Andre McDonald Makes a Golden In-State Decision!!! UPDATED w/ extensive Q&A!

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Bob_Loblaw said:
Obviously it is way too early to be able to tell how any of these guys are going to be (even DCT), but:
QB: Nelson
RB: R. Williams
WR: DCT
WR: McDonald
Slot: Harbison
TE: Maxx Williams
OT: Pirsig
OG: Olson
C: Hayes
OG: Gjere
OT: F. Bush

Sounds pretty good in a few years....
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I agree with you, but if Jones comes back healthy from his knee injury I like him in the slot. But our four deep at WR is looking good for years to come if Harbison and McDonald end up signing Feb. 1!
 



Nice going. Now the next class will likely take notice of what Jerry Kill and company have done. Keep it going Jerry keep it going.
 

MadtownGopher said:
The future is bright on Offense:

QB: Philip Nelson
WR: Andre McDonald
WR: Jamel Harbison
TE: Maxx Williams
LT: Jonah Pirsig
G/C: Issac Hayes
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Not a bad for a class for being ranked 12th in the Big Ten by Rivals
 





DTOWNGOPHER said:
Great job Jerry! I think this is one of our better classes on paper!
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Sadly will still be near the very bottom of the Big Ten.
 



Great job by the staff and welcome Andre! I'll gladly eat a large plate of crow on this one, I thought there was no chance after he took the visit to UCLA.

Can we all agree that this is the best recruiting class in-state in memory? The top 4 kids in state (McDonald, Hayes, Pirsig, Nelson), 7 of the top 8, and 10 total? I realize we won't "know for sure" until several years from now, but I can't think of a better signing day with the Minnesota kids.
 



In honor of Andre's commitment, I hereby declare today DRE DAY.

 




Parski1 said:
(6-6) or (7-5) is not near the very bottom.
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I was responding to the poster who commented on our recruiting class. That is what will likely be ranked near the very bottom of the Big Ten.
 

GopherGod said:
I was responding to the poster who commented on our recruiting class. That is what will likely be ranked near the very bottom of the Big Ten.
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Sorry - missed that
 

KSTP showed an interview with Andre today and he said "Coach Kill treated me like a son just as much as a football player." Big get Coach Kill.
 

Exciting news! I knew something was up when I logged on and over 800 people were viewing the football forum.

Anyone know why he's wearing pink socks in the highlight video?
 

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 


GophersInIowa said:
Exciting news! I knew something was up when I logged on and over 800 people were viewing the football forum.

Anyone know why he's wearing pink socks in the highlight video?
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I'm guessing it was during October for breast cancer awareness month. On a side note, I have a feeling this will be the class that puts Minnesota back on the map.
 

Updated with Q&A with the newest Gopher:

Gopher Hole: When did you make the decision to commit to Minnesota?

Andre McDonald: I decided on Tuesday of this week, but I didn’t say anything until last night when the coaches came.

Gopher Hole: What was their reaction?

Andre McDonald: They were happy. Coach Kill gave me a hug. All of them gave me a hug and they just had joy on their face as well as mine.

Gopher Hole: What coaches were at the house?

Andre McDonald: Coach Zembrowski, Coach Anderson, Coach Poore and Coach Kill.

Gopher Hole: What were the main factors in the decision to commit to Minnesota?

Andre McDonald: It was seeing how honest and how true to their word that they are. They stuck with me through the whole thing. They never stopped talking to me even when I was committed to Vanderbilt. They always checked up to see how I was doing. I wouldn’t want to be around a better group of guys than those guys, because they are such amazing people.

Gopher Hole: How does it feel to have the decision done with?

Andre McDonald: It’s feels great (laughing). It feels like I have a weight lifted from my shoulders.

Gopher Hole: Did you tell many of your friends or did many people know before the announcement on TV?

Andre McDonald: No. Not many. Maybe a couple of my close friends. My coach at the high school and my dad.

Gopher Hole: Was it hard to keep it secret from other people?

Andre McDonald: Yes, it was kind of tough. I just held it in.

Gopher Hole: When did you tape your segment with KARE-11?

Andre McDonald: Today at 1:30.

Gopher Hole: Where you surprised that the word didn’t get out? Did you expect people to try to figure it out?

Andre McDonald: A couple of recruiting guys from Rivals called me and tried to get me, but I told them to just wait and they will find out. They even asked me for hints and I just said ‘that I am going to let you find out and you’ll see when it happens.’

Gopher Hole: What was the reaction of your friends and your fellow Gopher recruits like Duke and Maxx when they heard the news?

Andre McDonald: They were ecstatic. They were so happy. Everyone was happy. I have been talking to Duke since this morning. Duke is a good friend of mine.

Gopher Hole: Your recruitment has not been typical. You committed to Minnesota in February and then you were going to go to Vanderbilt. Is there anything you would change at all about what your recruitment has been like or are you just glad to finally a place that you want to be?

Andre McDonald: I wouldn’t change anything because what I went through really made me grow and mature. It helped my decision making. I think that it really helped me grow as a young man.

Gopher Hole: Have the Gophers said much about the expectations as a freshman about maybe getting on the field and playing next year?

Andre McDonald: They tell me that I have a pretty good chance of playing, but it all comes, if I work hard. If I push myself and that is something that I have always done. That is what got me here and I am going to do everything I can.

Gopher Hole: You had your shoulder taped this past weekend playing basketball. How is that doing now?

Andre McDonald: It is doing fine. It has gotten a lot better. It is not really bugging me any more.

Gopher Hole: What do you know about the International Bowl that is being held next Wednesday?

Andre McDonald: I know that they have been doing it for a few years and they bring the top 50 quote, un-quote players from the United States to play against the top 50 players from around the World. I know that it is going to be fun. I am going to have fun.
 

GopherInPittsburgh said:
I'm guessing it was during October for breast cancer awareness month. On a side note, I have a feeling this will be the class that puts Minnesota back on the map.
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Agree - this is the class that can build this program. By the way - Kill can freakin recruit.
 

GopherInPittsburgh said:
I'm guessing it was during October for breast cancer awareness month.
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Yeah, I just didn't know if there was something personal about it as he seems to be the only one on the team wearing the pink socks. Didn't know if he had/has someone close to him with breast cancer or something.
 

Thats great news, I thought he may have fell in love with Cali. This recruting class is looking pretty solid, coach Kill locking down the borders.
 

What a great night. Really looking forward to seeing Kill's continued momentum.
 


GopherVotary said:
When he decommitted from us, he was villified by some posters. I guess he's OK now.
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Curious that one major contributor who led the vilifiers has been noticeably silent on this change of heart by Andre. Especially, since the guy fancies himself a recruiting guru.
 



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