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Drinkwitz closes first Mizzou signing class with dramatic finish

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Eliah Drinkwitz’s first February national signing date as Missouri’s football coach started with some early-morning drama, a celebration that went viral and a player coveted across the Southeastern Conference and beyond.

Six hours after Ennis Rakestraw Jr. surprisingly chose Missouri over his home-state program (Texas) and the team he recently called his “dream school” (Alabama), Drinkwitz had finally caught his breath.

As captured by the team’s videographer, Drinkwitz watched the live feed of Rakestraw’s 8 a.m. signing day ceremony on his phone Wednesday morning at MU’s facility. Mizzou’s staff hadn’t made contact with the Duncanville, Texas, native or anyone from his inner circle since around 8:30 or 9 p.