By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Missouri is known as the Show Me state.

Ironton Fighting Tigers’ wide receiver Shaun Terry plans to show the state’s fans just what he can do after signing a national letter-of-intent on Wednesday with the Missouri Tigers.

Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz got to see what Terry “can do” in person when Ironton played Clarkson North of Canada.

Drinkwitz walked the sidelines during the game and saw some amazing plays by Terry. He told Ironton head coach Trevon Pendleton that “we don’t have anything like that.”

“He’s a generational talent. I know that term gets thrown around but with his change of direction and explosiveness he’s a kid who doesn’t come around too often,” said Pendleton.

“He’s a special talent and beyond that he’s a special kid. He’s just the total package there.”

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Terry currently has 79 receptions for 1,440 yards and 21 touchdowns. Besides his 21 receiving touchdowns, Terry has 3 rushing scores and 3 punt returns for touchdowns.

Although Terry — a.k.a. Mr. Electric — said going from high school to Division 1 and playing against SEC competition will be an adjustment.

“How I play in high school, obviously, there’s going to be certain things I can’t do on the football field and that’s fine. I’ve just got to develop and become a better receiver and a better person on and off the field,” said Terry.

“I realize (there will be an adjustment time). Even at Ironton, when I was a freshman no one was looking at me. I was just a 115 pound kid. No one knew who I was and that’s just what the process is going to be. You can’t just sit there and dwell on it. You’ve to realize you’re here for a reason.”

And Terry is there for a reason. His big play capabilities drew the attention of numerous colleges, but he said that playing in the SEC was something he always wanted. Now that he’s there, he’s ready for the challenge and to find out how Missouri plans to utilize him.

Although it hasn’t been said officially, Terry expects to return punts and kickoffs along with playing wide receiver much like he has done with great success at Ironton.

“I guess I’ll see their plan when I get there,” Terry said with a big smile recalling how Drinkwitz commented his thoughts immediately after an amazing kick return against Clarkson North.

“He hit me right after I made the run.’Dude, that run was absolutely stupid.’”

At the encouragement of the coaching staff, Terry will take an early exit from high school and enroll at Missouri in the next semester as the Christmas break.

Terry said being available for spring practice will help acclimate him into the program.

“They said they see me possibly playing early on the field and they just want me to get into the system on offense and get with the players and the brotherhood and get under their wing and get more developed, put on weight and do everything that a freshman would do when they get there in college,” said Terry.

The brotherhood atmosphere at Missouri is what lured him to the program.

“Definitely the family culture. The vision they had in me that I saw in myself and that’s what I wanted for me,” said Terry.

As for signing to play at a Division 1 program, Terry was still feeling a little awestruck.

“It’s a blessing and it’s a surreal moment,” Terry said.

While the future holds a lot of uncertainties, Terry said he does have some goals.

“I want to be a player that someone looks up to throughout the world or nationally. And also, I want to win a national championship at Missouri. There’s never been a national champion at Missouri. I feel this class that we have has a real shot. That’s my main goal,” said Terry.

But before he wins a national championship, Terry is focused on Saturday afternoon when Ironton plays Liberty Center in the Division 5 state championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton and he assured his team that the signing was only a subplot.

“This is what I told my team. This doesn’t mean anything until we win that ring on Saturday. This is not going to be a problem. That ring is what’s the most important to me right now and winning that championship for the community on Saturday,” said Terry.

Ironton played in the state championship in 2022 when Terry was a sophomore. Ironton lost to South Range and Terry doesn’t want that to happen again.

“When we were there, we lost my sophomore year. Watching myself run on that big screen was like crazy because I was only like 15 years old. It definitely was a good feeling, but after the game that wasn’t a good feeling and that was my motivation,” said Terry.

“You just don’t let the moment get too big. That’s what me and my team are talking about. We’ve been here before and we need to act like it’s another game and get 15 wins.”

Sounds like another Show Me moment for Shaun Terry.