Missouri adds top QB, Richardson

Sheldon Richardson heads Missouri's recruiting list for the second time.

The Tigers expect the defensive line prospect to stick this time.

Tigers coach Gary Pinkel said Wednesday that he expected Richardson to join a program coming off its third 10-win season in four years by the summer. He said the school was "sorting out academic information" with a player who committed in 2009 but failed to qualify academically.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Richardson was ranked the top defensive tackle prospect in the country by several national outlets as a high school senior at Gateway Tech in St. Louis. He was ranked the No. 3 junior college prospect by Rivals.com while at the College of the Sequoias in California, and has three years of eligibility remaining after being redshirted last year with a wrist injury.

"We'll get him in as soon as possible," Pinkel said. "We're certainly excited about having him in our program. Without question, he'll be a Missouri Tiger."

Nine of Missouri's 17 recruits come from Texas, and only four from Missouri. Pinkel said this year was uncharacteristically weak in Missouri.

"It goes in cycles," Pinkel said. "Next year, there's huge numbers in the state of Missouri, which is our priority. There's going to be a lot of difference of opinions, but we do what we do and I think it would be hard to argue that it hasn't been favorable to Mizzou."

The Tigers always have recruited heavily in talent-rich Texas. Pinkel said five coaches were assigned full-time to that state and a sixth spent half of his time there. Many of the school's top stars in recent seasons emerged from Texas, including linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, quarterback Chase Daniel and wide receiver Danario Alexander. All three play in the NFL.

Missouri will be playing more in Texas, too, following conference realignment.

"It's a big state, a lot of numbers," Pinkel said. "Kids down there at Texas, they see us on TV every week."

Among the school's in-state recruits was a top quarterback recruit who could vie for the starting spot vacated when Blaine Gabbert entered the NFL draft. Corbin Berkstresser of Lee's Summit, Mo., was ranked the 16th-best pro-style quarterback prospect by Rivals.com after passing for 3,369 yards and 36 touchdowns as a senior. He also had 712 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. He committed to Missouri in June 2009.

James Franklin was the backup quarterback last year as a freshman and was impressive in small doses. Franklin is the leading candidate to replace Gabbert with Tyler Gabbert and Ashton Glaser also in the running.

"The best player plays," Pinkel said. "There's no pecking order here. We don't just slide the next guy up."

Brandon Hannah of Chaminade High School in suburban St. Louis got a scholarship despite being dogged by injuries the last three years and getting no playing time as a senior. Missouri is unsure where the 6-3, 235-pound Hannah will play, listing him as an athlete, although Pinkel said he could end up at tight end.

"We do remember when he was healthy," Pinkel said. "We think he has potential to be a great player."