Terry Beckner Jr. to Missouri: Tigers Land 5-Star DT Prospect

Terry Beckner Jr., one of the top defensive prospects in the class of 2015, has decided to play college football at Missouri.

Mihir Bhagat of KOMU-TV (NBC) passed along word of the defensive lineman's decision, who shed tears while making his announcement. Bhagat also provided an image of the support Beckner's received during his emotional decision:

Beckner is a 5-star prospect, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He also rates as the No. 13 overall recruit nationally and is the No. 3 defensive tackle in the class.

The prototypical lineman combines ideal size (6'4'', 293 pounds) with an impressive combination of athleticism and short-area quickness for a player of his size. He represents exactly what coaching staffs around the country are searching for on the recruiting trail.

He also has experience playing both on the edge or in the middle. He's excelled as a tackle, but that versatility should bode well as he's fighting for playing time early in his college stay. 

Tom VanHaaren of ESPN provided a look at what Beckner is capable of during an All-America practice:

David Kvidahl of STLToday.com passed along comments from the talented prospect during the recruitment process, and he was trying not to focus on all of the hype: "It's nothing but media. I just keep playing hard and do what I have to do to win."

Beckner received all of that high praise due to his immense untapped potential. If he continues to develop while going up against tougher competition, he should become a major force on the defensive side of the ball within a couple of years.

There's still plenty of work to do, though. Like many players with his size and natural athletic ability, he has reached this point without being seriously challenged on a regular basis. He stands out because most players at the high school level simply cannot contain him.

Moving forward, he'll need to work on his technique in order to reach his full potential. He's going to be facing tackles and guards with far more talent than he's used to, especially right out of the gate when he's a first-year player facing juniors and seniors.

Beckner is likely to play a rotational role at first while gaining valuable experience and also working to add more pass-rushing moves to his repertoire on the interior. Once he gets more comfortable at the collegiate level, that natural talent should begin to shine through.

While expectations should be kept within reason at the outset, Beckner certainly possesses star potential. His size and explosiveness make him an exciting prospect to monitor, and as he continues to refine his skill set, he'll only improve with time.