowns.
He was also a decorated athlete in other sports, such as track, in which he claimed individual titles in the 100-meter dash and triple jump and a second-place finish in the long jump. He was the Hillcrest basketball team’s most valuable player en route to a Class 5 state championship in 2010.
Green-Beckham made his final college visit to Columbia this past weekend, where he was present on the bench for the men’s basketball team’s 63-50 victory over Texas Tech at Mizzou Arena.
Green-Beckham gives the Tigers their 18th signee to the 2012 recruiting class. He is the Tigers’ second commit among the ESPNU Top 150 prospects along with Kenton, Ohio, quarterback Maty Mauk. ESPNU ranked Missouri as the No. 21 recruiting class in the nation immediately following Green-Beckham’s commitment.