Dec. 13, 2021: One-time Air Force 2022 (Port Orange, Fla.) LB commit Maverick Baranowski committed to the Gophers Sunday.
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The Gophers’ recruiting boat continues to row. 2022 Port Orange, Fla. LB Maverick Baranowski officially committed to Minnesota Sunday. At 6-foot-3 Baranowski originally verbally committed to Air Force on Aug. 26, 2020. Fast forward to now, he chose the Maroon & Gold over other FBS offers from Army, Navy, Tulsa and Kent State. He is now the third linebacker commit in the Gophers’ 2022 class.
1000% COMMITTED to the UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA‼️‼️ Thank you to everyone who has been with me through this entire process. Huge thank you to @JoeS_Rossi, @Coach_Fleck, and the entire @GopherFootball staff for believing in me. #RTB #SkiUMah Go Gophers!! @CoachMikeKlein pic.twitter.com/XMTE0EHHQx
— Maverick 5 Baranowski (@Maverick_b5) December 12, 2021
Who is Maverick Baranowski?:
- Scouting Report:
At 6-foot-3, 210-pounds, Baranowski has pretty close to the ideal size for his position. Playing at a pretty high level of high school football in Florida he was uber-productive throughout his career. He has terrific instincts and feel for the position, but certainly has room to grow in coverage. That is something that is normal for someone his age, and the ILBs in Joe Rossi’s system are never asked to do much in coverage anyway. Based on all of that information, it doesn’t make much sense why Baranowski was so far under the radar. He is certainly not an elite athlete, but he has the potential to carve out a role in the Big Ten.
**High School Football Hudl Highlights: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11536958/612015eeab9d7505084f79f7
Instant Reaction:
Baranowski becomes the first true inside linebacker to join the Gophers 2022 class. Joey Gerlach played safety and high school, but will likely end up at LB for the Gophers and Jack Pyburn will likely play on the outside, so Baranowski’s addition is big for the versatility of this class. Based on the level of competition he faced, playing Florida high school football is a huge plus in his transition to the Big Ten. I could tell you that he will be some diamond in the rough prospect, but at the end of the day, I have no idea.
The information known, is that he was very productive in high-level Florida high school football, he has ideal size and nothing on his film shows why he would struggle with the Gophers. Based on that alone, Baranowski is a great addition to this class, and he has a sick name, Maverick Baranowski sounds like he would be good at football.
What is next?:
With the addition of Hayden Schwartz, Cade McConnell, and now Baranowski the Gophers now have 19 commitments in the class of 2022. On Sunday their class ranked high 40s nationally and by the end, they rank No. 36 in the country according to 247sports. With National Signing Day coming on Wednesday, Fleck and Co. are likely far from done crafting their full class. Baranowski is a terrific addition and the only person stopping him from being a productive player in the Big Ten will be himself.
- DL Trey Bixby
- QB Jacob Knuth
- WR Kristen Hoskins
- OL Tony Nelson
- DB Coleman Bryson
- TE Spencer Alvarez
- RB Zach Evans
- WR Ike White
- CB Tariq Watson
- CB Rhyland Kelly
- WR/DB Aidan Gousby
- OLB/DE Jack Pyburn
- DL Anthony Smith
- TE Nathan Jones
- LB Joey Gerlach
- OL Ashton Beers
- OL Cade McConnell
- LB Maverick Baranowski