The Whitney Young back has the size and speed to be an early contributor for the Tigers.
Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago has provided Mizzou with a lot of value in recent years. Alumnus Dennis Gates has done a nice job with the Hoops program, and maybe he’s even pitching in on the football side as well!
Whether or not he had a hand in Maxwell Warner’s decision to pick Mizzou last week, it’s certainly refreshing to see the Chicago pipeline produce some talent after some fallow years.
Warner is the first running back for Mizzou in the 2026 class, and he brings a lot of developed tools to the table. Let’s take a look at what his commitment means for the Tigers.
Where He Fits: Warner’s a bit smaller for an SEC back, but he’s got a good build already with room to add some more muscle in an SEC training program. His highlights are a comical mix of him being far, far too fast for opposing linebackers and running straight through the arms of waiting safeties. Once he gets a head of steam — not long due to his quick burst — it’s hard to bring him down.
The only worry is how he’ll perform against SEC athletes who will be just as fast and just as strong as him. I see a lot of Tyler Badie in his ceiling with his ability to turn end-arounds and screens into big gains, but he’ll need to keep bulking up to get there.
When He Plays: Any running back joining the Eli Drinkwitz school of development should understand the drill. Drinkwitz and his staff love to pick a running back and run with him (literally) until he can’t run no more. In the past few years, there’s been a clear line of succession, with only Cody Schrader taking up multiple years in the starter’s role. However, Ahmad Hardy has at least two years ahead of him as Mizzou’s starter, with Marquise Davis and Brendon Haygood waiting in the wings. By the time Warner makes it to campus, that trio should have embedded itself as the immediate future of the RB room.
Does that mean Warner isn’t playing until 2028? It’s hard to say. Drinkwitz hasn’t been shy about giving young playmakers early snaps if they earn them, and Warner certainly has the tools to make an early impact. But the road ahead will be tough, especially if Warner sees himself as an immediate contributor.
What It Means: If there’s a position Mizzou has succeeded with during Eli Drinkwitz’s tenure, it’s been the workhorse back. Larry Rountree III, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader, Nate Noel, Marcus Carroll — nearly every back that has played under Drinkwitz has seen both on-field success and a passing glance from NFL scouts. So when the staff gets a backfield playmaker, we tend to trust their thought process. Warner’s tape is as good as you’d expect from a star high school back, and he’ll make a great addition to what is already a talented group.