Picture this: a pint-sized powerhouse of a running back, overlooked and underestimated at every turn, rising from the shadows of Division II football to become an All-American sensation. It sounds like something out of a Hollywood script, but it's the real-life story of Cody Schrader, the unlikely hero leading the charge for the Missouri Tigers in this year's Cotton Bowl.
Schrader's journey to stardom is one that defies the odds. Without a single Division I scholarship offer after high school, he found himself at Truman State, a Division II school known more for its academic prowess and women's swimming program than its football team. But Schrader never lost faith in his abilities. After leading Division II in rushing yards two years ago, he took a leap of faith and entered the transfer portal, eventually finding his way to Missouri as a walk-on.
