If you ask me there are two important things to do in football if you want to win games:
- You gotta score points. This is obvious, right?
- You gotta tackle. Think about it. If you never make a tackle, you never make a stop.
This is my simple diagnosis of what makes a good football team. And Kobe Rhymes, one of Mizzou’s most recent additions to the 2027 class, could certainly help on the latter front.
Playing both middle linebacker and running back, but
primarily recruited as the former, Rhymes offers the Tigers some exciting athletic potential in the 2027 class. And no one here is ever complaining about athletic linebackers.
Where He Fits
You want to know a secret about scouting these guys through tape alone? You’re sort of at the mercy of the editor. And Kobe Rhymes… you need a better editor, my guy.
So much of Rhymes tape shows him at running back, a position he won’t play in school, that it’s hard to get a sense of his best fit. He plays a lot of middle linebacker when he shows up on the defensive end, where his excellent speed, good burst and strong frame help him track down playmakers before they can gain chunk yardage. He’s better at going north-to-south than east-to-west, though that’s hardly unique for players his age.
I’m not sure there’s enough in this tape to suggest he’ll be playing on the outside in the future, though there could be a future for him there if he gets even faster and stronger. There’s a Kentrell Brothers comp in here if you look hard enough.
When He Plays
As with all defensive freshman recruits, his best opportunity for early snaps will be on special teams. For Rhymes, it could be a spot where he flourishes. The tactical asks will be minimal, and Rhymes can let his physical gifts play. Getting onto the two-deep at the linebacker position might take another year or two.
What It Means
Another top 10 in-state recruit? Check. Snagging him from the western side of the state, where prospects are more open to other schools? Check.
Rhymes is yet another exciting, under-recruited Missouri prospect that Eli Drinkwitz is bringing to the state’s flagship program. If him and his staff develop any of these guys into stars, we could officially certify Drink in the Gary Pinkel school of recruiting.
