The football signing period starts Wednesday and Minnesota has already gotten off to a strong start. New Minnesota head football coach Tracy Claeys landed a six-man class that enrolled in January and will be able to participate in spring practice.
The Gophers landed three junior college transfers who will have two years of eligibility at Minnesota and three high school standouts.
Merrick Jackson is a 6-2, 330-pound defensive tackle from Iowa Western (IA) CC, which has been a fertile stopping ground for the Gophers and has produced players like starting linebacker Cody Poock. The East St. Louis, Illinois native was a NJCAA First Team All-American after recording 70 tackles and 7.5 sacks as a sophomore. Jackson had 19 tackles-for-loss, forced one fumble and broke up one pass. He helped lead the Reivers to a 10-2 record and a 20-6 win over George Military in the Graphic Edge Bowl. The defense held the George Military to -1 yards in the bowl loss. His JC experience will be helpful for a defensive line who losses Theiren Cockran and Alex Keith. Jackson picked Minnesota over interest from Baylor, Illinois, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Southern Mississippi and Troy.
Vincent Calhoun is a 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds offensive lineman from Southwest Mississippi (MS) CC. The Roswell, Georgia native was a NJCAA Second Team All-American. Calhoun was also named to the NJCAA’s All-Region team and selected MACJC First Team All-South. Calhoun was named the South’s Most Valuable Lineman. He picked Minnesota over offers from Akron, Arkansas State, Colorado State, East Carolina, Georgia State, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi State, North Texas, Southern Mississippi, Texas Southern and Western Kentucky.
Garrison Wright is a 6-foot-5 and 313-pound offensive lineman from Butler (KS) CC. He helped lead the Grizzlies to a 9-2 record this year and were ranked #4 in the NJCAA final poll. Wright helped pace an offense that rushed for 2,087 yards and 36 touchdowns and passed for 2,160 yards and 16 additional scores. Wright picked Minnesota over offers from Louisiana-Monroe, Memphis, New Mexico, San Diego State, TCU, Texas-San Antonio and UNLV. His JC teammate, running back Kobe McCrary, recently committed to Minnesota. The Gophers lose senior lineman Joe Bjorklund , Foster Bush, Jon Christenson. Josh Campion and Brian Bobek, so Wright and Calhoun will be asked to contribute quickly.
Minnesota landed three high school players who will get a jump on the college football experience by participating in spring practice.
Seth Green is a familiar name to Minnesota fans. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound quarterback played high school football at East Ridge before transferring to Allen (TX) High for his senior season. Green committed to Oregon, but re-opened his recruitment when the Ducks’ quarterback coach Scott Frost left to become head coach at Central Florida. He helped lead Allen to a 14-1 record as a senior and passed for 1,481 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also rushed 99 times for 865 yards and 10 ten scores.
Thomas Barber, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound linebacker from Robbinsdale (MN) Armstrong, committed to Minnesota last spring, following in the footsteps of his football family. Barber is the son of former Gopher standout Marion Barber and the younger brother of ex-Minnesota stars Marion III and Dom. He had 109 tackles as a senior, which included two sacks and two pass breakups. Barber also rushed 50 times for 309 yards and nine touchdowns. He was named to the Minnesota Vikings’ All-State team.
Tai’yon Devers is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound defensive end from Pompano Beach, Fla., and has played football just two years. He played his senior season at Blanche Ely High School and then played one year at Georgia Prep Sports Academy. Devers was an under-the-radar recruit that some observers could emerge as Theiren Cockran, a fellow undersized defensive end from Florida.
Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys think that the newcomers will have a chance to contribute quickly to a Gopher team that finished 6-7 this past year.
“There is no question that we got better today with the addition of these seven young men,” said Claeys. “They are all tremendous athletes who can run and have length. I am looking forward to their arrival on campus in January and having them compete in spring practice.”