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LAS VEGAS – University of Missouri football saw two of its’ former student-athletes – Akayleb Evans and Tyler Badie – selected in the 2022 NFL Draft on Saturday. The selections mark the 17th consecutive season Mizzou has had a player drafted, dating back to 2005.
Akayleb Evans
Evans is the first Mizzou cornerback selected in the NFL Draft since E.J. Gaines was taken in the sixth round (188th overall) of the 2014 draft by the Rams. The McKinney, Texas, native joined the Tigers as a grad transfer in 2021 after a standout career at Tulsa. Evans made 30 tackles, 27 of which were solo, in 11 games for Mizzou last fall. The veteran finished second on the team with six pass breakups while adding an interception and two forced fumbles. Evans’ performance earned him a 2022 Senior Bowl invitation.
Evans is the seventh Tiger taken by the Vikings, joining LB Kentrell Brothers (2016 – 5th, 160th overall), DT C.J. Mosley (2005 – 6th, 191st overall), DE Wendell Ray (1981 – 5th, 123rd overall), C Scott Anderson (1974 – 3rd, 77th overall), G Mike Carroll (1970 – 8th, 207th overall), WR Earl Denny (1967 – 3rd, 61st overall).
TX > OK > MO > MN !
Congrats, @AkaylebEvans!
??@NFLDraft // April 30 // NFLN/ESPN/ABC #MIZ ???? https://t.co/lAzeB1bhI1 pic.twitter.com/zZThYEmkmp
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) April 30, 2022
Meet @AkaylebEvans, @Vikings fans!#Skol x #MIZ ???? pic.twitter.com/YMCgdsyYNy
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) April 30, 2022
Tyler Badie
Badie is the second Mizzou running back to be selected in as many years, following Larry Rountree III who went to the Chargers in the 2021 draft. Badie is the first Tiger ever drafted by the Ravens, and is the 18th Mizzou running back drafted since 1937. He is the first Mizzou student-athlete to earn SEC Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year and is the first first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American for the Tigers since 2007.
He set the single-season school record for rushing yards in 2021 with 1,604 en route to first-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and the league coaches. Badie’s 23 career rushing touchdowns are good for ninth on the top 10 list. His 14 scores in 2021 are also ninth on the season top-10 list.
First Tiger ever drafted by the @Ravens … @Only1Badie!#MIZ ???? https://t.co/jlyxAyaD63 pic.twitter.com/1Kijcr9lDx
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) April 30, 2022
#RavensFlock x #MIZ ???? https://t.co/XSfOIodMov pic.twitter.com/BLRC2bRgIw
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) April 30, 2022
