How new Mizzou AD Laird Veatch evolved to become an 'inclusive leader' and more than star fundraiser (2024)

COLUMBIA, Mo. — They were the two linebackers in the office.

Barry Odom, fresh off a hard-hitting playing career at Missouri, was a new intern with Mizzou athletics’ fundraising arm. He was working for a man not far removed from his own tenure as a starting linebacker, albeit at Kansas State: Laird Veatch.

They connected quickly.

“For whatever reason, we hit it off really quick,” Odom said. The positional overlap helped. So did Odom’s immediate respect for the way Veatch ran things.

“When I started in the athletic department, he was young and a guy that, in the business, I already had a lot of respect for,” Odom said. “Just the way he handled himself around the office, the way he was able to deal with the donors.”

Some 24 years ago, Odom and Veatch were just an intern and assistant athletics director, respectively, at MU. They’ve remained close friends as their careers have blossomed and led them to prominent roles at the same university. Odom became Missouri’s head football coach for four seasons.

And Veatch is Mizzou’s new athletics director, set for his official introduction at 3 p.m. Friday.

Their relationship over the years has almost been seamless. Almost.

Veatch’s first assignment for Odom back in the day was a deceptively unpleasant one. The MU athletics department was restructuring donor seating within the Hearnes Center. And somebody had to make the phone calls to inform some donors that their seats were moving from right on the court to significantly farther back.

Veatch delegated the task to Odom.

“(Veatch) had pretty good fun with that, putting me on that job,” Odom, now the football coach at UNLV, chuckled. “I’ve never let him forget it.”

The new Missouri AD’s career took him from two stints in Columbia to several years of rapid advancement within the Kansas State athletics department, a couple of years with Florida and more than four years in the big chair at Memphis.

Friday’s introduction will be a homecoming of sorts for Veatch, who’s landing his first Power Five athletics director job with a former employer still supported by friendly faces.

There’s former Mizzou AD Mike Alden, for example, whose 17 years in charge of the Tigers’ athletics department overlapped with Veatch — making MU’s newest hire part of “Alden’s Army” of an administration tree.

Alden met Veatch almost immediately upon the former’s arrival in Columbia and found himself struck by the latter’s personality.

“You’ve got a former linebacker at Kansas State that’s really fit, good-looking guy, very polished — very strong first impression,” Alden said. “I was impressed by his initial introduction, based upon his style, his ease, his confidence but also his humility.”

Alden was sure to give Veatch plenty of responsibility at Missouri. Veatch managed the Tiger Scholarship Fund giving program and directed a seven-figure capital campaign.

It was that stretch that began to give Veatch a reputation as a standout fundraiser, a niche in the college athletics sphere he continued to carve out. That’s where he started at K-State, working on fundraising for $210 million in facility projects.

Those who have seen Veatch in action attest he has an intangible ability to connect with people that produces tangible results.

“He is relational,” Alden said. “And really, in any kind of role in leadership but in particular in a revenue generation side, somebody that is relational certainly has a chance to really be successful.”

Fundraising was a vital skill Missouri’s search committee targeted during the hiring process. With a $250 million renovation of the Memorial Stadium north concourse — half of which will come from donations — approved last week, there was a pressing target established before Veatch had even signed his contract with MU. And that deal includes salary incentives for hitting to-be-determined revenue and fundraising goals.

But what may ultimately impress Mizzou the most is Veatch’s ability to impact the athletics department beyond an influx of donations.

“I’ve watched him mature and grow and expand as an inclusive leader — not as a fundraiser, right?” Alden said. “As a leader who happens to have the ability at a high, high level to generate a lot of revenue. And there’s a difference there.”

Veatch seemed to jump from fundraiser to overall leader at Kansas State, when his job title took that leap, leading to a stint as the Wildcats’ interim athletics director. That meant broadening his expertise from fundraising and media — Veatch was, for a time, Learfield’s general manager of Mizzou Sports Properties — to everything else that goes on in an athletics department.

Shortly after his retirement in 2015, Alden visited Leatch in Manhattan, Kansas, to see that in action.

“Seeing the subtle, direct or indirect, or the verbal or nonverbal respect that Laird had throughout the entire program at Kansas State,” Alden said, “I saw that, and I’m going, ‘Yeah.’ ... In my mind, there was no doubt that he was going to be a big-time Power Five, now Power Four, AD somewhere in the country at some point. I had a personal hope that someday that could be at a place like Missouri. But you never know how that’s going to work.”

It did, but not before Veatch landed his first AD job at Memphis. It was there, amid a pandemic and name, image and likeness rights-induced overhaul of the college sports landscape, that he seemed to fully grasp the broader reality of being a sports administrator on a university campus.

“He never sat back and was satisfied with where he was or where his organization was, was never dissuaded from understanding how critically important athletics can be for an institution,” Alden said. “But it’s not the most important thing. He never lost sight of that, whether he was in the SEC or whether he was running his own program at Memphis or he was here with us at Mizzou. Wherever he was, he never lost sight of the fact that it’s a really important asset for an institution but it’s not the most important thing that happens at a university. It just happens to be a great asset that you have to capitalize on.”

Veatch will return to Missouri with the full extent of his experience — football team captain under legendary coach Bill Snyder, top fundraiser under Alden, athletics director during an evolutionary period of college sports — in tow. He was developing his skill set and style during his last stint in Columbia. Now, MU hopes he can sustain momentum with the growth he’s found over the past two decades.

“I think it’s a grand slam hire for Mizzou. He’s tremendous in every way,” Odom said. “He’s going to be able to galvanize the fan and donor base of Mizzou. He has enough old-school principles, thoughts and beliefs but also is on the cutting edge of what college athletics is today.”

Darius Robinson got the phone call of a lifetime.

The former Missouri star went in the first round of this year’s NFL draft as a prime-time pick for his upcoming pro career. Robinson, a versatile defensive lineman, went to the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 27 pick.

Robinson’s selection is particularly rewarding, given that he was one of 13 prospects invited to the green room at the event in Detroit, his hometown. He arrived in a flashy outfit, complete with a blue, teal and purple-toned jacket, black bow tie, glossy shoes and bejeweled purple sunglasses.

He’s the first Mizzou player to be selected in the first round since defensive end Charles Harris went to the Miami Dolphins with the 22nd overall pick of the 2017 draft.

Still left on the board at the end of the first round was Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton, who was looking to give Illinois back-to-back first round picks after defensive back Devon Witherspoon went to the Seattle Seahawks with the fifth pick of last year’s draft.

Considered a possible but rather unlikely first-rounder was MU cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who remains on the draft board after Thursday’s first round. He remains one of the best prospects available ahead of the start of the second round on Friday.

Robinson played at MU for five years. In terms of projecting his fit in the NFL, he’s been something of a challenging prospect to evaluate. He spent the majority of his college career playing defensive tackle but spaced out to the edge for his final season.

There was benefit to the move. Even while battling through a nagging calf injury, Robinson managed 14 tackles for a loss and 8½ sacks. Seven of those sacks came during an especially productive stretch of seven consecutive games with a sack.

But his experience in college and frame — 6-foot-5, 285 pounds — complicates where he’ll slot in on an NFL defensive line. Robinson isn’t quite as lean or quick as most modern edge rushers, nor does he have the overwhelming strength of most NFL interior defensive linemen. What he does offer, though, is versatility in where he could line up, and the flexibility to learn new techniques.

Jer’Zhan Newton, who goes by Johnny, entered the draft as one of the top-ranked interior defensive linemen. He spent four seasons at Illinois, finding remarkable success during his final season.

Eleven starts for the Illini led to 7½ sacks and a handful of postseason accolades: first-team All-American, Big Ten defensive player of the year, first-team All-Big Ten.

His power and athleticism stood out to draft analysts, who praised his twitch and aggression. Newton also showed a good ability to read what was going on in the backfield while shedding blockers. There did seem to be some concern with his size — at 6-1, 304 pounds, he’s more compact than most NFL D-linemen — but his skill set seemed likely to assuage most of those worries.

Rakestraw ultimately faced an uphill battle to a spot in the first-round. The sports hernia injury that limited him during the 2023 college season and required postseason surgery also hampered his participation in the offseason workouts that are hallmarks of the pre-draft process.

While he wasn’t the most productive Mizzou corner during his four seasons with the Tigers — Kris Abrams-Draine, who may be a Friday selection, holds that distinction — Rakestraw did emerge as a solid tackler who holds up well in man coverage. His ability to stick with receivers bodes well for an NFL career, even with concerns over his health and speed.

Rakestraw received some first-round buzz but consistently seemed more likely to be an early second-round selection. The Houston Texans, who have the 42nd overall pick, remain a team to watch — he took an official visit there shortly after Mizzou’s March pro day.

Abrams-Draine remains the primary MU player to watch on Day 2 of the draft. Offensive lineman Javon Foster could also plausibly go in the second or third round if a team is strongly attracted to his potential.

The second round of the draft begins at 6 p.m. Friday.

Bring your Tigers football, basketball and recruiting questions, and talk to Eli Hoff in a live chat at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Transcript

Eli Hoff:Morning, all. Another busy week in the Mizzou universe, eh? Let's dive right in and get to your questions.

bigron:Eli, what is the current status of the mens Bball team, how many and who are they are on it, are they still looking for portal transfers, etc.

Hoff:I'll go position by position to answer this one but start with the big picture. I have 14 players set to be on the roster for next year. I'd expect there to be one more addition to roll with 15, which was the plan for last season. Two of those 15 will have to be off scholarship, but NIL makes that really more of a nominal distinction (since there can only be 13 scholarship players).

At point guard, the presumed starter will be Tony Perkins, the Iowa transfer. Anthony Robinson II is in line to be the back-up there. Those are the only two true point guards on the roster.

At the combo guard spot/s (the 2 and the 3, assuming Gates wants more of a guard-type player at the small forward spot): Tamar Bates seems like a starter. Northern Kentucky transfer Marques Warrick is probably competing with Caleb Grill for the other starting spot. Incoming freshman Annor Boateng is probably getting minutes there and maybe competes for a starting role as the season goes on. Freshman Antonio Barrett is a depth piece there.

At the power forward spot — and I could see Gates using one of these guys at the 3 if he wants to go big with his lineup — there's Duke transfer Mark Mitchell, UT-Martin transfer Jacob Crews, Trent Pierce, Aidan Shaw and incoming freshman Marcus Allen. Those are listed in my guess at who's a priority when it comes to playing time. But they all have their own styles, so again, I think you probably see some combos of them.

At center, there are only two freshmen: Peyton Marshall and Trent Burns. No disrespect to them, but I'd be surprised if Gates feels comfortable rolling with two freshmen at the 5 to start the. I could see him making an add here. Otherwise I'd expect to see more Aidan Shaw at the 5, Mark Mitchell at the 5 or something like that, which came out sometimes last year.

The only departure I haven't written about is Kaleb Brown, who entered the portal this week. He missed almost the entire season with a stress fracture in his shin. He was in the portal last year, too, but decided to come back. Looks like that won't be the case this time around.

Larry M:Thanks for the chat. Got to be the most excitement at MU in decades. This week there was an Associated Press article on an NCAA NIL ruling. To quote the article: "Athletes are not obligated to accept assistance from the school and must maintain authority over the terms in their NIL agreements. Beginning Aug. 1, member schools will be permitted to increase NIL-related support only for athletes who disclose their NIL arrangements."

Question: What the H does this mean? Is this a major departure of current workings? Does this mean LB3 would have to disclose his ties to chips and law firms before he gets any NIL money form MU? Can you provide comment on this. Thanks

Hoff:I'm going to readily admit I don't know the answer to this. And I'm fine saying that. Mizzou employs multiple people — a whole department — whose job is simply compliance. That means understanding NCAA rules and making sure the whole athletics department meets them. Understanding this stuff quite literally takes multiple full-time jobs. That said, I take it to mean that schools can assist athletes with getting NIL deals — that's the big takeaway. And that to do that, athletes have to be willing to disclose with the school what NIL deals they have. So Burden would have to tell Mizzou what his deal with the chips is for MU to be able to help him get other deals. I don't imagine this has anything to do with the general public knowing anything — transparency has never, never, never been a priority in the NIL age. But as always, the NCAA doesn't really have control, state legislatures do, and schools are always going to push the envelope. I wouldn't think too much of it.

senior scramble:Got to admit I was wrong on women's Mizzou basketball getting any players out of the portal. They still need a couple of decent Bigs to be able to compete in the SEC. I am also surprised none of the good young players haven't entered the portal. On the men's side it is hard not to be impressed with the players Gates has got out of the Portal. I am excited the new coach can help our Bigs, make them more of a factor , maybe we will be able to rebound. Any word on if Grill is coming back. Thanks for the chat.

Hoff:On the young players sticking around, this is one of the things I think I'd sort of mentioned at the beginning of the "will Pingeton be fired" discussion a couple of months ago: She has a young core that seems to like her which could be jeopardized by firing her. So I'm not surprised they're staying.

The women's team definitely needs some help down low and a replacement for Mama Dembele. I don't know enough about the few transfer portal adds to say those voids have been filled to any degree. But it shows that Pingeton is still able to get some things done this offseason.

Gates' ability as a recruiter is definitely showing this offseason. For all the questions of his coaching ability, his recruiting sure should never be doubted. Grill still seems geared to be coming back. I haven't heard anything to the contrary. He was at one of the offseason fan caravans last week, which also suggests he's coming back.

DW Burkhardt:Eli - If you had to lay money today on who the starting RB would be for Mizzou week one, who would it be? That's the position that most concerns me going into next season.

Hoff:There will be multiple. I'm quite confident in that. Probably Marcus Carroll and Nate Noel. What shouldn't be forgotten from the start of last season: The plan was for Nathaniel Peat and Cody Schrader to split carries. And that's just what they did for the first couple games of the season until Schrader started doing what he did all season. I suspect this coaching staff will look to do the same. Could one back emerge over the rest? Sure, but it's safer to assume multiple will be getting touches.

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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Are you ready for some dreams to come true?

A handful of Missouri football players are likely to be selected in this year’s NFL draft, which begins Thursday night in Detroit and continues through Saturday. It’s the byproduct of the Tigers’ best football season in a decade and a testament to the talent that has recently starred in Columbia.

Seven is the record for most Mizzou players taken in a single draft, dating to 1981. Multiple times, six MU products have been selected in a draft, most recently in 2015. And while it might not be likely, there’s a distinct chance of this year’s group of prospects producing at least seven draft picks.

Regardless of whose names are called, quite a few Missouri players are likely to sign with professional teams as undrafted free agents.

Here’s a breakdown of where things stand for Mizzou’s draft prospects just before the start of the annual event:

Darius Robinson, edge rusher

Robinson, who spent five seasons with the Tigers, is one of just 13 potential draft picks who will take in the event from the green room in Detroit. He’s a potential first-round pick, though he’ll likely go late in that round if not in the second.

Robinson is an interesting positional fit for NFL scouts to evaluate. He spent the bulk of his college career at defensive tackle before spacing out to the edge for his final season. That produced 14 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks — including a run of seven consecutive games with one — but doesn’t give him as clear a fit in a pro-style defense. He doesn’t quite have the lean build or speed to be a modern edge rusher, nor the overwhelming strength of an interior D-lineman. But the versatility in his technique could play into his favor with the right schematic fit.

A spot to watch for Robinson’s name to be called is the 29th overall pick. That pick belongs to the Detroit Lions. Robinson grew up in the Detroit area, the draft is there and his hometown team has a selection in the range Robinson very well could go.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr., cornerback

Injuries robbed Rakestraw of a full final season of college football, but his aggression and man coverage abilities still have him high up on some draft boards. He only secured one interception in a Missouri uniform but emerged as a solid tackler in space.

Speed and health are seen as concerns with Rakestraw, who was limited in some of his offseason workouts following postseason surgery. But his physicality and ability to stick to receivers early in routes could give him a late first-round look.

If Rakestraw falls into the second round, the Houston Texans are a team to watch with the 42nd overall pick. Rakestraw took an official visit there after Mizzou’s March pro day.

Kris Abrams-Draine, cornerback

After initially committing to the Tigers as a wide receiver, Abrams-Draine switched to the other side of the ball and became a productive cornerback through three years as a starter. He wound up with four interceptions and 16 passes defended in 2023, the most in the Southeastern Conference. Draft analysts have some reservations about his smaller frame but like his production and competitive drive.

The Arizona Cardinals, who could use some cornerback help, may look to enlist Abrams-Draine’s services with the 104th overall pick, their fourth-round selection.

Javon Foster, offensive line

Foster spent six years in Columbia, starting 41 games across his Missouri career. He was the offensive line’s stalwart last season, which saw a turnaround and boosted the production of running back Cody Schrader. Foster’s frame and strength will translate immediately to the next level, though smoothing out his technique will likely mean he begins his career as a backup.

Several leading draft analysts have projected Foster to go to the Chicago Bears in the fourth round with the 122nd overall pick. If he goes there, he would reunite with former teammate Larry Borom, another MU product.

Ty’Ron Hopper, linebacker

Hopper transferred to Mizzou ahead of the 2022 season after starting his career with Florida. He settled in at weak-side linebacker but struggled with consistency in 2023 before missing the final three games of the year with a shoulder injury. His speed and blitzing ability appeal to analysts, but his tackling is sometimes lacking. Hopper is a candidate for sticking on a roster for special teams and rotational work.

The Kansas City Chiefs have greatly enjoyed having former Mizzou linebacker Nick Bolton roaming across their defense. Both of their fifth-round picks, at 159 overall and 173 overall, are spots that could see them selecting Hopper.

Cody Schrader, running back

One of the more remarkable stories and players to emerge at Mizzou in recent memory, Schrader led the SEC in rushing while setting a single-season MU record last year. His physical run style and age, which will make him a 25-year-old rookie, are drawbacks, but his competitive streak and work ethic will still appeal to teams.

The Chiefs could also use some depth at running back — could one of their aforementioned fifth-rounders be used on Schrader, too?

Jaylon Carlies, safety

Carlies is on the draft bubble. He played safety at Mizzou but has more of a linebacker build by NFL standards — another case of versatility being both an advantage and a question mark. A team like the Minnesota Vikings, with multiple seventh-round picks and a need for versatile defensive backs, might be interested.

Harrison Mevis, kicker

How many kickers actually go in the draft may be the ultimate indicator of whether the “Thicker Kicker” is picked or signs as a free agent. The Los Angeles Rams are a team that could look to pick a kicker, but Mevis might not be the target.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — One for the present, one for the future.

Missouri football secured two key commitments for its offensive line Wednesday evening, one from the transfer portal and one from the high school recruiting cycle.

Former Southern Methodist tackle Marcus Bryant picked the Tigers out of the transfer portal, lending experience and a unique build to an offensive line that entered the spring portal window looking for one more piece.

Bryant, who's listed by SMU at 6-8 and 318 pounds, was an all-American Athletic Conference selection last season. He started 10 games for the Mustangs in the previous campaign and has been rated as the best available tackle in the transfer portal.

Bryant started at least one game in each of his four seasons there, meaning he'll bring a veteran presence to the competition for the fifth starting spot on Mizzou's offensive line.

Center Connor Tollison, guard Cam'Ron Johnson and right tackle Armand Membou are all returning. Cayden Green, who transferred from Oklahoma in the winter, will also be in the mix. But the Tigers didn't quite seem satisfied with their options for a fifth starter after spring practice, leading to the acquisition of Bryant.

In a more futuristic win, Missouri also secured a verbal commitment from Eureka offensive lineman Jack Lange. A four-star offensive tackle recruit, Lange is tabbed by some recruiting services as the best prospect in the state of Missouri at any position.

Lange's junior season at Eureka landed him on the Post-Dispatch All-Metro team. He's listed at 6-8, 275 ahead of his final season of high school football.

Mizzou's 2025 recruiting class now has five verbal commitments.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — New Missouri athletics director Laird Veatch will make at least $1.3 million per year for the five years of his initial contract.

On Wednesday, the UM System Board of Curators approved Veatch’s deal with the university, which was signed by the new AD on Monday. The Post-Dispatch obtained a copy of the document through a public records request.

Veatch’s salary will be less than that of his predecessor, Desiree Reed-Francois, though he has the potential to equal her annual earnings through a series of incentives. Reed-Francois was earning $1.5 million in total compensation at the time of her February departure.

Mizzou will pay Veatch a base salary of $900,000, plus $200,000 in “non-salary” compensation for his appearance in marketing events and various media settings. He will also receive $200,000 in deferred compensation, which goes into an account for future access by the athletics director.

Veatch’s incentives are based around the same priorities that underscored MU’s search for an AD: fundraising and supporting the success of Missouri football, in particular.

Meeting fundraising, ticket sales and other revenue generation targets will earn Veatch $75,000. Those benchmarks will be determined by UM System President and MU Chancellor Mun Choi, with input from Veatch.

There is $100,000 in incentives available based on the football team’s performance. If the Tigers win the Southeastern Conference, Veatch gets $50,000. A national championship is also worth $50,000.

Men’s basketball could also prove lucrative for Veatch, though on a lesser scale. An SEC regular-season or tournament championship is worth $10,000, a Final Four appearance is worth $15,000 and a national championship is worth $25,000 for a total of $50,000 available in that sport’s performance threshold.

And if the graduation rate across all MU sports hits 90% or higher in a given year, Veatch will receive a $25,000 bonus.

Collectively, those incentives add up to $250,000 — slightly more than the difference between his guaranteed compensation and that of Reed-Francois. But the unlikely nature of Mizzou teams reaching all of those thresholds in any given year means he probably won’t be earning the maximum $1.55 million available each year.

Reed-Francois’ first contract, signed with Missouri in 2021, also included performance incentives and provided an initial guaranteed salary of $950,000.

As is standard, Veatch will receive a courtesy car, country club membership and a $25,000 moving allowance.

Veatch’s employment begins May 1, and the contract runs through April 30, 2029.

If Mizzou parts ways with him without cause, it will owe him $450,000 plus the remaining non-salary compensation owed for the remainder of the deal and a prorated amount of deferred compensation. That means the university’s buyout starts at approximately $1.6 million but will fall as time passes.

Should Veatch leave MU, he would owe half of the base salary and non-salary compensation he was set to receive over the course of the deal. That starts his buyout at $2.75 million, a value that will also fall over time.

Veatch’s memorandum of understanding with Missouri also includes a unique clause that wasn’t in Reed-Francois’ contract but seems to hint at the impacts of her abrupt exit:

“(The) AD recognizes that their promise to work for the university for the entire term is important to the university and that the nature of their position is unique. AD also recognizes that the university is making a valuable investment in their continued employment by entering this employment agreement and its investment would be lost if AD resigns or otherwise terminates their employment with (MU) prior to the end date.”

COLUMBIA, Mo. — On a recent drive to Sedalia, Missouri, Curtis Luper passed most of his highway time on the phone with an NFL team’s running backs coach.

The Missouri tailbacks coach, for his part, was doing some lobbying. Two running backs who spent a pair of seasons working with Luper are eligible for the 2024 NFL draft, so like any good positional coach, he’s trying to do his part to make the case for them.

And sometimes, that means taking calls on the road to an offseason caravan fan event.

NFL teams will pick several Tigers during the upcoming draft, which begins Thursday evening in Detroit and continues through the weekend. More will sign with teams afterward as undrafted free agents.

The MU program record for most players drafted in a year — seven — could fall. There’s a small but nonzero chance that two Missouri products go in the first round. Even with preparations for the 2024 season in full swing, that kind of developmental achievement isn’t lost on the Mizzou staff.

“We’re excited for the draft,” Luper said. “We’re excited for them.”

Luper has been pushing for teams to acquire the services of Cody Schrader and Nathaniel Peat, both of whom participated at the Tigers’ March pro day, where every NFL team was represented.

Scouts have been particularly interested in Schrader, who was a remarkable story last year as he led the Southeastern Conference in rushing and became a consensus All-American. His age and mileage — he spent four seasons at Truman State and two at Missouri — combined with the sinking draft value of running backs likely make him a later-round pick.

But what the scouts are asking about plays directly to Schrader’s favor.

“Most of those questions are about intangibles, some things that maybe you can’t measure,” Luper said. “They want to know work ethic and how well they learn, how dependable they are, those type of questions.”

The work ethic that boosted Schrader from the bottom of the MU depth chart to the top of the SEC is well-documented. And it’s part of his own pitch to the NFL teams he’s met with.

“I help build cultures,” Schrader said he tells scouts and front office representatives. “I’m a great locker room, teammate guy, so I’m not just a football player. I can help build an organization and help be a part of something special.”

Luper isn’t the only Mizzou assistant who’s turned into a draft lobbyist. Cornerbacks coach Al Pogue has also advocated for a draft-eligible tandem of his own: Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Kris Abrams-Draine.

Both have established highlight reels as two of the more productive cornerbacks in college football over the course of their careers.

Rakestraw, a potential first-rounder, battled a double sports hernia last season, limiting his playing time and requiring an offseason surgery that also restricted his ability to participate in pre-draft workouts.

So he points teams to game tape.

“Film speaks for itself,” Rakestraw said. “I’ve been here four years; I got a lot of film to show them I’m fast, show them I’m quick, twitchy. They’re going off that. Obviously, they know my situation.”

Pogue has been assuring teams about Rakestraw’s abilities and emphasizing the production he and Abrams-Draine managed whenever questions come up about their physical tests.

As Pogue sees it, the game film and stats tell one story. It’s up to him to fill in NFL teams on a supplemental story.

“They just want to know the basics,” he said. “What kind of kid is he? How does he learn? Those type of things. You turn on the tape, you can see both of those guys can play. ... They just want to know about the other things.”