Missouri State football recruits from familiar territory to land productive wide receiver

Missouri State football returned to familiar territory to land an incoming freshman recruit who committed to the Bears on Wednesday evening.

Tristian Gardner, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound wide receiver out of Waxahachie (Texas) High, will play for the Bears next season.

Gardner received offers from Bowling Green, Sam Houston, Texas State and UTSA. During his senior season, he caught 66 passes for over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Bears have had success recruiting Waxahachie in the past. Former running back Jayden Becks, who transferred to North Texas following the 2024 season, played his high school ball at the same school. Missouri State will hope for similar results from its new receiver.

Gardner’s recruitment slowed after the Bears offered him in October. Instead of the FBS offers he was receiving, Division II programs like Henderson State, Washburn and Northeastern State were among his most recent offers.

Including walk-ons, Missouri State has seven wide receivers currently committed to its 2025 recruiting class.

Tristian Gardner 247 ranking

Gardner is not ranked by the 247Sports Composite.

Missouri State football recruiting Class of 2025

• Deuce Bailey, QB, Bowling Green, Kentucky

• Stephen Meitz, OL, Eureka

• Jackson Kohl, TE, Christian Brothers

• Jayden McGee, DE/LB, Cardinal Ritter

• Mitch Weisenborn, OL, Francis Howell (PWO)

• Brycen Dorsey, WR, Christian Brothers (PWO)

• Gionni McBride, DB, North Kansas City

• Joseph Arnold, DB, Blue Valley Northwest (Kansas)

• Navonn Barrett, Lackawanna College, DB

• Darryon Taylor, Mississippi Delta CC, DB

• Ronnel Johnson, Stetson, WR

• Maguire Neal, S, Charlotte

• Drew Viotto, QB, Eastern Michigan

• Edubedike Nnabugwu, OL, Delaware State

• Matthew Greene, OL, UNLV

• Isaiah McMorris, WR, Nebraska

• DJ Wesolak, EDGE, Oregon State

• Brayden Thompson, OL, Kettle Moraine (Wisconsin)

• King Davis, RB, Miami Northwestern (Florida)

• Shomari Lawrence, RB, Florida International

• Dezmond Barnes, DL, Stanhope Elmore (Alabama)

• Anthony Bell Jr., WR, Paulding County (Georgia)

• Hayden Caston, OLB/S, Iowa Colony (Texas)

• Amare Whetsel, WR, Monsignor Pace (Miami)

• Tristian Gardner, WR, Waxahachie (Texas)

Where Missouri State football ranks in 2025 team recruiting rankings

Missouri State currently has the 142nd-ranked recruiting class in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite. It was ranked 158th after landing running back King Davis on Jan. 13.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Tristian Gardner: Missouri State football lands Texas high school WR