Recruiting Reset: DaMarion Fowlkes is the cherry on top of a merry flipmas season

Dec 9, 2024 | Uncategorized

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An explosive returner is what the Tigers needed to fill out their 2025 class.

What happens when Eli Drinkwitz loses one four-star wide receiver commitment to another P4 team? Why, he turns around and steals somebody else’s!

Perhaps the most under-the-radar commitment that the Tigers’ coaching staff earned in the days leading up to Early Signing Day, DaMarion Fowlkes’ flip from Pittsburgh to Mizzou certainly won’t lack impact. While consensus blue chip flips like Javion Hilson and Marquise Davis took the spotlight in early December, landing Fowlkes deserves recognition in its own right.

Committed to Pitt since June, the 5-10, 175 lbs. receiver from Maryland is a 247sports four-star, though he’s listed as a composite three-star across all the major recruiting sites. Wide receiver coach Jacob Peeler dropped into the D.C. suburbs, a place Mizzou football never goes, and came out with an explosive athlete and receiver.

Chalk up yet another win for Nasty Wide Outs.


Where he fits: Listed at 5-10, 175 lbs., Fowlkes is on the smaller side, but is well-built enough to survive hits from SEC defensive backs. He isn’t what I’d classify as a speed merchant, but he runs well and has a long stride which often makes it look as if defenders are running in sand along side him.

As a route runner, he hasn’t showed much on tape, as his high school offense appeared to consist of letting Fowlkes run past the slower corner back and catch deep balls. Where Fowlkes really stands out is how comfortable he is with the ball in his hands. As are many P4-level athletes, Fowlkes was an elite punt and kick returner in high school. Beyond his speed, his biggest strength seems to be his vision with the ball in his hands.

Many young special teams returners catch the ball and take off as fast as they can immediately. Fowlkes, on the other hand, is great at patiently waiting for blocks and holes to open up, leading to (what seems like at least) dozens of long returns on special teams. He also shows similar skills on jet sweeps and other touches outside of the deep passing game.

When he’ll play: Fowlkes will enter a wide receiver room in 2025 that will be undergoing a ton of turnover. Mizzou is losing their top three receivers to graduation or the NFL draft, as well as at least one loss to the transfer portal. That said, if there’s one room that has a ton of young depth, it’s the Nasty Wide Outs.

Josh Manning appears to be the top contender for WR #1 entering the spring, and there will be plenty other young talent competing for playing time as well in Daniel Blood, Courtney Crutchfield, James Madison II, and other WR signees this class in four-star Daniel Olugbode and Shaun Terry.

Given his lack of (at least on film) experience running a full route tree, I expect Fowlkes to take a couple years to develop into a receiver that Jacob Peeler and Kirby Moore feel comfortable throwing out there. Where Fowlkes might find a way onto the field is in special teams. Mizzou hasn’t really found a dynamic returner (other than Luther Burden at times) on either punt or kickoff returns. Fowlkes might be that guy, at least early in his career, if he can prove to the coaches that he can protect the ball.

What it all means: After losing at least four receivers through attrition off the 2024 team, as well as a highly rated recruit to a decommitment, it was important for the staff to build back up their receiver depth. By flipping a talented player from another P4 school, the Tigers were able to do just that.

Also, by winning a recruit from a fertile recruiting ground that Mizzou has never (successfully anyway) entered in the past, Jacob Peeler once again proves his incredible value to the Mizzou program. He’s already won big battles in Florida, and if he can reach his fingers into the D.C. area and pluck a recruit or two from there as well, there’s no reason why Mizzou can’t continue their run of top 20 recruiting classes in perpetuity under Eli Drinkwitz.

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