Cameron Brown, Ohio State Cornerback, Christian Brothers College HS
Cameron Brown was a sprint star for Christian Brothers College. The 2018 alum enrolled early at Ohio State and missed his senior track campaign. The wide receiver eventually switched to the defensive backfield.
Brown finished 4th in the 100-meter dash in Class 5 at state as a sophomore in 2016 while also running on the 3rd-place 4x100 and 8th-place 4x200 relays. A year later as a junior, he anchored a talented CBC 4x100 squad (which included fellow OSU football recruit Kamryn Babb) to the state title in 41.68 for a gigantic 0.79 winning margin. In the open 100, Brown took 2nd in 10.76.
Brown is a 6-2, 190-pound cornerback. After six years in Columbus, Brown is a possible mid-round pick. He earned honorable mention All-Big 10 honors in 2021. He totaled 54 tackles, one interception, and 13 pass breakups in his career for the strong OSU program that had multiple playoff appearances while he wore the scarlet and gray.
Martez Manuel, Mizzou Safety, Rock Bridge HS
Rock Bridge's Martez Manuel was part of an extremely athletic Bruin senior class that graduated in 2019. Rock Bridge had a good football season in 2018 that finished 9-3 before the boys' basketball team followed with a Class 5 boys state basketball title.
As a sophomore in 2017, Manuel won the Class 5 state 300-hurdles and was 7th in the 110-hurdles while also running on the 8th place 4x400. As a junior in 2018, Manuel placed 2nd at state in 37.51 in the 300-hurdles and 3rd in the 110-hurdles in 14.35. Manuel also ran on the state title 4x200 and 4x40 squad as Rock Bridge swept all three sprint relays. Rock Bridge took 2nd in the team standings to earn a state trophy at the 2018 Class 5 state meet, just 1.5 points behind champion Lee's Summit North.
A year later in 2019, Manuel and company led the Bruins to a 3rd-place finish at the tornado-induced one-day meet at Battle High. Manuel ran 14.10 in the 110H prelims to break the young Class 5 state meet record. In the finals, he won the state title by 0.004 seconds over Lee's Summit's Johnny Brackins Jr., both finishing in rounded-up times of 14.20. In the one-round 300H, Manuel finished 4th. Manuel and the Bruins placed 3rd in the 4x200 and 4x400. Rock Bridge scored 48 points to earn the 3rd-place state trophy.
At Mizzou, Manuel played in all 12 games as a freshman before starting 34 games in his final three seasons at safety. He finished his career with 147 solo tackles, 47 assists, 24.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles, and 11 sacks. Manuel is 6-0, 213 lbs.
Ronnie Bell, Michigan WR, Park Hill HS
Kansas City native and Michigan wide receiver/punt returner/kick returner Ronnie Bell did some jumping in high school at Park Hill. Bell competed in the long, triple, and high jumps for the Trojans. Bell was committed to Missouri State University to play basketball before changing course and going to Ann Arbor to play football.
Bell (6-0, 190 lbs) finished his college career with 31 starts and was a 2-time all-conference performer. He totaled 145 receptions, 2,269 yards, and 9 touchdowns. His brother Kendrick Bell is a Park Hill senior who is looking for a second straight Class 5 all-state high jump finish this spring. Kendrick is a dual-threat quarterback who is following in Ronnie's footsteps and has committed to play football for the Wolverines.
Michael "MJ" Anderson, Iowa State DT, CBC
St. Louis native, Christian Brothers alum, and Iowa State defensive tackle Michael "MJ" Anderson competed, if only briefly, for the Cadets in track and field. His MileSplit profile page shows Anderson tossed the discus a few times in 2016 as a freshman. Anderson began his career at Minnesota where he redshirted and played two years. He finished his redshirt junior season in Ames for Iowa State this past year. Anderson is 6-3, 275 lbs.
A few others with Missouri ties could be drafted. St. Louis native, Riverview Gardens High School alum and Southeast Missouri State University's Lawrence Johnson is a prospect at the safety position. Johnson doesn't appear to have any high school track and field experience for the Rams.
Another athlete who moved to Missouri to compete collegiately and is a possible draft pick is Mizzou defensive end, Isaiah McGuire. McGuire is from Tulsa and is 6-5, 274 lbs.
Two players from the St. Louis metro area in Illinois are Sam Laporta and Antonio Johnson. Laporta threw the shot, discus, ran the hurdles and dabbled in the triple jump at Highland High School in Highland Illinois. The 6'3 245lb tight end was drafted with the 3rd pick in the 2nd round, #34 overall by the Detroit Lions. He'll join an offense with fellow St. Louis area native Jameson Williams.
Antonio Johnson is a 6-2 198lb safety. He played at East St. Louis High School in Illinois before playing at Texas A&M.
Adebawore and Johnson are listed by ESPN as the 2nd and 14th best available players after the 3rd round concluded Friday night.