Go ahead and hit Cody Schrader . Try to wrap up Missouri 's star running back or drive him to the ground. He can live with that, because when you tackle Schrader, you must absorb his contact, too.
Schrader will rise, ready for another handoff. And the defense? Well, Tennessee's became a tattered, broken group by the second half of last Saturday's game in Columbia, Missouri.
"Which one of us is going to fold before the game is over?" Schrader says of his running style. "And I refuse to quit. I refuse to fold. I refuse to give up. I'm going to keep coming, every single play."
Schrader's coming, all right, for the SEC's rushing crown. Opponents can't stop this indefatigable force. His 1,124 rushing yards lead the conference, and his 321 yards of total offense fueled Missouri's 36-7 destruction of Tennessee that sent the Tigers (8-2, 4-2 SEC) shooting to No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings , its highest in CFP history.
And the best part of this story? A year ago, Schrader was a walk-on whom Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz accepted onto the roster sight unseen after a donor recommended Schrader to Drinkwitz.
Schrader transferred to Mizzou after an All-America career at Division II Truman State in Kirksville, Missouri.
Carl Reed Jr. coached against Schrader in high school while Schrader starred at Lutheran South in St. Louis. Schrader always belonged at the FBS level, Reed believes, but his college career started at Truman after Division I schools failed to properly recruit him.
"He has always been special," Reed wrote in a message to me.
Schrader's success is a testament to his effort ensuring his talents finally got noticed by a Division I school.
Back in Kirksville, they're all too delighted to see a Bulldog carving up SEC defenses.
"The Cody Schrader story is awesome and amazing," said Jerry Wollmering, Truman's athletic director since 1999.
Schrader's still got that dog in him.
Anyone should commend Schrader's success, but I can't help but feel an extra appreciation. I graduated from Truman in 2010.
When the CBS broadcasters for the Tennessee game raved about Schrader's work ethic, I nodded at a description that sounded familiar to my ear. Unfortunately, hard workers too often are mischaracterized as being talent deficient, and I rolled my eyes as the CBS crew touted Schrader's effort before downplaying his talent.
In truth, he's the full package, but I'm not surprised he had to work so hard to make people see that.
Truman students are self-made. They don't require shortcuts. They're high achievers and problem solvers. They can be a bit nerdy – and maybe a little cocksure.
When I attended, the university bristled at being called Truman State. Everyone I knew just called it Truman. The university probably thought that sounded more prestigious. Back then, a Truman saying was, "Excellence is No Accident." Somewhere, packed away, I own a window cling with that phrase printed underneath university branding.
Cocksure, remember?
Truman is among a few universities dubbed the " Harvard of the Midwest ." A more accurate description might be, "An alternative to Saint Louis University for those who can't afford SLU or want to try a budget-friendly option outside of the city."
That doesn't fit on a T-shirt, though, so a "Harvard of the Midwest" shirt lives in my closet, purchased during my time on campus.
"You've got the geniuses of the world at this school," Schrader said, a nod of genuine appreciation for his former Truman classmates.
Schrader chose Truman after Northern Colorado pulled the only Division I offer he received, days before Schrader's scheduled official visit. He had his flight booked with plans to commit to the Bears when he learned another running back had committed, and the coaching staff didn't want to take another running back.
When I asked Schrader about this, he shrugged it off. He's happy Truman became part of his journey and that it led him to Missouri.
"It all worked out," he said.
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Gregg Nesbitt still can visualize Schrader's shredded Truman jersey. One half of Schrader's No. 7 uniform had been ripped off during the first half of the Bulldogs' 2021 game against Tiffin. The coaching staff tried to get him to change into another jersey at halftime. Schrader wouldn't have the idea.
In half a jersey, Schrader powered Truman's second-half rally for a road upset.
"He just put us on his shoulders," said Nesbitt, Truman's veteran coach who played for the Bulldogs when the university was known as Northeast Missouri State.
"It was like a kid playing in shoulder pads, and they couldn't stop him. He became an All-American that day."
At Truman, Schrader proved himself as a durable, "lunch-pail guy," as Nesbitt describes him, with the talent to rush for 2,074 yards during the 2021 season.
"He's more sudden than you think. He's got a little bit more juice than you think, to score," Nesbitt said. "And obviously he's a physical, pounding back, and a tremendous cutter."
Schrader had two years of eligibility remaining after that season, and he and Nesbitt discussed his future. Schrader decided he wanted to make another attempt at playing Division I. Nesbitt thought that, at a minimum, Schrader could become a Division I starter in all phases of special teams. He just needed one school to take a chance on him.
Schrader had someone looking out for him, plus an open-minded SEC coach.
Drinkwitz calls it "the best recruiting night" of his career.
Before making an in-home recruiting visit to five-star wide receiver Luther Burden, Drinkwitz had dinner with donor Steve Trulaske. Drinkwitz hoped to secure a donation for Missouri's indoor facility.
Trulaske had a pitch for Drinkwitz, too. Trulaske had met Schrader through a mutual friend, the owner of a St. Louis gym where they worked out. During his dinner with Drinkwitz, Trulaske asked the Missouri coach if he might have a spot for Schrader. The next day, Trulaske followed up with Drinkwitz about the idea.
Missouri had an opening for a walk-on running back, so Drinkwitz agreed to take Schrader. Burden signed with the Tigers. Now, both are standouts on Missouri's best team in a decade.
Drinkwitz said he no longer can refer to the 5-foot-9, 214-pound Schrader as "Smurf." That's no label for the SEC's leading rusher, who is now on scholarship. Now, Drinkwitz calls him "Superman."
Schrader arrived on campus in January 2022, intent to at least work his way onto Missouri's special teams, but he impressed running backs coach Curtis Luper with his rushing performance in the Tigers' spring game.
"You can play here," Luper told Schrader that day.
Schrader's confidence soared. He proved Luper right.
With the help of his offensive line, Schrader put his team on his shoulders against Tennessee. Afterward, the Tigers lifted Schrader onto theirs while they chanted his name – a hoist for the hero who humbled the Vols.
Excellence is no accident.
Excellence occurs when talent partners with hard work and a refusal to yield to the hits.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's SEC Columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer .
If you enjoy Blake's coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it. Also, check out his podcast, SEC Football Unfiltered , or access exclusive columns via the SEC Unfilter ed newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Mizzou football's Cody Schrader shows excellence, Truman State to SEC
