Ennis Rakestraw Details Conquered Challenges at NFL Scouting Combine
INDIANAPOLIS — Ennis Rakestraw's path to the present day has been anything but easy.
It resembles the experience most receivers have had matching up against him: difficult and physically taxing. He's had to overcome doubts about his size, a major knee injury and tumultuous seasons at Missouri.
But, as Rakestraw said on Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine, "don't judge a book by its cover".
That cliche' is especially true for Rakestraw, whose pages are filled with all the makings of a future NFL player. It started in high school, when Rakestraw led Duncanville (a Texas high school powerhouse, so a super-powerhouse) to consecutive 15-1 seasons. He also won Dallas Morning News Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
As of Thursday, he's projected to be taken at the end of the first round; if that comes to fruition, he'll be just the second Tiger defensive back to be taken in the first round since the St. Louis Cardinals selected Roger Wehrli with the 19th overall pick in the 1969 draft.
This reality wasn't as clear when Rakestraw was committing to college back in 2020, although the climb wasn't as steep as it could've been. As a three-star recruit, Rakestraw had committed to Alabama prior to National Signing Day. In fact, he'd told Nick Saban the day before NSD that he was going to commit to the Crimson Day,
Then, Rakestraw made a last-second decision that will likely top all last-second decision's he'll ever make.
"I got to the table, I told my mom something wasn't right," Rakestraw said. "I told her I'm going to Missouri. She said 'why?'. I said the reason I went to Missouri was because I wanted to go to a program that wasn't already built up in structure and make them a winning program."
The Tigers were the first program to give Rakestraw a scholarship offer, and he ended up becoming one of Eli Drinkwitz' first big-time recruiting wins as head coach at Missouri.
While the sudden switch from Alabama to Missouri had naturally large implications on Rakestraw's career, his parents seemed fully supportive of whatever his decision ended up being.
"My mom didn't say I was crazy because my parents let me make my own decisions," Rakestraw said. "They just give me the pros and cons of each situation, and at the end of the day, I feel like I made the best choice for me."
That choice seemed to be paying off early, as Rakestraw became an instant contributor for Missouri during the COVID-shortened season in 2020. He tied with future pro Joshuah Bledsoe for the team lead in passes defended (6) and looked to be a stalwart in MU's secondary's for years to come.
And then, adversity struck.
During practice in early October of 2021, Rakestraw suffered a torn ACL. The injury sidelined him for the rest of the season and left Missouri without one of its top defensive players.
However, Rakestraw was able to return in time for the start of the 2022 season. The injury gave him a newfound sense of appreciation and belief in oneself to overcome obstacles.
"I learned that I can overcome anything," Rakestraw said. "Can't take it for granted, 'cause you never know when it's your last snap."
From then on, Rakestraw's career train got back on the tracks. Over his final two seasons in Columbia, he established himself as one of the top press cornerbacks in college football.
One ingredient that helped Rakestraw get there was his mindset, one that's been molded by his past.
"It's you versus me. It's who's better. It's who want it more. It's just my lifestyle: adversity," Rakestraw said. "It's a chess match, some you win, some you lose, at the end of the day, it's the last play that don't define me as a man or as a person. The play that matters the most is the next one."
Not only does Rakestraw possess the "next play" mentality that coaches often preach, he also spoke of an ability to not get in his own head on the field.
"My mind go blank," Rakestraw said. "At corner, you have to be instinctive, so you going off another man's reaction so I'm not gonna overthink anything, so I'm gonna be patient and trust my technique 'cause that's what got me to this point."
After a productive college career, the next step for Rakestraw is the NFL, where he'll be facing competition that's bigger, faster and stronger. Especially considering where his draft stock currently sits, immediate playing time is a likely outcome, and growing pains will happen.
Luckily for Rakestraw, he's already fought through plenty of pain to get here. With the skills and mindset Rakestraw possesses, this time around shouldn't be much different.
