Mizzou Football Graduation

weekend marked the culmination of four years of hard work for a number of Mizzou Football student-athletes as 11 seniors walked across the graduation stage to collect their diplomas.

Graduation is a special time for all students, and it is especially meaningful to the members of the Mizzou Football family. The Tigers come from all walks of life, and many of them are first-generation college students. Pinkel stresses the importance of education to every incoming football player and ensures that they are on track to earn a degree from the University of Missouri.

“When I first got here, Coach Pinkel told me that to come here, I have to be a student first,” said defensive end Markus Golden. “I came here and I did that, and for me to get here right now today from junior college to being able to call myself a University of Missouri graduate is the best day of my life, and I’m happy I’m able to do this for my family back home.”

Mizzou has the highest academic progress rate among SEC football programs, and as a whole, the university is second in the league in APR. Nationally, Mizzou Football ranks in the top five in APR among BCS Automatic Qualifying Universities.

Here are the players who became University of Missouri Alums over the weekend:

Corbin Berkstresser (Quarterback – Lee’s Summit, Missouri) – Business
Taylor Chappell (Offensive lineman – Canadian, Texas) – Health Professions
Alex Demczak (Quarterback – Springfield, Illinois) – Arts & Sciences
Markus Golden (Defensive Lineman – St. Louis, Missouri) – Arts & Sciences
Tyler Hunt (Running back – Westran, Missouri) – Arts & Sciences
Wesley Leftwich (Wide receiver – Columbia, Missouri) – Environmental Sciences
Denzel Martin (Linebacker – Ladue, Missouri) – Arts & Sciences
Gavin Otte (Wide receiver – Rolla, Missouri) – Environmental Sciences
Bud Sasser (Wide receiver – Denton, Texas) – Arts & Sciences
Jordan Wade (Running back – Lee’s Summit, Missouri) – Arts & Sciences
Braylon Webb (Safety – Gilmer, Texas) – Natural Resources