Jay Maclin, junior, committed to play football at the University of Missouri Columbia (Mizzou) April 19, 2019.

“All day I was nervous,” Maclin said. “When they told me it was time to go [commit], it was very nerve-wracking. Once I started talking it was really good.”

According to Maclin, over 50 people attended the announcement in the KHS journalism lecture hall where he and Farrell Shelton, head football coach, spoke.

“Missouri is getting a very high character young man who understands that there’s a process to life [and] a process to success, and this is just one of those steps,” Shelton said. “Accepting a scholarship doesn’t guarantee anything. He has an opportunity and whatever he does now is going to be on him.”

Maclin said he was deciding between accepting offers from Arizona State University (ASU) and the University of Indiana (IU) but ultimately chose Mizzou. Maclin also said that he will be playing wide receiver for Mizzou on full scholarship starting in August 2020.

“I wanted my family to come watch me play football,” Maclin said. “Mizzou is the closest [to Kirkwood], and Mizzou has been my dream school for the longest.”

The 3-star recruit follows his cousin, Jeremy Maclin, from KHS to Mizzou. Jeremy graduated from KHS in 2006 and played wide receiver and returned kicks at Mizzou from 2006 to 2008 before playing in the NFL.

“He made a pretty good name there,” Jay said. “I’ve loved Mizzou all my life, so I wanted to be there.”

Looking forward, Jay said he hopes to win the Missouri State Football Championship this upcoming football season.