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MplsGopher

MplsGopher

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OK, stay with me for a second. Someone tell me I'm crazy and this is likely nothing. Or ... is it possible this is something, for some weird reason??

The thing: some of the players, who aren't true freshmen, don't have anything showing for the 2019 season in their roster bios. So what, you ask? Well, a lot of the players do. Even players who didn't see the field much. For example, Malcom Robinson, a seldom used backup DT says "2019 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Made collegiate debut against Maryland. "

These are the players who don't have anything for 2019:

Zack Annexstad
Jornell Brooks
Anders Gelecinskyj (walk-on? punter)
Erik Gibson
Trenton Guthrie
Bishop McDonald (walk-on? DB xfer from UMD)
Sam Pickerign (walk-on QB way down on depth chart)
Kyle Sassack
True Thompson (walk-on? JUCO transfer)
Michael Vojvodich (walk-on? long snapper)


Additional evidence: on the TV broadcast of the game yesterday, there was a moment where they showed Sassack standing next to Faalele and was not dressed for the game. Could be injured of course. But an alternative theory would be that he already told Fleck he's transferring, and Fleck wanted him to come down and experience the bowl game but that he wouldn't allowed to play.


In the scholarship numbers thread, I think we figured out that we need to clear 9 more guys (in addition to seniors leaving) to be able to sign a full 25 class. That assumes Winfield comes back as well.

If this is correct, then the above would appear to clear five scholarships. Could look to clear four more after spring ball.
 
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I'd be pretty surprised if Annexstad left. Seems as if he always wanted to be a Gopher and at worst, he'd be lining up to at least be the starter his senior year. Plus, as the backup, you are only a play away from being the #1 again.

On the other side of the coin, if he really feels he wants to be THE guy somewhere, he could transfer. But I'm sure he'd still have to sit a year and then have 2 to play.

I almost think it would be more likely he would stay next year and be the backup and finish his degree in 3.5 years (he enrolled early) and then grad transfer with 2 years to play immediately.
 

WriterGoph said:
I'd be pretty surprised if Annexstad left. Seems as if he always wanted to be a Gopher and at worst, he'd be lining up to at least be the starter his senior year. Plus, as the backup, you are only a play away from being the #1 again.

On the other side of the coin, if he really feels he wants to be THE guy somewhere, he could transfer. But I'm sure he'd still have to sit a year and then have 2 to play.

I almost think it would be more likely he would stay next year and be the backup and finish his degree in 3.5 years (he enrolled early) and then grad transfer with 2 years to play immediately.
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This is probably correct on paper about ZA, regardless.

Just wondering what you think about the roster thing? Just a weird blip that means nothing?
 

Yeah, not sure what to make of that. There definitely could be something to your theory. The following scholarship guys have been either ravaged by injuries so far and/or are playing a position where there is probably not a lot of playing time in the future for them (between what we already have on the roster and what we just signed with this class):

Jornell Brooks - had a bad injury his first year and we are stacked at WR with Bateman, CAB, Douglas, Nnamdi and then Daniel Jackson and Jonathan Mann coming in
Erik Gibson - Pretty sure for the 2nd year he had an injury that took his season away; I remember seeing him mentioned as someone who was looking good, but depending on the injuries, who knows
Trenton Guthrie - Haven't seem him mentioned in the LB rotation and we have Mariano, Oliver, Rush, Gordon and Willis as the apparent top 5
Kyle Sassack - Not a lot of opportunity coming on the OL in the next couple years, especially if he feels he is behind Guedet
 

WriterGoph said:
I almost think it would be more likely he would stay next year and be the backup and finish his degree in 3.5 years (he enrolled early) and then grad transfer with 2 years to play immediately.
Click to expand...
The flip side to this would be the following thinking:

“I’m already most likely not playing in 2020 anyway. Do I want to ride the bench at Minnesota, or do I want to get a year head start at the new school, learning their system, coaches, teammates, etc before competing in 2021?”
 


I was thinking about this last night before I went to bed.
You almost need to move Zack Annexstad out just to keep Clark (and Kramer) at this point.
Clark is going to need some assurances if you want him to stay and being behind TM is enough to make you lose interest.

I always though Zack might be a longer term coaching assistant after he's done here, but for the first time since he's arrived, I have the feeling he could be transferring out.
 

MplsGopher said:
The flip side to this would be the following thinking:

“I’m already most likely not playing in 2020 anyway. Do I want to ride the bench at Minnesota, or do I want to get a year head start at the new school, learning their system, coaches, teammates, etc before competing in 2021?”
Click to expand...

Yep, this is also very possible. I guess I don't see him not getting playing time as #2 next season. Obviously we didn't really have the luxury of bringing in an experienced guy this year, but I think ZA would get more snaps next year. Which in turn would show his capabilities to other schools. Otherwise, he is transferring after not playing in a game for 1.5 seasons and it will have to be based on his potential.

All this said, I really hope ZA doesn't transfer.
 

Face The Facts said:
I was thinking about this last night before I went to bed.
You almost need to move Zack Annexstad out just to keep Clark (and Kramer) at this point.
Clark is going to need some assurances if you want him to stay and being behind TM is enough to make you lose interest.

I always though Zack might be a longer term coaching assistant after he's done here, but for the first time since he's arrived, I have the feeling he could be transferring out.
Click to expand...

Knowing PJ, there will definitely be a competition for the #2 spot between all 3 of them. I don't think he is going to anoint Clark the #2 (on measurables/potential) just to keep him engaged. He will go with whoever wins the job and he feels can keep the team moving forward without skipping much of a beat if something happened to Tanner. As much as Clark and Kramer are the new, shiny things at QB, let's remember that ZA has been with his teammates for coming up on 2 years. He knows the system and has buy-in as a leader. If one of the younger guys beats out ZA for the #2 spot, then so be it. But if he is the #2 and one of them transfers, then that's the way the cookie crumbles. We will always be bringing in new talent at QB to challenge for playing time. This is a new age of Gopher football with a highly desired offense to play in.
 




Not everyone transfers for playing time though. Some guys surely realize they don’t have a nfl future, but love being part of the team and going to school here. Those kids will just play things out at as career backups.
 

btowngopher said:
The ones with no bios just means they didn’t see any game action at all.
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This is possible! Makes sense because some true freshmen also have nothing for 2019.

Surprising that Sassack didn’t get any time at all this year, though. You’d think Rutgers and Maryland? Even Dickson got in. Unless he’s been battling injuries all year, in which case the non-dressed makes sense.


Thanks, this is probably the correct answer. So much for my far-flung idea.
 

You know what's cool? If we found out tomorrow that any of the QBs not named Morgan is transferring, my response would be, "Bummer, but there's a starter in place and plenty of talent on the roster -- and a big time recruit coming in a year."

Past years...couldn't really say that.
 

MGGopher said:
You know what's cool? If we found out tomorrow that any of the QBs not named Morgan is transferring, my response would be, "Bummer, but there's a starter in place and plenty of talent on the roster -- and a big time recruit coming in a year."

Past years...couldn't really say that.
Click to expand...

I'd much rather have Annexstad's experience as a backup next year than putting it on Kramer or Clark right away.
 



MplsGopher said:
OK, stay with me for a second. Someone tell me I'm crazy and this is likely nothing. Or ... is it possible this is something, for some weird reason??

The thing: some of the players, who aren't true freshmen, don't have anything showing for the 2019 season in their roster bios. So what, you ask? Well, a lot of the players do. Even players who didn't see the field much. For example, Malcom Robinson, a seldom used backup DT says "2019 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Made collegiate debut against Maryland. "

These are the players who don't have anything for 2019:

Zack Annexstad
Jornell Brooks
Anders Gelecinskyj (walk-on? punter)
Erik Gibson
Trenton Guthrie
Bishop McDonald (walk-on? DB xfer from UMD)
Sam Pickerign (walk-on QB way down on depth chart)
Kyle Sassack
True Thompson (walk-on? JUCO transfer)
Michael Vojvodich (walk-on? long snapper)


Additional evidence: on the TV broadcast of the game yesterday, there was a moment where they showed Sassack standing next to Faalele and was not dressed for the game. Could be injured of course. But an alternative theory would be that he already told Fleck he's transferring, and Fleck wanted him to come down and experience the bowl game but that he wouldn't allowed to play.


In the scholarship numbers thread, I think we figured out that we need to clear 9 more guys (in addition to seniors leaving) to be able to sign a full 25 class. That assumes Winfield comes back as well.

If this is correct, then the above would appear to clear five scholarships. Could look to clear four more after spring ball.
Click to expand...

Means nothing.
 

btowngopher said:
Not everyone transfers for playing time though. Some guys surely realize they don’t have a nfl future, but love being part of the team and going to school here. Those kids will just play things out at as career backups.
Click to expand...

Annexstad is from Minnesota & has a brother on the roster. He turned down power five schollies to walk-on for PJ Fleck. He won the starting job as a Freshman (if memory serves?) and by many accounts was leading the QB competition in Fall camp before he got injured. In my mind he would not be #2, but #1B & I'd be shocked if he didn't get game snaps. I just don't see him leaving.
 

Heaven forbid, if Tanner went down to injury, I don't think there's much of a drop-off with ZA in the game. He needs to stay here....its the nature of the beast.
 

Some guys don't transfer because they like their school and teammates and want to get their degree. Sure that's rare.
 

Don't forget that you need practice squad players littered with understudies and backups to backups. These are important depth chart players. Injuries are opportunities for the next man up.

It is hard to imagine MN players like the Annexstads, legacy player Cole Kramer wanting to leave. But, you never know what ambitions and motivations backup buried in the depth chart players have.

Competition for depth chart players have become stiff that injuries can knock you out of your starting rotation spot.

Take for instance Bryce Witham. He is not a sexy type of player like Seth Green who everyone hears about because of his role as a wildcat artist. He red shirted in 2015. In 2016, he played in eight games but did not record any stats. He played in the first four games in 2017 before sustaining a season ending injury.

In his 2018 Sophomore season, he played in 11 games and was used primarily as a blocker. He caught three passes for a total of 79 yards.

This season, he started in the SDSU, Fresno State, and Ritgers. He is primarily a blocker, but he caught two game changing plays against Auburn scoring a TD in one, and caught a pass late in the game for a critical first down.

I call him the quiet assassin.

He was granted a sixth year due to his injuries. This is a player you don't hear much about because he is primarily a blocker and a real team guy. You certainly don't want him transferring. We will hear from him in the next two years. He is nothing sexy, but reliable and can impact the game at the right moment. He is a real dangerous type of player because no one hears from him he surprises teams at the key critical moments.
 


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