Cody Schrader Bio
Cody Schrader (born September 8, 1999) is an American professional football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Truman Bulldogs and Missouri Tigers and signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Over the course of his early professional career, Schrader has also been a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans.
Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing around 215 pounds, Schrader has built a reputation as a hard-running back whose career path has taken him from a Division II program in Missouri to the highest level of professional football. His journey through multiple NFL practice squads and active rosters reflects both the perseverance and patience required to stay in the league without the benefit of a draft selection.
Early Life and Background
Cody Schrader was born on September 8, 1999, in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in the same city and attended Lutheran High School South, a private school located in the St. Louis metropolitan area. At Lutheran South, Schrader starred on both sides of the ball as a running back and linebacker, establishing himself as one of the most productive offensive players in the program’s recent history.
During his high school career, Schrader rushed for 6,759 yards and 99 touchdowns, earning four all-conference selections and three conference player of the year honors. He was a two-time second-team all-state selection before being named first-team all-state as a senior. Despite those impressive numbers, Schrader was not heavily recruited by major college programs, and he committed to Truman State University to play Division II football.
Path to American Football
Schrader’s path to professional football began at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, a Division II program competing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). His size and home-state ties made Truman an ideal landing spot, and the school gave him the opportunity to develop his skills and accumulate touches at a level where he could thrive.
He quickly emerged as one of the conference’s most dynamic players. Schrader was a second-team All-GLVC selection in 2019 and followed that with first-team All-GLVC honors in both 2020 and 2021. After the 2021 season, in which he rushed for 2,074 yards and 25 touchdowns, Schrader was named GLVC Co-Offensive Player of the Year. He entered the transfer portal following that dominant season and walked on at the University of Missouri, a Southeastern Conference (SEC) program at the highest level of college football.
Cody Schrader Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Cody Schrader’s first notable stretch of organized football came at Truman State University, where he played three seasons for the Bulldogs from 2019 through 2021. Across those two and a half campaigns, he established himself as one of the most prolific rushers in program history. He finished his Truman career with 3,069 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns on 479 carries, while also adding 60 receptions for 497 yards and two receiving scores.
Schrader set 17 different Truman program records during his time in Kirksville, including marks for rushing attempts, rushing yards, touchdowns, total yards, and total points in a single game, season, and career. His dominant 2021 season led the entire Division II ranks in rushing and put him on the radar of larger college programs looking for experienced running back talent.
Missouri Tigers Breakthrough (2022–2023)
After walking on at the University of Missouri, Schrader was required to earn his role within a Southeastern Conference backfield. He did exactly that during the 2022 season opener, rushing 17 times for 70 yards and a touchdown in a win over Louisiana Tech. He finished his first SEC campaign with 745 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 170 carries, along with 19 receptions for 137 yards.
Schrader’s 2023 season turned him into a national name. He was named an offensive captain heading into the year and opened the season strong before producing a string of headline performances. In a Week 6 loss to LSU, he carried 14 times for 114 yards and three touchdowns. One week later, he totaled 170 yards and two scores in a win over South Carolina, earning SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Against Tennessee in Week 9, Schrader became the first SEC player ever to record 200 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in a single game.
Schrader set the Missouri single-season rushing record during a 14–3 Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State, finishing the year with 1,627 rushing yards, surpassing the previous mark held by Tyler Badie. For his efforts, he was named a consensus All-American, won the Burlsworth Trophy honoring the nation’s best player who began his career as a walk-on, and earned first-team All-SEC recognition. On January 4, 2024, Schrader declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Denver Broncos Era (2025–Present)
After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, Schrader signed with the San Francisco 49ers on May 10, 2024. He was waived by the 49ers on August 27, and within a day was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams on August 28. Schrader was activated for the Rams’ final regular season game of 2024, recording one rush for three yards and one reception for six yards in a 30–25 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams waived Schrader as part of final roster cuts in August 2025 and re-signed him to the practice squad the following day. On September 9, 2025, Schrader was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ active roster from the Rams practice squad following the trade of Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles, but he was later waived on December 6 without appearing in a game. Two days later, on December 8, Schrader was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans, only to be waived five days later. On December 15, 2025, he was claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos, where he currently resides on the roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Schrader is known as a physical, between-the-tackles runner with the vision and balance to grind out tough yards. Missouri running back coach Curtis Luper compared him to Pro Football Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas, describing him as a warrior. His ability to contribute in the passing game, as demonstrated by his 100-yard receiving performance against Tennessee, has made him a versatile chess piece in NFL backfields.
Notable Events and Milestones
Schrader’s most celebrated milestone came in 2023, when he became the first player in SEC history to post 200 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in a single game against Tennessee. He also owns the Missouri single-season rushing record and was the 2023 recipient of the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top player who began as a walk-on.
Cody Schrader Career Wins
Cody Schrader’s verified accolades are concentrated at the college level, where he earned consensus All-American and Burlsworth Trophy honors in 2023 alongside first-team All-SEC recognition. Earlier, he was a two-time first-team All-GLVC selection and the 2021 GLVC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, underscoring his steady rise from Division II standout to one of the most decorated running backs in Missouri Tigers history.
College Highlights
During his three seasons at Truman State, Schrader set 17 program records and concluded his Bulldogs career with more than 3,500 all-purpose yards. His 2023 season at Missouri produced the single-season rushing record, the historic 200/100-yard performance against Tennessee, and the SEC Offensive Player of the Week award he earned after his 170-yard, two-touchdown outing versus South Carolina.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his college achievements, Schrader has not yet posted any verified NFL regular-season wins or statistical milestones at the professional level. His brief professional appearances have been limited to a single game with the Los Angeles Rams in 2024 and practice squad stints with several clubs.
Cody Schrader Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Cody Schrader’s parents and immediate family members are not widely available. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and attended Lutheran High School South, where his production as a running back and linebacker helped launch his football career.
Personal Life
Schrader currently resides in the Denver area after joining the Broncos in December 2025. He is not publicly known to be married, and there are no verified reports of a spouse or children. His personal social media accounts remain the most direct line to his life outside of football.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season has been a whirlwind for Cody Schrader, who has been claimed off waivers three separate times. He began the year on the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad before being promoted to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ active roster in early September following the Tank Bigsby trade. Despite the opportunity, Schrader never appeared in a regular-season game for Jacksonville before being waived on December 6.
Within 48 hours of his Jaguars release, Schrader was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans on December 8, only to be waived by the Texans five days later. His quick turnover caught the attention of the Denver Broncos, who added him off waivers on December 15, 2025. While his statistical impact has been limited, his repeated movement across rosters shows that multiple organizations view him as a developmental back worth developing further.
Looking ahead, Schrader’s priority will be carving out a meaningful role in Denver’s running back room and securing his first NFL regular-season carries. With his proven SEC pedigree and special-teams upside, he has a legitimate opportunity to establish himself as a depth piece for the Broncos down the stretch.