Four star visitors: Josh Huff and Ethan Grant

Handsome Pete

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Looks like Huff and Grant are coming in on consecutive weeks. Is it one or the other? Is there any way we land both? We have plenty to offer at the RB position. Lack of depth (let's be honest) on the roster and a developing OL?
 

plenty of room for two studs to see the field and one of them should be able to see time as a freshman if warranted. Lets be honest...its a long shot that we will ever see Lipscomb wear maroon at this point.
 

I'd be pumped to get either; or both. Again, definite opportunity for playing time. One of these two plus Henderson and B Allen and wow - anything else would be gravy (just from a PR perspective - getting the top players in the state). That's a dream scenario, but isn't it fun to dream?
 

I honestly don't think we would take both. Both are smaller change of pace backs (like Whaley) and we aren't running the spread offense anymore. There is still a place for this type of back in the offense but we don't need more change of pace backs than we have workhorses.
 

I honestly don't think we would take both. Both are smaller change of pace backs (like Whaley) and we aren't running the spread offense anymore. There is still a place for this type of back in the offense but we don't need more change of pace backs than we have workhorses.

We have neither workhorses nor healthy change of pace backs, so anyone with talent is welcome in my book. The closest we have for the former is DeLeon Eskridge who was average at best last year (albeit he was a true frosh). The best we have of the latter is Whaley, who has been on crutches until recently and may still be on them.
 


We have neither workhorses nor healthy change of pace backs, so anyone with talent is welcome in my book. The closest we have for the former is DeLeon Eskridge who was average at best last year (albeit he was a true frosh). The best we have of the latter is Whaley, who has been on crutches until recently and may still be on them.

Actually Bennett is the best workhorse back that we have followed by Eskridge who is still undersized to be a workhorse.

In this recruiting class we have commitments from two bigger workhorse type backs (Edwards & Kirkwood).

For change of pace backs we already have Whaley who is healthy (he had turf toe this fall but that is minor) and has been off crutches for a long time. Did you miss him playing in the spring game? At the time he could run but still walked with a noticeable limp. He no longer walks with that noticeable limp.

It just doesn't make sense to me to add two change of pace backs in the same class so I think the coaches are going after both and hoping to land one.

You're free to form your own opinion.
 

Grunk I'm usually right with you, but in this case i'm not. When did it ever make sense not to want a 4 star in Minnesota for any reason? I'll take them if they want to be here, i have a feeling if they don't get enough reps they'll find another postion that they would.
 

get athletes, find positions for them later. I'm convinced Eskridge will end his career as a safety and guys can be moved to WR or DB to get them on the field
 

Rivals shows Huff committed to Utah, has he changed plans? Or is he just seeing what else is out there (much like Grant)?
 



In this recruiting class we have commitments from two bigger workhorse type backs (Edwards & Kirkwood).


I don't think that I have seen anyone verify this for sure. Was Edwards recruited as a RB or as an LB?
 

Grunk I'm usually right with you, but in this case i'm not. When did it ever make sense not to want a 4 star in Minnesota for any reason? I'll take them if they want to be here, i have a feeling if they don't get enough reps they'll find another postion that they would.

I second Schnoodler (and I count on Grunk and Johnny Gopher for skinny): You take the best athletes you can get, even if they are at the same position. There is such a thing as changing positions, and most of these guys are such good athletes that they play both offense and defense in high school anyway (or at least moonlight when needed).

And sorry, I haven't seen anything from Whaley, and given the fact he has been hurt since before he even got here, how can he be counted on to stay healthy when he starts actually getting hit?

The Gophs have plenty of room for good running backs. Bennett is solid, but I don't see Eskridge or Salamon as legit starting Big 10 running backs and I don't have much faith in Whaley staying healthy at this point. So again, plenty of room here boys.

Lets hope that we are in a position to "take them" vs. them "choosing us"!
 


Rivals shows Huff committed to Utah, has he changed plans? Or is he just seeing what else is out there (much like Grant)?

They list him as a soft verbal, like Grant.
 



I thought I had read somewhere that Eskridge had beefed up a bit. I'm not ready to give up on Eskridge. I thought he looked alright at times last season and he seems to have some pretty good instincts although he ran tentatively at times last season.

I think he and Bennett could give us a solid, if workmanlike, 1-2 this season. It ain't the days of Barber and Maroney, but I think they can do the job.
 

I second Schnoodler (and I count on Grunk and Johnny Gopher for skinny): You take the best athletes you can get, even if they are at the same position. There is such a thing as changing positions, and most of these guys are such good athletes that they play both offense and defense in high school anyway (or at least moonlight when needed).

Teams target numbers at positions all the time. One of our top targets at a different position has already had an offer pulled by another school because they targeted taking two players at the position and they already got two commitments.

We passed up a late qualifier 4* RB last year so it isn't like there is no basis for my belief. If we are fortunate enough to get a commitment from one I think it encourages the coaches to work harder for players that have a different running style or at other positions. Obviously both Grant & Huff are great athletes with elite speed and good hips so I think either one could make a good CB. We very well could take both (that would be nice) with the understanding that one will be moved to another position but I don't see the coaches taking both players at RB. It is just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt.

And sorry, I haven't seen anything from Whaley, and given the fact he has been hurt since before he even got here, how can he be counted on to stay healthy when he starts actually getting hit?

I'm sorry but I just can't connect someone getting shot with a player being injury prone. If there are complications connected to the shooting that makes him more susceptible to injury I am unaware of it. His injury was very unique and had nothing to do with football and there is very little chance he suffers the same injury on the football field (if they start filming The Last Boyscout II at the U of M campus I'll be a little more worried).
 

I thought I had read somewhere that Eskridge had beefed up a bit. I'm not ready to give up on Eskridge. I thought he looked alright at times last season and he seems to have some pretty good instincts although he ran tentatively at times last season.

I think he and Bennett could give us a solid, if workmanlike, 1-2 this season. It ain't the days of Barber and Maroney, but I think they can do the job.

Eskridge is bigger but he is still only about 195-200. At his height 210-215 would be a better size for him and he'll probably be up to that weight as a junior. Eskridge has as good of balance as any RB that we've had at Minnesota in the last 10 years not named Barber but he does run tentatively at times and doesn't hit a hole quickly enough which is why Bennett is #1 on the depth chart.
 

I honestly don't think we would take both. Both are smaller change of pace backs (like Whaley) and we aren't running the spread offense anymore. There is still a place for this type of back in the offense but we don't need more change of pace backs than we have workhorses.

But just think, we could amass enough of these little guys and throw them at the opposing defenses like Sidewinder missiles! I just want guys like this so I can continue to read topics where adjectives like "terribly violent" are used to describe their running styles. It makes me giggle.
 

Teams target numbers at positions all the time. One of our top targets at a different position has already had an offer pulled by another school because they targeted taking two players at the position and they already got two commitments.

We passed up a late qualifier 4* RB last year so it isn't like there is no basis for my belief. If we are fortunate enough to get a commitment from one I think it encourages the coaches to work harder for players that have a different running style or at other positions. Obviously both Grant & Huff are great athletes with elite speed and good hips so I think either one could make a good CB. We very well could take both (that would be nice) with the understanding that one will be moved to another position but I don't see the coaches taking both players at RB. It is just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt.

I'm sorry but I just can't connect someone getting shot with a player being injury prone. If there are complications connected to the shooting that makes him more susceptible to injury I am unaware of it. His injury was very unique and had nothing to do with football and there is very little chance he suffers the same injury on the football field (if they start filming The Last Boyscout II at the U of M campus I'll be a little more worried).

I don't know anything about Whaley other than he wasn't able to practice full-speed for at least the beginning part of last year and hasn't practiced full-speed for the majority of camp this year (hamstring, right? tends to linger, especially for runners). The issue isn't how he was injured, but the time/experience missed from being injured.

Believe me, I would love for Whaley to be a dynamic runner for us and play in every game, but if he's not on the field, he's not on the field - shot, Guitar Hero injury, slipped getting out of the shower, it doesn't matter. In one respect, college isn't different than the NFL - durability is key. If you can't be on the field, the team will go with someone else who can.

So, that being said - here's to Whaley and Bennett hopefully rushing for over 2000 yards combined. Cheers!
 


I don't know anything about Whaley other than he wasn't able to practice full-speed for at least the beginning part of last year and hasn't practiced full-speed for the majority of camp this year (hamstring, right? tends to linger, especially for runners). The issue isn't how he was injured, but the time/experience missed from being injured.

Believe me, I would love for Whaley to be a dynamic runner for us and play in every game, but if he's not on the field, he's not on the field - shot, Guitar Hero injury, slipped getting out of the shower, it doesn't matter. In one respect, college isn't different than the NFL - durability is key. If you can't be on the field, the team will go with someone else who can.

So, that being said - here's to Whaley and Bennett hopefully rushing for over 2000 yards combined. Cheers!

Whaley practiced at full speed for most of fall camp. He just happened to suffer a sprained toe/turf toe two days prior to the scrimmage so he missed that. In addition, Whaley was running with the first team for a lot of spring practice because Bennett was limited to non-contact drills, Eskridge was hampered for part of the spring, and Salamon suffered a concussion and missed part of the spring and the spring game.

Shady Salamon has been the RB that has missed a lot of camp with a hamstring injury.
 


Dang, what 4* did we pass up last year? I wish we had him right now.

Exactly - think that guy would be in the mix now?

You can't predict injuries, transfers, ineligibility, etc., etc (Lipscomb?). Don't the Gophs have 26 schollies this year (or something like that)? I'm not saying you use twenty of them on the top 20 running backs in the country, but you certainly have room for another top running back or two if they are willing/able.

If a need for a big work-horse back isn't fulfilled, then address it the next year. There's no gaurantee you'll get one, but there's certainly no gaurantee you'll have an opportunity for two more top rated backs either.
 

"And sorry, I haven't seen anything from Whaley, and given the fact he has been hurt since before he even got here, how can he be counted on to stay healthy when he starts actually getting hit?"

Given that his only serious injury was being shot in the leg, why should we assume that he won't stay healthy?

He is a very good athlete, and as a change of pace back as Grunkie has suggested, he gives us a unique threat out of the backfield. After seeing the highlights of his play in the spring game, you could see that he has a great combination of speed, hands and elusiveness.

That's not to say that we shouldn't go after ANOTHER guy who has those same skills -- but if both Bennett and Whaley stay healthy (with Eskridge as a solid backup), and the OL is able to be consistent, our running game will be just fine.

Here's a potentially fun and dangerous offensive package as a change of pace to give opposing DC's headaches:

QB: Gray
RB: Whaley
WR: Decker, Allen, Carpenter, Stoudemire

With that group on the field, we've got six guys who could potentially score whenever they touch the ball (although Decker is least likely to score by breaking tackles and just running away from the D). They could even start Whaley out in the backfield, and then put him in motion out as a 5th WR, and probably get at least one mismatch against a LB/S to expose.

Ah, it's fun to dream...
 

"And sorry, I haven't seen anything from Whaley, and given the fact he has been hurt since before he even got here, how can he be counted on to stay healthy when he starts actually getting hit?"

Given that his only serious injury was being shot in the leg, why should we assume that he won't stay healthy?

He is a very good athlete, and as a change of pace back as Grunkie has suggested, he gives us a unique threat out of the backfield. After seeing the highlights of his play in the spring game, you could see that he has a great combination of speed, hands and elusiveness.

That's not to say that we shouldn't go after ANOTHER guy who has those same skills -- but if both Bennett and Whaley stay healthy (with Eskridge as a solid backup), and the OL is able to be consistent, our running game will be just fine.

Here's a potentially fun and dangerous offensive package as a change of pace to give opposing DC's headaches:

QB: Gray
RB: Whaley
WR: Decker, Allen, Carpenter, Stoudemire

With that group on the field, we've got six guys who could potentially score whenever they touch the ball (although Decker is least likely to score by breaking tackles and just running away from the D). They could even start Whaley out in the backfield, and then put him in motion out as a 5th WR, and probably get at least one mismatch against a LB/S to expose.

Ah, it's fun to dream...

Exactly.

And I'm not saying they shouldn't recruit Grant & Huff because we have Whaley. I'm saying once they land one of them (if we're lucky enough) there are other areas to focus on.
 

I'd still like to know what exactly happened with Ward. According to Rivals, he had an offer from "the":rolleyes: Ohio State University, and he ends up going to Tennessee St? Something just doesn't pass the smell test.
 

"And sorry, I haven't seen anything from Whaley, and given the fact he has been hurt since before he even got here, how can he be counted on to stay healthy when he starts actually getting hit?"

Given that his only serious injury was being shot in the leg, why should we assume that he won't stay healthy?

He is a very good athlete, and as a change of pace back as Grunkie has suggested, he gives us a unique threat out of the backfield. After seeing the highlights of his play in the spring game, you could see that he has a great combination of speed, hands and elusiveness.

That's not to say that we shouldn't go after ANOTHER guy who has those same skills -- but if both Bennett and Whaley stay healthy (with Eskridge as a solid backup), and the OL is able to be consistent, our running game will be just fine.

Here's a potentially fun and dangerous offensive package as a change of pace to give opposing DC's headaches:

QB: Gray
RB: Whaley
WR: Decker, Allen, Carpenter, Stoudemire

With that group on the field, we've got six guys who could potentially score whenever they touch the ball (although Decker is least likely to score by breaking tackles and just running away from the D). They could even start Whaley out in the backfield, and then put him in motion out as a 5th WR, and probably get at least one mismatch against a LB/S to expose.

Ah, it's fun to dream...

And I'm not saying they shouldn't recruit Grant & Huff because we have Whaley. I'm saying once they land one of them (if we're lucky enough) there are other areas to focus on.[/QUOTE]

This is my last post on this topic, but apparently I have not been clear on my point - it's not just injuries that remove a player from a lineup; it could be any number of things. You don't know what is going to happen week to week, much less year to year. Thus, if two top (talent we can't pass up) running backs want to come here that warrant scholarships and we have as many scholarships available as we apparently do, you take them!

It doesn't appear that we need a Quarterback next year (Weber, Grey, and Alipate return), but we've already recruited one (Parrish). Since Weber was a freshman starter at the time, and we had Clint Brewster coming, should we not have recruited M. Grey? If we hadn't, we'd be looking at a true freshman as our number 2 QB right now.

It wouldn't appear that we need more O linemen for next year given what we have coming back and the freshmen that are already here, but we've already recruited three more and are trying to get a certain one other (I think he plays for a private school in St. Paul). Or, since we already have these other linemen, should we not recruit this other certain person? Of course you do! Talent is talent and you take it when you can get it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, the Gophers did not "pass" on Ward because he was a smallish back like Whaley or Bennett, but rather because it didn't appear he would qualify, isn't that right?

I hope Whaley turns out great, but c'mon - with as many schollies we have, I think we would make room for another great running back (if in fact the coaches believe both these guys are great) if that guy wanted to come here. And before we anoint Whaley as being someone who provides a whole new dynamic to the offense, can we at least see it in a game (much less a season)?

For the last time - I HOPE IT HAPPENS, but I haven't even seen him play a D1 game (and neither has anybody else) so I for one am not ready to confidently say it will.

Recruit talent, and take it when its willing and able!
 

If we hadn't, we'd be looking at a true freshman as our number 2 QB right now.

Doubtful. It is likely that Pittman would be our backup QB, or that Nance would not have left if we didn't have Gray. Or both.
 


Doubtful. It is likely that Pittman would be our backup QB, or that Nance would not have left if we didn't have Gray. Or both.

Would you feel good about Pittman or Nance as our #2 QB? I definitely wouldn't be as comfortable as I feel today.
 

Would you take Pittman or Nance over Gray?

Um, no??? Where did I say that? All I said was that Alipate would not be our backup QB if we had not recruited Gray. Your if-then supposition is far too simplistic, and incorrect.

By the way, I thought that was your "last post on the topic.":clap:

Would you feel good about Pittman or Nance as our #2 QB? I definitely wouldn't be as comfortable as I feel today.

Again, no. I did not say I wished for that scenario. I'm just saying he is factually incorrect when he states that our backup would be a true freshman.
 




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