Invaluable Rountree III runs into his last season at Mizzou
COLUMBIA, Mo. (BVM) — Larry Rountree III is entering his final year of eligibility at the University of Missouri, and he is expected to bring the same passion and power to the Tigers’ football team that he has brought since day one of his freshman year.
Rountree III is a senior at Mizzou, but was born and raised in Raleigh, N.C. Upon graduating from Millbrook High School, he received offers from Boston College, Appalachian State, James Madison University, Miami University and a few others. But ultimately, he chose to take his talents to Missouri.
The running back is studying communications, something he has plenty of on the field. During his junior year, he caught 13 passes for 70 yards and averaged 74.9 all-purpose yards per game — including 69.1 on the ground. But his impressive plays were no surprise for his coaches or fans.
In his first season at Mizzou, Rountree III finished as one of the top freshman running backs in the conference and nation, ending the 2017 campaign with 703 rushing yards on 126 attempts to go along with six touchdowns. His rushing total was the third-most by a freshman in Mizzou history, and the second-most by a freshman running back.
But his record-breaking runs didn’t stop there. Rountree III surpassed the 2,000-yard career rushing mark during Mizzou’s week two win over West Virginia in the 2019 season, running for 104 yards and a score on 17 carries. He became the 18th 2,000-yard rusher in school history. Even more impressive, Rountree III achieved this in just 28 career games, the fastest running back ever to do so for the Tigers.
Rountree III has said that the relationships he built with the coaching staff during the recruiting process four years ago was a significant factor in choosing to play at Mizzou. He began his collegiate career under head coach Barry Odom, and trained on his team for his first three years.
However, Odom’s inconsistent finishes left Mizzou ranked 11th in the Southeastern Conference, and he was fired after four seasons of coaching. With a new coach coming in, fans wondered how the school’s most notable athletes would receive the change.
But new head coach Eliah Drinkwitz was welcomed with open arms by the team after his hiring in Dec. 2019. Mizzou Athletics reports on their weekly web series, “Inside the Zou,” that Drinkwitz has made a strong effort at connecting with his team, and Rountree III agrees.
“I know coach Drink has my back and everybody’s back,” Rountree III said during a conversation with the media. “He loves every single one of us like we’re his own sons.”
As for his final season, Rountree III is expected to carry the Tigers’ offensive load. He will also be tasked with mentoring a handful of young running backs and a soon-to-be-named quarterback.
Football players across the nation have experienced a rollercoaster of an offseason as a result of COVID-19, but Rountree III and the rest of the Mizzou football team have reportedly been feeling good about the 2020 season. His contributions so far at Mizzou have made him one of the most notable players in recent years, and fans can expect to see Rountree III’s talent on full display when the Tigers kick off their season on Sept. 26 against the University of Alabama.
