Missouri running back Cody Schrader is among the toughest between-the-tackles runners in the 2024 NFL Draft. Schrader bet on himself by transferring to Missouri from Truman State ahead of the 2022 campaign. Schrader exploded for 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns this past season.
Schrader recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his decision to transfer to Missouri, his favorite play to run in the playbook, receiving zero offers out of high school, and more.
JM: Talk to me about the decision to walk on at Missouri as a senior from Truman State. Talk about believing in yourself to handle a step up in competition having joined the SEC.
Cody Schrader: My last season at Truman State, I led the country and D-II in rushing. Prior to attending Truman State, I never received an offer from a Division I program or anything like that. That always stuck with me. It’s always been a dream of mine to play at the highest level in the coolest stadiums in front of the largest crowds.
I rushed for 2,000 yards at Truman State. I had a great season at the D-II level. The transfer portal had just become increasingly popular. It became the wild wild west to where you could just enter the portal and go wherever you want.
I decided to enter my name into the portal because I believed I had created value for myself. I wanted to prove that I could play and compete at a high level. I wanted to play at a big D-I school. That was my hope when I entered the portal.
The same thing happened to me that happened in high school. I didn’t get a single offer when I entered the portal. I finally got the opportunity to walk on at Mizzou. It was a no-brainer for me, especially because I’m from Missouri.
I always wanted to play at Missouri despite them not recruiting me. Nobody thought I was good enough coming out of high school. When the walk-on opportunity popped up, I decided to pounce.
JM: And it proved to be an outstanding decision. You exploded this season for 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns, more than doubling your statistical output from your first season at Missouri. What led to the uptick in production?
Cody Schrader: I think we just had a better team. That comes first. With Kirby Moore coming in at offensive coordinator, it just gave us a different juice, a different spark. It allowed coach Drinkwitz to focus on being the head coach. He really led us and grew our culture. That’s something he’d been building for a number of years.
It changed our team dynamic in a very good way. It allowed coach Drink to be the head coach and focus on our culture and how to lead the people in our building.
When coach Moore came in at offensive coordinator, he began slowly integrating his offense. We started doing stuff that fit our personnel very well. We fared extremely well with different shifts, formations, and motions. We did so many different things.
I had a good first season in 2022. I rushed for like 800 yards and nine touchdowns. I thought it was a good first year, but having a full offseason at Mizzou heading into 2023 made a difference. I got some experience under my belt playing in the SEC. I was better prepared.
I’ve always been able to adapt very quickly to my surrounding competition. I think that’s what I did heading into my 2023 season. I was able to adapt and take my game to the next level. I saw my game grow as we progressed through the season.
My ability to adapt and always be productive took center stage. I’ve always found ways to be productive for the team I’m playing for.
JM: The tape paints a picture. How would you describe your skill set? When we turn the tape on, we see a tough ball carrier with terrific vision and footwork. That’s our opinion.
Cody Schrader: I would definitely agree with your assessment. My game, I’m more of an old-school throwback running back. I think maybe that’s why it took people a little longer to realize that I’m a good football player.
I don’t think you’ve seen a running back with my style in a long time. Everybody is used to SEC running backs being these 4.3 guys. They’re just super explosive guys that hit home runs.
I’m a rhythm-and-timing back. I really pride myself on thriving in a rhythm-based style. I can pick up those tough yards. I love hitting people in the mouth for four quarters. I just love contact. It’s a strong part of my game.
I started figuring that out midway through the season. I’m always keeping my legs churning and gaining positive yards. My favorite down is 3rd-and-1, 2nd-and-1. I love short-yardage plays. I know how to keep the rhythm going on offense.
Running backs have to understand rhythm. You have to be okay getting those two, three, four-yard runs. Something bigger will eventually pop. Or you’ll set up play-action. The defense starts bringing a safety down into the box. The OC sees that and calls a shot play.
That’s what we did this year. We had such a good balance and rhythm on offense. We ran the ball efficiently. We threw play-action and different shot plays. We successfully passed the ball based on our run game.
We had a great rhythm. That’s something I enjoyed studying this past offseason with our quarterback Brady Cook. We’d watch tape together and I paid close attention to how running backs at the college or NFL level would dictate a game.
You can’t always think about hitting the home run. Those happen, but they have to develop naturally through rhythm. You need to set the tempo early. You have to grind out those yards first.
JM: What was your favorite play to run in the Missouri playbook and why?
Cody Schrader: My favorite play was Q-Dot Right H-jet South Dak Noah. It was basically a two-for-one. The quarterback could hand it off to our jet motion that’s coming to the right. The QB is looking for numbers or safety rotation. The QB could toss it to Luther [Burden III], who was a great weapon for us.
We’re running outside zone to the left, and I was running behind Javon Foster and Xavier Delgado, our two senior offensive linemen on the left side. We just ran that play over and over again.
I remember the Arkansas game. We ran that play a bunch and had a great day running it.
JM: I love that. Have you met with any NFL teams virtually or in person since the NFL Combine?
Cody Schrader: I’m meeting with teams later today actually. I met with a bunch of teams at the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Combine as well. It’s been a great process. I’m choosing to keep the details private at this time.
JM: We've appreciated your time. What kind of impact is Cody Schrader going to make at the next level?
Cody Schrader: My biggest goal is to win a job. I want to be a locker room glue guy first and foremost. My greatest quality is my ability to bring the locker room together. I’ve done that everywhere I’ve been.
I want to be a great teammate. It’s bigger than football. It’s a professional league with grown men from all walks of life. I just want to be able to be a good teammate while building that trust and respect within the locker room, with my teammates and coaches.
I’m going to carve out a role, whether that’s as a starter in year one, or playing on special teams. I’m willing to be a No. 2 or 3 guy if necessary. I want to eventually work my way up from there.
I just want to win. I wanna win championships. I want to win a Super Bowl. That’s my mindset.
