Derrick Engel

[btowngopher]

I wonder if he earned himself a scholarship with his play this year. I think and DCT have the ability to vertically stretch the field with their size and speed. I know a lot of people continue to say we need play makers at wr, which I agree to an extent. I think we could really use an athletic slot guy, but I think Fruechte, DCT, and Engel are pretty solid on the outside. Better QB play and a more consistent running game would help them out.

 

[Hates Monikers]

If you want to have a strong walk-on program, and you want walk-ons to believe Kill that it's possible to earn a scholarship, then Engel pretty much needs to get one, especially with Barker gone. I don't know what else he'd have to do.

 

[paulser21]

I think we could really use an athletic slot guy

Marcus Jones, Jamel Harbison, KJ Maye.

 

[gopherMD]

If Engel does not get a scholarship something is very wrong. He is as productive as any WR on the roster and has good size and speed. If he does not get a scholarship he could walk like his roommate Barker. That would be a PR nightmare.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

I think there is a decent chance that he'll eventually get a scholarship, once the season starts. However, there is virtually no chance that he'll receive one prior to signing day.

I think some people (including obviously AJ Barker) are a little confused about what is normal and how scholarships are usually handed out to walk-on players. For instance, Abbrederis didn't get one at WI following his FR season, a season which he had 20 rec - 289 yards and 3 TDs. His SO season, he was a walk-on.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

If Engel does not get a scholarship something is very wrong. He is as productive as any WR on the roster and has good size and speed. If he does not get a scholarship he could walk like his roommate Barker. That would be a PR nightmare.

I think the AJ Barker nonsense has skewed people's ideas of what is the normal protocol of when WO usually receive scholarships.

It probably would be a PR nightmare if another Barker situation happened, however, that would be because our local media is completely clueless to college athletics.

I have no problem with Engel receiving a scholarship, but a player in his position is FAR from guranteed to become a scholarship player. The standard idea is that if someone is a full time starter / difference maker, they deserve a scholarship. Christenson won't be on scholarship next year, Mottla and Bak weren't on scholarship this year, Mike Henry wasn't on scholarship. . .if Engel obviously deserves a scholarship, all of these players obviously deserve a scholarship. So are we really going to give a scholarship to every walk-on player who contributes? You can make an argument that is a wise decision. However, it would be far different than the average walk-on program and not adopting such a strategy SHOULDN'T be a PR nightmare. However, you're right, with the dolts writing in the papers around here, it probably would.

 

[Killjoy]

If Engel does not get a scholarship something is very wrong. He is as productive as any WR on the roster and has good size and speed. If he does not get a scholarship he could walk like his roommate Barker. That would be a PR nightmare.

Maybe Engel needs to post a 4,000 word "essay" on why he deserves a scholarship. That should seal the deal.

 

[maroon and gold]

I think there is a decent chance that he'll eventually get a scholarship, once the season starts. However, there is virtually no chance that he'll receive one prior to signing day.

I think some people (including obviously AJ Barker) are a little confused about what is normal and how scholarships are usually handed out to walk-on players. For instance, Abbrederis didn't get one at WI following his FR season, a season which he had 20 rec - 289 yards and 3 TDs. His SO season, he was a walk-on.

You're right, but a little disappointing. They'd rather pay for a pig-in-the-poke than a proven commodity. I still don't blame Barker for leaving - it's just a business. Did Barker get offered a schollie at UH.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

You're right, but a little disappointing. They'd rather pay for a pig-in-the-poke than a proven commodity. I still don't blame Barker for leaving - it's just a business. Did Barker get offered a schollie at UH.

It's also a matter of wasting scholarships. Now, I'm not saying that giving Engel a scholarship would be a waste. However, what would you rather have: Engel + recruit or just Engel?

If you wait to give Engel one of the scholarships that will very likely open up after signing day, you get both. For instance, this year I believe we lost three players AFTER signing day and there scholarships (I'm sure) ended up with some walk-on guys. It's just how this works.

Yep, Barker did get a scholarship offer from Houston. I also don't blame a kid who leaves for a scholarship, I do think Barker was insane for complaining about not getting a scholarship for this season (he had 2 career catches) and was ignorant to cry about not getting one guranteed. All in all, I don't blame him for leaving and on a personal level, I'm glad he won't be on the team next year.

 

[matt]

How long until the local media writes the article saying that Engel needs to be awarded a scholarship yesterday? I predict this article will be written by the end of the week in a biting, negative tone and will make no mention of how walk-on scholarships are handled.

 

[Uffda]

Engel is Very Good Athlete

I wonder if he earned himself a scholarship with his play this year. I think and DCT have the ability to vertically stretch the field with their size and speed. I know a lot of people continue to say we need play makers at wr, which I agree to an extent. I think we could really use an athletic slot guy, but I think Fruechte, DCT, and Engel are pretty solid on the outside. Better QB play and a more consistent running game would help them out.

I agree with this assessment of the Receivers. Derrick actually was the slot receiver most of the season behind Marcus Jones until Marcus was injured. He also was the backup punt returner behind Michael Carter. He may be the primary punt returner next season. He has an excellent vertical jump and can be abig play guy with DCT. He deserves a scholarship!

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

How long until the local media writes the article saying that Engel needs to be awarded a scholarship yesterday? I predict this article will be written by the end of the week in a biting, negative tone and will make no mention of how walk-on scholarships are handled.[/QUOTE]


. . .by someone who has absolutely no idea how walk ons are handled by almost every coaching staff in the country.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

I agree with this assessment of the Receivers. Derrick actually was the slot receiver most of the season behind Marcus Jones until Marcus was injured. He also was the backup punt returner behind Michael Carter. He may be the primary punt returner next season. He has an excellent vertical jump and can be abig play guy with DCT. He deserves a scholarship!

He is a good athlete and I think he will be our primary return guy next year (KO and Punt). I also think of him more as a slot WR than anything, it'll be fun seeing how they use him next year.

 

[nsmike]

I'm pretty sure that Engel gets a scholarship, the question is, does he get one for spring semester? I don't think that the coaching staff is in a position to give a scholarship before National Signing Day. I think that after spring practice, there will be some transfers that will free up a couple of one year scholarships, for walk ons.

 

[pharmacygopher]

I'm pretty sure that Engel gets a scholarship, the question is, does he get one for spring semester? I don't think that the coaching staff is in a position to give a scholarship before National Signing Day. I think that after spring practice, there will be some transfers that will free up a couple of one year scholarships, for walk ons.

This...and guess who probably would have been high on the list, if not first,.....Barker.....

 

[Winnipegopher]

I don't know about the numbers etc. but at what point does the coaching staff start thanking certain scholarship players for their services and then asking them to move on. Keise and Orsesk come to mind as guys who have been Gophers for 4 years and not done much. There are others.

PS Is there anyway to know who is on scholarship. There were rumours on here that Orseske got his pulled at the end of the 2011 season.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

This...and guess who probably would have been high on the list, if not first,.....Barker.....

Yep.

There is a slight chance that Kill might not have wanted to reward the kind of person who would throw an all out hissy fit over being told to ice his injured ankle.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

Maybe it's just me or I'm nit-picking but Engel does some odd things catching the football. More often than not he leaves his feet to make a catch, even if its at chest level, things like that. Against TTU on his longer catch he completely turned around and caught it running backwards rather than slowing a little and catching it in stride.

Like I said, maybe it's minor but he frequently doesn't catch it fluidly and it probably costs him some YAC. Just the same, he had a really really good year and makes some solid contributions.

 

[pharmacygopher]

Yep.

There is a slight chance that Kill might not have wanted to reward the kind of person who would throw an all out hissy fit over being told to ice his injured ankle.

I'm not sure if we're agreeing or disagreeing?? I was saying that if Barker would have just kept his mouth shut and gone upon his business and not been a dumbass....he'd probably/might be on scholarship in the fall....

 

[btowngopher]

I don't know about the numbers etc. but at what point does the coaching staff start thanking certain scholarship players for their services and then asking them to move on. Keise and Orsesk come to mind as guys who have been Gophers for 4 years and not done much. There are others.

PS Is there anyway to know who is on scholarship. There were rumours on here that Orseske got his pulled at the end of the 2011 season.

I'm sure Kill would take a fair amount of criticism if he were to pull scholarships based on production. I don't think that is a common practice.

 

[Parski1]

In 2014 Engle will be the Barker of this year....but he won't be a little b!tch and he will play football.

 

[Killjoy]

I'm sure Kill would take a fair amount of criticism if he were to pull scholarships based on production. I don't think that is a common practice.

I may be wrong but I thought I read somewhere that you can no longer pull scholarships in the Big Ten. I believe that was already the practice for almost all of the Big Ten teams and Minnesota is now subject to this rule.

 

[Winnipegopher]

I may be wrong but I thought I read somewhere that you can no longer pull scholarships in the Big Ten. I believe that was already the practice for almost all of the Big Ten teams and Minnesota is now subject to this rule.

Is it pulling a scholarship if they have already received 4 years of benefits?

PS I think you are a little naive, pretty much every D-1 coach gets rid of players every year.

 

[pharmacygopher]

Let me start by saying I don't know...haha. But I thought that every scholarship was technically a one year scholarship and the 4 years scholarship just started?? I definitely don't know the ins and outs, so maybe someone can fill in the gaps....

 

[wait!what?]

there are numerous benefits to just being on the team. For some athletes who can afford an education having the scholarship is probably similar to having an office with a door in our world.

 

[Killjoy]

Is it pulling a scholarship if they have already received 4 years of benefits?

PS I think you are a little naive, pretty much every D-1 coach gets rid of players every year.

Good question but I have no idea what the answer is.

As far as your second point that I might be a little naive my response to that one of the more interesting comments Kill made when he got here was that there were several people on scholarships who shouldn't have never received one. One of the reasons for that is Brewster ended up giving out several questionable scholarships in the year before he got fired because he couldn't fill the class. Included in this are two WR that are still here and will be juniors next year. I doubt that they will ever contribute much to the program. Another of Kill's comment at that time is that it was much easy for Barry Alvarez to rebuild Wisconsin because when he took over the program you could pull scholarships and that what he did. What Jerry has tried to do is let some players know that it may be better if they find a better fit and that he will help them do that but it still up to the player to make that decision. Take a look at next year's senior and junior class and I bet you can pick out half a dozen players that the coach would be happy to help them find another school. I suspect most of them don't want to give up their free ride at this point but I am sure Jerry has discussed options with them.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Is it pulling a scholarship if they have already received 4 years of benefits?

PS I think you are a little naive, pretty much every D-1 coach gets rid of players every year.

Of course it's still pulling a scholarship. The deal is that the player will stay at the school until their eligibility is up. A lot of players set up their schedules so that they'll graduate in 4.5 or in the summer before school starts.

Getting rid of players for purely athletic reasons isn't that common. You can just look at the amount of seniors on big programs who aren't getting a ton of PT, you don't think there is more incentive for a guy like Saban to "cut" those players than here at MN? Saban could replace those players with really highley rated recruits every single year, superstars of college football.

You simply don't see it very often and you shouldn't.

 

[cncmin]

How long until the local media writes the article saying that Engel needs to be awarded a scholarship yesterday? I predict this article will be written by the end of the week in a biting, negative tone and will make no mention of how walk-on scholarships are handled.[/QUOTE]


. . .by someone who has absolutely no idea how walk ons are handled by almost every coaching staff in the country.

Which uninformed TC sports sensationalist do you suppose will jump on this first? Doogie? Reusse? Souhan?

 

[Gopherprof]

I think some people (including obviously AJ Barker) are a little confused about what is normal and how scholarships are usually handed out to walk-on players. For instance, Abbrederis didn't get one at WI following his FR season, a season which he had 20 rec - 289 yards and 3 TDs. His SO season, he was a walk-on.

Baker was a redshirt Junior, and Engel will be a senior.

 

[nsmike]

Most walk-ons,that get scholarships, get them in their senior years. In any case a player has to be with the program for two years before getting a scholarship that doesn't count against the 25 scholarship a year total. After two years any scholarship is only counted towards the 85 scholarship total.