Cody Schrader

Cody Schrader, born September 8, 1999, in St. Louis, Missouri, is now an accomplished professional American football running back, currently signed with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Cody’s gridiron journey traces its path from high school, through college football at Truman and Missouri, to a successful professional career in the NFL.

During his youth, Schrader attended Lutheran South High School in St. Louis. Already at this early stage, he was earmarked for a successful future, demonstrating impressive skill and commitment. His high school career saw him amass 6,759 rushing yards and an incredible 99 touchdowns. His remarkable performances were not only record-setting but earned him multiple honors. He was recognized as a four-time all-conference running back and linebacker, a three-time all-conference player of the year, and made it both to the second-team all-state twice and into the first-team all-state in his senior year.

After graduation, Schrader opted for Truman State University to play Division II football. Despite only having two short seasons at Truman, he left an impressive legacy, setting 17 program records. These encompassed the number of touchdowns, rushing attempts, rushing yards, total yards, total points in single games, seasons, and career, as well as touchdowns in a single season and career.

The zenith of his time at Truman came in 2021 when Schrader carried for extraordinary 2,074 yards and 25 touchdowns while boasting an average of 6.9 yards per carry. This outstanding performance not only positioned him as the leading rusher in Division II football that year but also bagged him the title of 2021 Great Lakes Valley Conference co-offensive player of the year.

Upon conclusion of the 2021 season, Schrader made a monumental decision. Through the transfer portal, he walked on to the Division I University of Missouri. Despite it being a step up, Schrader finished his career at Truman with an impressive 3,069 yards and 39 touchdowns on 479 carries and caught 60 passes for 497 yards and two touchdowns.

His Missouri journey began with a strong start in the opening game of the 2022 season. Against Louisiana Tech, Schrader rushed 17 times for 70 yards and a touchdown resulting in a victory for Missouri. He continued this display of solid performance throughout the season. He ended 2022 with 745 yards and nine touchdowns on 170 carries, adding value to the team by pulling in 19 receptions for an additional 137 yards. He was named an offensive captain for the following 2023 season.

That year, the sixth week of play saw Schrader rushing 14 times, covering 114 yards, and scoring three touchdowns, albeit in a loss against LSU. This was, however, just a sign of things to come. Two weeks later, he totaled 170 yards and two touchdowns, propelling the Tigers to a well-deserved win over South Carolina. This exceptional performance earned him the title of SEC Offensive Player of the Week.

In week nine, playing against Tennessee, Schrader set a new record, becoming the first player in the history of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to record 200 running yards and 100 receiving yards in a single game. Cody’s performance was so exceptional that the Tigers’ running back coach, Curtis Luper compared him to NFL Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas.

Schrader ended the Missouri season on another high note by setting the single-season rushing record during a victory against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. His 1,627 rushing yards surpassed the previous record held by former Tigers running back, Tyler Badie.

In January 2024, this accomplished running back declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. On May 10, 2024, he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. A career detour then saw him drafted in the second round (13th overall) by the St. Louis Battlehawks in the 2024 United Football League (UFL) draft held on July 17, 2024. After a short fling with the Battlehawks, he was waived on August 27, 2024.

Schrader was quickly snatched up off the waivers by the Los Angeles Rams on August 28, 2024, where he currently plays as a running back. His journey has not been without challenges, however, his talents and resilience have led to impressive performances at each level, paving his way into the world of professional football in the NFL.