All-American defensive tackle Terry Beckner, Jr. of East St. Louis Senior High is headed to the University of Missouri.
Surrounded by family members and friends, the 6’5” 298-pound Beckner chose Mizzou in an emotional press conference at his high school. The press conference was carried live on ESPNU on its National Signing Day Special. Beckner was brought to tears before making his announcement, which brought a thunderous applause from those in attendance. He made it official by picking up the University of Missouri pennant and holding it high over his head.
“I was just following my heart,” Beckner said to ESPN studio host Reece Davis. “That’s where it told me to go.”
A five-star recruit, Beckner selected MIzzou over Ohio State, Florida State and Auburn. Those three schools have played for the national championship in the past two years. Beckner’s commitment is one of the biggest in the tenure of Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel.
In 2012, Pinkel successfully recruited All-American wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, who was then the No. 1 recruit in the country. Beckner is currently the No. 2 recruit in the nation in the ESPN 300 rankings and the top-rated defensive tackle. He had the No. 1 overall ranking for several weeks during the season.
A versatile and dominating performer, Beckner joins a long list of talented defensive lineman who matriculated to Columbia, many who are now playing in the National Football League. Former Gateway Tech star Sheldon Richardson has emerged as an All-Pro caliber player with the New York Jets. Aldon Smith (San Francisco 49ers), Ziggy Hood (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Kony Ealy (Carolina Panthers) all flourished at Mizzou during the Gary Pinkel era while current lineman Markus Golden and Shane Ray are expected to be high draft selections in the upcoming NFL Draft.
“The University of Missouri definitely got a big cornerstone for its defensive line,” said ESPN football analyst Desmond Howard.
As a senior, Beckner had 116 tackles, three sacks and one interception as he anchored a young Flyers’ defensive unit. He was the St. Louis American Defensive Player of the Year.
Beckner becomes the fifth player from the St. Louis metro area Class of 2015 to commit to the Tigers. He joins East St. Louis teammate Natereace Strong (RB), University City’s Ronnell Perkins (ATH), Webster Groves’ Cam Hilton (DB) and Ladue’s Nate Howard (DE), who recently flipped his commitment to Mizzou after an earlier commitment to Wisconsin.
