Mizzou star Cody Schrader led the SEC in rushing last season and signed with the San Francisco 49ers this spring. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
Former University of Missouri running back and native St. Louisan, Cody Schrader was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks in the United Football League College Draft on Wednesday. Schrader went undrafted in this years NFL Draft and was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent.
Because Schrader was not exclusively drafted by an NFL team, he was eligible to be drafted into the UFL. The Battlehawks have Schrader’s UFL rights, as do the 49ers (to a certain extent) in the NFL. Schrader now has two options, both appealing, to further his professional football career, whether it be the 2024 NFL season with San Francisco or the 2025 UFL season with the Battlehawks.
Schrader could spend the fall on a NFL practice squad before playing in his hometown for the spring UFL season. As long as he doesn’t sign a contract with the 49ers or any other NFL team during the season, he’ll be eligible to play in the spring league.
The Battlehawks have the most passionate fanbase in the UFL by the numbers, dominating attendance leaderboards for the league and setting the record for the highest attendance for any spring football game with 40,317 in their home opener in 2024. The Battlehawks fans would likely be estatic to see a local product suit up in the blue and silver.
Schrader came onto the scene seemingly out of nowhere last year for the Tigers, rushing for 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns in his senior campaign. The year prior he went for 745 yards and nine touchdowns.
Arguably no player was more surprising than Schrader last season, as well as impactful for the Tigers. One of his most notable games of his senior season came against the Tennessee Volunteers at home, pulling out a 36-7 win and totaling 321 yards of offense on the ground and in the air.
Schrader became a fan favorite of Missouri fans, as well as the coaching staff. His role as both a leader and running back will not be easy to replace for this season and others to come.