Missouri lands K-State transfer Prewett
Kaleb Prewett was one of Missouri's top targets in its 2014 football recruiting class.
It took two years, but the Tigers finally landed the safety from Blue Springs, Mo.
Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe confirmed that Prewett has received a release from Kansas State and will be on scholarship at Mizzou and on campus in Columbia for classes this summer. Prewett will sit out the 2016 season and have two years to play as a Tiger. Prewett first hinted at his new destination in a tweet on Tuesday.
Prewett's departure from Kansas State was announced in early February. It was unclear at the time if he left on his own or was dismissed. Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder told the Kansas City Star, "Just some issues," when asked about the departure.
Prewett recently updated his Twitter bio to read "Current #Mizzou Safety."
"Before he left here, I sat with him in my office and I said, 'You know Kaleb, I don’t say this to many guys but you are one of the few guys that you have all those intangibles that can get you to the highest level in this sport if you do things the right way and you bust your tail,'" Donohoe said. "And I still feel that way."
Prewett was a 5.7 three-star recruit out of high school, and was one of three Blue Springs players to sign with the Wildcats. The other two, defensive end Elijah Lee and running back Dalvin Warmack, also held offers from Missouri.
"They did offer him," Donohoe said. "It came a little bit after K-State and I think with KSU being the initial offer and the fact that his buddies were going there, that was a big influence. That was kind of an easy one for him but I think Missouri really intrigued him at the end but it was just a little bit too late. Andy Hill did a great job with him.
"He's a big Andy Hill fan."
Hill is still around, but it's obviously a different Mizzou coaching staff than the one that recruited Prewett under Gary Pinkel two years ago.
"I think he just feels really neat energy over there and the newness of a new program," Donohoe said. "He just wants to prove to everybody—because Kaleb’s a really good kid, smart kid—he just needs a little different environment right now."
Prewett played both years at Kansas State. As a sophomore, he had 49 tackles, one sack and one pass break-up.
Missouri currently has four scholarship safeties on the roster -- redshirt junior Anthony Sherrils, junior Thomas Wilson, redshirt sophomore Tavon Ross and sophomore Cam Hilton.
Sherrils will likely have a shot in the 2017 NFL Draft, if he decides to leave early.
"He’s gotten a little bit bigger. With his speed and his size and his intelligence, he’s got everything those guys are looking for," Donohoe said. "There's no reason he shouldn't be very successful at Missouri."