Missouri extended a scholarship to Ryan Peterson, a Class of 2028 linebacker from William Amos Hough High in Cornelius, NC, a recruit drawing the attention of NC high school legends and Tigers coaches alike. The offer came through Derek Nicholson, Missouri’s longtime linebackers coach, highlighting Missouri’s ongoing pursuit of versatile middle‑class linebackers with NFL potential. Peterson already visited Missouri’s campus vibe during a South Carolina game in 2024 and is slated to visit for the Alabama showdown on Oct. 11, aiming to gauge facilities and coaching staff up close.

Peterson admires Missouri’s track record of NFL‑level linebackers and has formed a Cantonment of admiration around Luther Burden III’s play and Nick Bolton’s blueprint, modeling his own game after Bolton in several ways. The storyline underscores Missouri’s reputation for producing pro talent and hints at a fall schedule that could solidify an early relationship with the program. The NC‑to‑Missouri connection, plus the network of high school teammates and coaches around Nicholson, paints a clear picture: Peterson is a rising name to watch as fall practice unfolds and recruitment tightens toward a busy Alabama weekend.