2014 National Signing Day: Meet the Gophers Offensive Class

Jones had 44 touchdowns this season and finished his career with 4668 yards and 92 career touchdowns.

The Gophers have twelve commitments from offensive players. Minnesota made strides with their rushing game as David Cobb became the first running back to gain more than 1,000 yards since 2006. His productivity along with strong rushing by the Gopher signal callers caused Minnesota to finish fourth in the Big Ten with 195.2 yards per game.

However, they were last in the Big Ten in passing with just 192.5 yards per game and 11th in total offense, 168.6 yards behind leader Ohio State.

There were some positives with the passing game as they led the conference with 14.1 yards per receptions and the expected development of freshman quarterback Mitch Leidner and receivers Maxx Williams, Donovahn Jones and Drew Wolitarsky.

The following is a look at the incoming group of offensive recruits.

Dimonic McKinzy, a 5-foot-11, 219-pound quarterback from Kansas City (KS) Wyandotte, enrolled at Minnesota in January to get a head start on college football. He committed to Minnesota after attending the spring game.

McKinzy, an outstanding dual-threat quarterback, helped lead the Bulldogs to a 4-5 mark this season. He completed 156 of 295 passes for 2,527 yards and 26 passing scores. McKinzy rushed 92 times for 519 yards and nine more touchdowns.

Here is a link to a story on McKinzy.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/250971?referrer_id=331171

Connor Mayes, a 6-foot-5 320-pound center from Van Alstyne, is the younger brother of current redshirt freshman Alex. He committed to Minnesota in June, but received interest from schools such as Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas Tech and Texas A&M. Mayes played in the U.S. Army All-American Game last month.

Here are links to previous Gopher Hole stories on Mayes.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/265374?referrer_id=331171

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/193250?referrer_id=394965

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/154894?referrer_id=331171

Gaelin Elmore, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end from Somerset, Wisconsin committed to Minnesota in June. Elmore, who is one of the top football players in the Midwest, picked the Golden Gophers over offers from Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa State.

Elmore led the Spartans to a 11-2 mark, losing to Winneconne 16-14 in the Division 4 semifinals. Winneconne defeated Platteville 28-14 in the title game.

Elmore had originally planned to graduate early and enroll at Minnesota in January, but is playing high school basketball and will graduate in April instead.

Here is a link to several Gopher Hole stories on Elmore.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/279420?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/265092?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/249541?referrer_id=388419

Brandon Lingen, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end/defensive end from Plymouth (MN) Wayzata, helped lead the Trojans to a 6-3 record this season.

Here is a link to a Gopher Hole story on Lingen.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/297936?referrer_id=388419

Rodney Smith, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back from Jonesboro (GA) Mundy’s Mill, picked the Gophers over East Carolina.

Smith rushed 261 times for 2,201 yards and 26 touchdowns as he helped lead Mundy’s Mill to a 8-5 mark, losing to Gainesville 42-28 in the third round of the Class AAAAA playoffs.

Here is a link to a Gopher Hole story on Smith.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/342447?referrer_id=388419

Jerry Gibson, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior from Theodore (AL) High, visited Minnesota for the Penn State game and committed three weeks later. Gibson led his team to a 4-6 mark, an improvement of three wins. Gibson made a late visit to South Carolina.

Here is a link to a story on Gibson.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/346057?referrer_id=388419

Melvin Holland Jr., a 6-foot-3, 190-pound wide receiver from Ashburn (VA) Briar Woods, helped lead the Falcons to a 13-2 mark, losing in the state title game to L.C. Bird 35-28, despite Holland Jr. catching five passes for 199 yards and three scores. He had 64 catches for 1032 yards and 17 touchdowns. Holland Jr. picked the Gophers over a late push by Wake Forest.

Here is a link to a story on Holland Jr.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/343494?referrer_id=388419

Conner Krizancic, a 6-foot-2, 193-pound senior wide receiver from Mentor (OH) High, switched his commitment to Minnesota for Cincinnati after visiting the Gophers last weekend. He led the Cardinals to the state title game in his first season as a quarterback. He completed 229 of 379 passes for 3,230 yards with 32 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Krizancic rushed for 1,455 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Krizancic was named the Cleveland Pain Dealler Offensive Player of the Year and was the News-Herald choice as the 2013 Tony Fisher Award.

Krizancic led Mentor to a 13-2 mark, losing to Cincinnati Moeller 55-52 in the title game. They trailed 48-26 after three quarters, before Krizancic led a furious comeback as he threw for five touchdowns in the game. He set state championship records for completions (36), attempts (55) and yards (419).

Krizancic caught 71 passes for 985 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior as they advanced to the state semifinals.

Krizancic helped lead Mentor to the 2013 Division I state basketball title, defeating Toledo Rogers 76-67 as he scored 16 points.

Here is a link to a story on Krizancic.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/345641?referrer_id=388419

Luke Rasmussen, a 6-foot-7, 265-pound offensive tackle from Brookfield (WI) Central, committed to Minnesota in December and attended the Minnesota football camp this past summer and the Golden Gopher spring game.

Rasmussen helped lead Brookfield Central to a 7-3 mark, losing to Sussex Hamilton 37-34 in the playoffs. He plays on the 15-0 Brookfield central team that is ranked #1 in Division I.

Here is a link to previous stories on Rasmussen.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/336987?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/272906?referrer_id=388419

Jared Weyler, a 6-foot-5, 280-pound offensive lineman from Dayton (OH) Centerville, helped lead the Elks to an 8-3 mark, losing to Dublin Coffman 42-14 in the first round of the Division I (largest class) state playoffs.

Weyler was named to the 2013 Associated Press Southwest All-District football teams and the 2013 All-Area Division I football teams as a senior. He picked the Gophers after being an early commit to Bowling Green. However, he decided to re-open his recruitment when the Falcon coaching staff moved on to Wake Forest.

Here is a link to a story on Weyler.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/343572?referrer_id=388419

Isaiah Gentry, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound wide receiver from Cincinnati Moeller, flipped his commitment from Kent State to Minnesota after visiting the Gophers last month. Gentry was a Cincinnati Enquirer Division I all-area selection for the state champion Crusaders.
Gentry was named first-team all-district and special mention all-state. He tied a Division I state final record with two receiving touchdowns against Mentor and fellow Gopher wide receiver commit Conner Krizancic. He had 44 receptions for 1,104 yards and ten touchdowns this past season.

Jeffrey Jones, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior running back from Minneapolis Washburn, was the first Gopher commit for the Class of 2014. He was named Minnesota’s Mr. Football after he rushed for 1523 yards (9.1 yards per carry) as a senior. He had 493 receiving yards (18.5 yards per reception). Jones had 44 touchdowns this season and finished his career with 4668 yards and 92 career touchdowns.

Here is a link to previous stories on Jones.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/344566?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/322644?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/317106?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/306267?referrer_id=388419