'You've got to figure out how to get your name buzzing around the facility': SEC leading rusher Cody Schrader explains how he got noticed by Mizzou coaches as a walk-on

The beginning and ending of Cody Schrader's story as a college football player is well known.

A 4-year starter at St. Louis's Lutheran South High School, Schrader accounted for 111 touchdowns (99 rushing) across his high school career, but that insane level of production wasn't enough to overcome his stature as a small, white running back, and so he signed with Division II Truman State. 

As a redshirt junior in 2021, Schrader led Division II in rushing and earned co-conference player of the year honors. Having accomplished all he could at that level, he walked on at Missouri, and rose from eighth on the depth chart to lead the SEC in rushing in 2023 while becoming an AP First Team All-American. 

But the middle part of Schrader's journey may be most fascinating, because there's a Cody Schrader in every locker room in college football.

As a walk-on buried under other running backs buried on the depth chart, how did he get coaches to notice him. He had a strategy, and it started at 5 a.m.

"What I want a lot of kids to understand if you're in that same scenario, is that you've got to figure out how to get your name talked about and get your name buzzing around the facility," Schrader said.

Schrader would show up at 5 a.m. for 6:30 a.m. workouts, because he wanted to beat Mizzou's strength coach to work. 

"I knew he met with the head strength coach every day in staff meetings. I drove a red Ford Ranger, so I knew he would see my car every single day. I parked it in the middle of the (parking lot), because he walked from the back to the front so I knew he would see it. My goal was that was (him) asking, 'Who is this kid? Why is he here every single day?' It's the consistency with time that builds trust and respect with coaches."

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