Meet Cody Schrader and you’ll know one thing for sure – nothing will stop him from chasing his dreams. The 23-year-old All-American running back, who graduated from the University of Missouri, fell in love with football in eighth grade and never looked back.
“Football is where I find peace, joy and fulfillment in my life,” Cody said. “It’s the only time I am truly free. On the football field I am in control of my life and it’s central to everything I do.”
With no scholarship offers out of high school, Cody started at Division II Truman State University and quickly made a name for himself. Then, in 2022, he joined the Division I team at the University of Missouri as a walk on and exploded into the national spotlight in 2023 – running the ball 276 times for more than 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns. Cody led the Southeastern Conference in rushing in 2023 with nine 100-yard games and two 200-yard games.
“I love adversity, that is who I am,” Cody said. “I always want to challenge myself, push myself and build my mental and physical strength.”
That strength was tested in 2022 when Cody was injured in the second game of the season. It was cold and raining late into the fourth quarter.
“I was still fighting for the job as running back and I tried to score as the clock was running out,” he remembered. “I got hit hard on my shoulder, but I had so much adrenaline, I just played through it.”
Despite the searing pain, Cody played through the entire season with the shoulder injury. But by the spring of 2023, he felt his range of motion decreasing, he didn’t have his usual strength in the weight room, and he knew it was time to seek medical help.
“I’ve always been able to fight through injuries and be okay, but I told the trainers, I think I need an MRI,” Cody said. “I will play through anything, unless I feel like I am not going to be able to do my job to the best of my abilities and help the team.”
That MRI showed a labral tear, but it wasn’t until he went into surgery a few months later that it was clear how serious it was.
“He had a large tear, it went from the nine o’clock position all the way around to the four o’clock position, basically the whole lower half of the labrum,” said Clayton W. Nuelle, MD, FAAOS (Columbia, MO). “The tear was anterior, inferior and posterior, pretty extensive, and the full extent of which wasn’t fully evident even on the MRI.”
Dr. Nuelle used six Knotless FiberTak® Soft Anchors to methodically repair the tear in his shoulder.
“This was not an easy operation because of the location of the tears,” Dr. Nuelle said. “Knotless FiberTak anchors revolutionized how we do labral repair surgery. We are able to create multiple points of fixation with very low-profile anchors that still provide great tensile strength, often with only a couple small incisions.”
Dr. Nuelle says the technology allows athletes to begin rehabilitation sooner and often get back to their sport faster than a traditional labral repair.¹
Cody took that to heart and dedicated himself to getting back on the field as quickly as possible.
“I heal really fast from injuries, and I am a guy who likes to push,” Cody said. “You can’t be afraid of pain or work. You have to be doing extra. I was in the training room, six, seven, sometimes eight hours a day. I focused on sleep, nutrition and doing everything I could to fight my way back.”
And that’s exactly what he did. He played a stellar 2023 season for Mizzou and helped the team win the Cotton Bowl, scoring a touchdown and rushing for 128 yards against Ohio State.
“Cody is definitely exceptional,” Dr. Nuelle said. “He’s a very tough player and so dedicated to his rehab. He has a very bright future ahead of him.”
Cody is counting on it as he joins the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent.
“I feel really determined about what’s next,” Cody said. “I have to keep the faith, put in the work and stay committed. I came back faster, stronger and healthier and I can’t wait to show them what I can do in the NFL.”
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Disclaimer:
This is not medical advice and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by a surgeon or other qualified medical professional on the use of these products. You should talk with your physician or health care provider for more information about your health condition and whether Arthrex products might be appropriate for you. The surgeon who performs any surgical procedure is responsible for determining and using the appropriate techniques for surgical procedures on each individual patient. Arthrex recommends that surgeons be trained on the use of any particular product before using it in surgery. A surgeon must always rely on their own professional medical judgment when deciding whether to use a particular product when treating a particular patient. A surgeon must always refer to the package insert, product label, and/or directions for use before using any Arthrex product. Postoperative management is patient-specific and dependent on the treating professional’s assessment. Individual results will vary and not all patients will experience the same postoperative activity level or outcomes. Products may not be available in all markets because product availability is subject to the regulatory approvals and medical practices in individual markets. Please contact Arthrex if you have questions about the availability of products in your area.
This real patient was compensated for the time he took to share his experience.
Physician is a paid consultant of Arthrex, Inc.