The football focus this weekend was mostly with the NFL Draft, but the Rutgers coaching staff continued to put in work on the recruiting trail. Though most of the news lately is for the 2021 class, Greg Schiano, Fran Brown, and Jim Panagos decided to add another player to the 2020 group. It was reported by nj.com and 247sports that even with limited scholarships available, Baltimore Defensive Lineman Kamar Missouri will be receiving one.

Kamar was looking at taking a year of prep school rather than taking any FCS offers per rivals.com. At 6’6” and 260 pounds, Missouri is not ranked by some recruiting services despite putting together a solid senior year in Baltimore, Maryland at Mergenthaler Vo-Tech High School. Maryland is a recruiting ground Rutgers has gotten some good talent from in recent years and would be nice to re-create as a true pipeline.

Missouri is extremely raw and inconsistent in his get off on the snap. Even when the offensive lineman initiates the contact though, Kamar has quick feet and a devastating swim move with his long arms. He lines up at a variety of positions, everywhere from a three, five, to seven technique. Even without fancy moves, he simply overwhelms backs and tight ends who try to slow him down. His play recognition needs to improve and you can see that when he knows a run is coming or a pass is coming, he is all over either the running back or the quarterback depending. For example in short yardage situations, he has natural ability to slip through even two linemen into the backfield. When he knows a pass is coming, he locks onto the quarterback and is like a man possessed throwing people out of the way who try to get in his way. Defensive Line Coach Jim Panagos has had amazing success with undeveloped, physically gifted players throughout his career, including his first time on the banks.

Kamar is at worst a development prospect who will be another big body in practice with upside like Sorie Bayoh did in his career. Missouri most likely will be able to contribute in the rotation by late in his redshirt sophomore season like a more highly regarded prospect in Djwany Mera. Best case Kamar develops into a real difference maker at multiple spots on the line like Jonathan Freeny.

Missouri arrives at Rutgers to a defensive line group that loses team MVP Willington Previlon and sack leader Elorm Lumor. It was a patchwork operation to steal snaps on the interior line from players who were better suited to play defensive end. Rutgers needs to add as many high upside talents as possible and hope a few transform themselves into true disruptors. The ends are average, but Rutgers lacks a true explosive pass rusher.

Kamar is the third scholarship defensive lineman in the 2020 class, joining Wesley Bailey and Troy Rainey alongside blueshirt Tahjay Moore. Isaiah Wright and Victor Konopka could also end up on defense. The eight early enrollees plus twelve other commits who signed Letters of Intent produced a 64th national ranking per 247 composite rankings for the 2020 class. So far for the 2021 class, Rutgers has been flirting with the national top 10.

Here are some of Missouri’s highlights:

Welcome to the banks Kamar!