The Los Angeles Rams added to their backfield on Wednesday when they claimed Cody Schrader off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers. Some believed he was a candidate to make the 49ers' 53-man roster but he was waived and Sean McVay isn't going to let the rookie running back slip onto San Francisco's practice squad.
Schrader was a productive running back in college, spending time at Truman State and Missouri. He went undrafted this year but the 49ers signed him as a free agent and gave him an opportunity this summer.
Now a member of the Rams, here are five things to know about the young running back.
Won award as best walk-on in the country
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Schrader won the Burlsworth Trophy last season, which is given to the most outstanding player in the nation who started his career as a walk-on. Schrader joined the Tigers in 2022 as a walk-on after four years at Truman State, working his way up the depth chart and becoming Missouri's starting running back the last two years.
Was selected as a first-team All-American in 2023
(Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)
Schrader put up huge numbers last season. He rushed for 16,27 yards and 14 touchdowns in the SEC, while also catching 22 passes for 191 yards. He was voted a first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC, leading the conference in rushing and averaging a healthy 5.9 yards per carry in his final season.
He averaged 30 yards per kick return this preseason
Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Schrader didn't find much running room on offense this preseason, gaining just 48 yards on 18 attempts, but he was good on special teams. He returned four kickoffs for 120 yards, averaging 30 yards per return with a long of 33 yards. With Schrader on the 53-man roster, it's possible the Rams will utilize him as a return specialist.
Led NCAA in rushing in 2021 at Truman State
Austin Miller via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Schrader began his career at Truman State in 2018 after getting no offers from any Division I schools. He picked Truman State in Missouri and redshirted his freshman year before becoming the backup in 2019 and starter in 2020. His real breakout came in 2021, though, his final year at Truman State.
That season, he led college football with 2,074 yards rushing and scored 25 touchdowns, adding another 214 receiving yards and one touchdown in the passing game.
Was voted a team captain at Missouri
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Schrader is exactly the type of player Sean McVay loves. He was a team captain at Missouri and took a winding path to the FBS level, similar to the way Jared Verse, Byron Young and Braden Fiske all did. He was viewed as a leader in the locker room and outworked everyone that he could, even beating the strength coach to the facility at Missouri every day.
From Dane Brugler's draft guide at The Athletic: "I beat our strength and conditioning coach to the facility every day. ... I parked my red Ranger truck out front to make sure he knew I was already working. It's what I needed to do in order to get noticed."