Missouri adds commitment from 5-star defensive end Williams Nwaneri

Five-star defensive end Williams Nwaneri announced his commitment to Missouri on Monday, according to ESPN's Blake Baumgartner.

The Tigers were able to keep the top in-state prospect home by beating out Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Georgia, among several other schools.

Nwaneri is considered the No. 12 overall recruit and second-highest-rated pass-rusher, according to the ESPN 300.

"I'd say really ever since they started recruiting me, I feel like it's been consistent," Nwaneri said. "But I have a good relationship with the coaching staff, and I feel like it's somewhere I could go and be successful as a student and as an athlete."

Nwaneri becomes the highest-ranked prospect in Missouri's 2024 recruiting class and the first five-star commitment since wideout Luther Burden gave his verbal pledge in 2022.

The Lee's Summit North High School (Missouri) noted head coach Eli Drinkwitz and defensive line coach Kevin Peoples as factors in his decision to play close to home.

"It's my home state. It's like me being a hometown hero, so it's a pretty big deal to me," he said.