One of the nation’s most electrifying collegiate running backs this past season will have a compelling fallback option if the National Football League doesn’t work out.
Former Mizzou star running back Cody Schrader, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in late April, was drafted with the fifth pick of Round 2 in the 2024 United Football League draft Wednesday morning by the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Battlehawks.
The selection ensures that the Battlehawks will have the UFL rights to Schrader, should he ever decide to play in the league. Schrader, who started training camp with San Francisco on Monday, was eligible to be picked because he went undrafted in the NFL draft.
If the 5-foot-8, 202-pound tailback does debut at some point for the Battlehawks, it’ll be quite the homecoming for the Lutheran South graduate. Schrader was a four-year starter for the Lancers, rushing for 6,759 yards and 99 touchdowns in his career. The prep success did not generate in much collegiate interest, though, leading him to NCAA Division II Truman State, where he emerged as one of the nation’s top rushers.
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Schrader buoyed that success into a walk-on spot with Mizzou, blossoming into the Southeastern Conference’s leading rusher this past season and earning first-team All-American honors. In his impressive graduate campaign, the hard-nosed rusher piled up 1,627 yards on the ground and added 22 catches for 191 yards. The performance netted him the Burlsworth Trophy, an award given to the most outstanding player in the nation who began his career as a walk-on.
While Schrader’s focus will undoubtedly center on cracking the 49ers’ roster, there will be an open spot awaiting the ºüÀêÊÓƵ native if he chooses to come home.
Battlehawks open with Mountain West QB
One of the most decorated quarterbacks in Mountain West Conference history was the Battlehawks’ opening selection of the draft.
Former Hawaii and San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro came off the board with the fifth overall pick, becoming the third quarterback taken within the draft’s opening five selections. Kansas quarterback Jason Bean (Memphis Showboats) and University of Central Florida signal caller John Rys Plumlee (Arlington Renegades) were chosen first and third, respectively.
Cordeiro, a Honolulu native, finished his collegiate career as the Mountain West’s all-time leader in touchdowns (113), total yardage (13,811) and completions (971). He earned All-Mountain West first-team accolades this past season with 20 touchdowns, four interceptions and 2,773 passing yards.
The 6-foot-1, 196-pound signal caller signed and took part in rookie minicamp with the Seattle Seahawks but was released May 8. Cordeiro, who ironically attended ºüÀêÊÓƵ High in Honolulu, will now join a quarterback room that currently includes AJ McCarron, Brandon Silvers and Manny Wilkins in ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
Battlehawks add 5 Power Five defenders
Aiming to replenish to a defense that allowed the third-fewest yards per game this season, the Battlehawks utilized the draft to stock up on a quintet of players who represented Power Five programs this past season.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ opened its run on defenders by selecting former Virginia Tech defensive lineman Pheldarius Payne in the third round. The versatile 6-foot-3, 275-pound tackle signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans on May 3, but the Battlehawks will own his rights if he joins the UFL.
Ex-UCLA linebacker Carl Jones Jr. and former Oklahoma defensive tackle Isaiah Coe were taken with back-to-back picks by ºüÀêÊÓƵ in Rounds 5 and 6, respectively. Jones Jr. tallied 31 total tackles and two sacks this past season before signing with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. Coe, an All-Big 12 honorable mention this past season, totaled 55 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss, in three seasons with the Sooners.
The Battlehawks also added a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference cornerbacks in Myles Sims (Georgia Tech) and Myles Jones (Duke) in the ninth and 10th rounds, respectively. Sims had two fumble recoveries, five pass breakups and six passes defended this season, while Jones appeared in just four games, snatching two interceptions and forcing a fumble.
Battlehawks fill out offense
ºüÀêÊÓƵ selected former Vanderbilt team captain and right tackle Bradley Ashmore with its fourth-round pick. The Battlehawks then used their seventh and eighth selections of the draft to boost their wide receiver depth, adding Limestone University wideout Jelani Baker and South Dakota State receiver Jadon Janke, respectively.
Ashmore earned the sixth-best Pro Football Focus run block grade this season at 77.4. Baker, who caught 75 passes for 1,089 yards and 14 touchdowns this past season at the Division II level, signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent but was released May 6. Janke earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as a receiver and return specialist, tallying 774 yards and six touchdowns on 51 receptions alongside 160 yards on 12 punt returns and 162 yards on eight kickoff returns.