2014 National Signing Day: Meet the Gophers Preferred Walk-On Class

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2014 National Signing Day: Meet the Gophers Preferred Walk-On Class
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/346279?referrer_id=388419

Minnesota has had great success with former walk-ons earning scholarship and starting spots. Aaron Hill, Mike Henry, Jon Christenson, Calleb Bak, Cameron Botticelli, Derrick Engel and Peter Mortell were all former walk-ons who started this past season.

Zach Mottla, A.J. Barker, Jon Hoese and Mike Rallis are some of the former past walk-ons who earned starting spots with the Gophers.

Head coach Jerry Kill and his staff have made getting a strong class of preferred walk-ons a priority and this year's group has several potential starters.

The following is a look at the Minnesota preferred walk-on class.

Davis Anderson, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior defensive back from Apple Valley (MN) High, led the Eagles to a 6-6 mark as they won the section title before losing to eventual state champion Owatonna.

Here is a link to a story on Anderson.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/345317?referrer_id=331171

Payton Jordahl, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound long snapped from Perham (MN) High, picked Minnesota over offers from South Dakota and North Dakota.

Here is a link to previous stories on Jordahl.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/328091?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/343072?referrer_id=388419

Emmit Carpenter, a 6-1, 195-pound senior kicker from Ashwaubenon (WI) High, picked Minnesota over interest from Illinois State. He is neighbors with former preferred walk-on Peter Mortell, who is the starting punter for Minnesota.

Here is a link to previous story on Carpenter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/343234?referrer_id=388419

Josh Parks, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound running back from Chisago Lakes (MN) High, helped lead Chisago Lakes to a 8-2 mark, losing to eventual Class AAAAA runner-up Brainerd 35-20 in the second round of the playoffs. He rushed 126 times for 1202 yards with 16 rushing touchdowns and rushed for over 100 yards in nine of his ten games.

Here is a link to previous stories on Parks.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/344622?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/271450?referrer_id=388419

Jacque Perra, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior quarterback from Roseville (MN) High, helped lead the Raiders to a 9-3 record, losing to Rosemount in the Class AAAAAA semifinals.

Perra was named the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year and was the St. Paul Pioneer Press Player of the Year. He completed 60.7% of his passes for 3191 yards and 35 touchdowns. Perra had 380 rushing yards and also averaged 37.1 yards per punt. He finished his career with 6967 yards with 63 career scores and ten career rushing touchdowns.

Perra was chosen as a three-time All-Suburban East Conference and was Suburban East Conference MVP. He was named to the Associated Press and Minnesota Vikings All-State teams.

Here is a link to previous stories on Perra.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/334977?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/307333?referrer_id=388419

Blake Weber, a 6-1, 215-pound linebacker running back from Prior Lake (MN) High, was one of ten finalists for the Minnesota Mr. Football. Weber had 1247 total yards (810 rushing/437 yards receiving) with 14 touchdowns. He had 72 tackles and was a two-time All-Suburban Conference selection. Weber was named Star Tribune and KARE 11 Sports All-Metro was named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State team.

Here is a link to previous stories on Weber.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/346062?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/282590?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/274378?referrer_id=388419

Logan McElfresh, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior punter from Brainerd (MN) High, picked Minnesota over North Dakota State. He led Brainerd to a 12-1 mark, losing to Owatonna 24-0 in the Class 5A Prep Bowl title game.
 

per Sid:

Kill likes walk-ons

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill commenting on the walk-ons who were recruited: “Right now we’ve got eight, I don’t consider them walk-ons, I think they’ll be guys that will earn scholarships. I think we proved that last year. We had seven guys that started on our football team that were walk-on players that I put on scholarship, and I just put Pete Mortell on, our punter.

“We’ve got three kickers. Emmit Carpenter, from Green Bay, Wis. Probably the most important guy we’ve recruited is Payton Jordahl, from Perham, Minn. He’s a deep snapper, and he turned down scholarship opportunities to come here, and he’s got a real chance to do some things for us next year. And then Logan McElfresh from Brainerd. You know, Ron Stolski’s kid. Those three kids will help us in the kicking.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/244089111.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

Go Gophers!!
 



what about Riley Oharah and Miles Thomas? Was I mistaken and they were given schollies?
 


nc2mn said:
what about Riley Oharah and Miles Thomas? Was I mistaken and they were given schollies?
Click to expand...

I suspect the reason they were not included is that they are college transfers that are walking on, not high school students.
 



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