Okwuegbunam returns to Mizzou
Springfield (Ill.) Sacred Heart Griffin athlete Albert Okwuegbunam visited Missouri early in the summer, and returned to Columbia for a follow-up visit on Thursday.
"I got to see practice and talk to the coaches some more," Okwuegbunam said. "I got to see what life is like there and they talked to me more about how I fit in the offense. They see me growing into a tight end, but they said they could also see my playing wide receiver based on my speed."
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With Missouri running a practice on Thursday, Okwuegbunam was able to see how the Tigers operate and how he might fit into the positions they are projecting him for.
"I got to see the coaches coach, I got to see each position practice and it was good," Okwuegbunam said. "I talked to Coach (Gary) Pinkel and Coach (Josh) Henson quite a bit. Coach Pinkel stresses the family environment and he expressed that they wanted me really bad to be a Tiger."
Okwuegbunam's father joined him on this most recent visit to Missouri, and he also made the previous trip to Columbia.
"He really likes it, especially the environment and the academics portion of it," Okwuegbunam said.
Now having made two visits to Columbia this summer, Okwuegbunam said Missouri is "very strong" in his recruitment, and a decision could be on the horizon.
"I think (a decision) might be pre-season, honestly, but I'm not 100 percent sure," Okwuegbunam said. "Missouri is pretty high - they are definitely among the top - but pretty much all of the Power Five schools that have offered me are the main contenders."
Okwuegbunam has an offer list that is closing in on 20 schools. The only other school he visited this summer was Michigan State, back in June. Other Power Five offers include Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota and Syracuse.
A 6-foot-5, 215-pound receiver prospect, Okwuegbunam could project to either tight end or wide receiver at the next level. As a junior he helped Sacred Heart Griffin to their second straight Class 5A state title, catching 27 passes for 480 yards and 10 touchdowns.