ST. LOUIS — A Mizzou star and Lutheran South graduate could play his professional football in his home town.
The St. Louis Battlehawks selected Cody Schrader in the second round of the United Football League's college player draft on Wednesday. Schrader was eligible for the UFL College Draft after going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Players were eligible for the UFL College Draft if they were not selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, were out of high school for at least three years and no longer have college eligibility.
The Battlehawks now have exclusive rights to Schrader and the other players they drafted until the players report to Battlehawks camp or until the Battlehawks waive their rights. All players under UFL contracts have an "NFL out" which allows them to get out of their contract if they make an NFL team.
Schrader is competing for a roster spot on the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers after he signed a free-agent contract moments after the NFL Draft.
Schrader was a standout at Lutheran South High School. He was an unheralded recruit and played at the Division II level with Truman State. After a 2,000-yard season with Truman in 2021, he transferred to Mizzou to compete for a spot on the team as a walk-on.
In his two years at Mizzou, Schrader became Mizzou's starting running back and a team captain. In 2023, he was the leading rusher in the SEC and set Mizzou's single-season rushing record with 1,627 yards. He finished in the top 10 for the Heisman Trophy and won the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the best college player who started their career as a walk-on.
He was key in the Tigers' 11-2 season that included wins over four top-25 opponents including a Cotton Bowl win over No. 7 Ohio State,
The Battlehawks finished the season with a 7-3 record and lost in the XFL Championship.
Their picks in the 10-round draft were as follows:
- QB Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State
- RB Cody Schrader, University of Missouri
- DL Pheldarius Payne, Virginia Tech
- OL Bradley Ashmore, Vanderbilt
- LB Carl Jones Jr., UCLA
- DT Isaiah Coe, Oklahoma
- WR Jelani Baker, Limestone University
- WR Jadon Janke, South Dakota State
- CB Myles Sims, Georgia Tech
- CB Miles Jones, Duke