Coach Jerry Kill’s comments – primarily this year’s recruiting class – on the Sports Huddle are as follows:
1) Sid asked for Kill’s thoughts on this year’s recruiting class: Kill sounded excited in his response. “We feel good about it . . . Our kids have done a good job recruiting . . . They’re our best recruiters.”
Kill said team members would tell the recruits about Gopher culture, which, according to Kill, is very important as they try to get recruits that will fit well in the Gopher program.
2) Sid then asked Kill if he thought some of the recruits will see the field next year: Kill replied, “We want them all come in with attitude that they can play (right away).”
Kill sounded positive about the recruiting class and that there are recruits that we will see play next fall, but he didn’t give any names of recruits who may see playing time next fall.
3) Sid gave a lengthy account of a Minnesota parent who wanted his son to play at Iowa State University. When the father asked a Cyclone coach why they didn’t recruit Minnesota, the coach reportedly said, ”Jerry Kill has put a fence around Minnesota.” Sid then cited the two big-team recruits that left Minnesota this year: Coach Kill replied in a matter-of fact-tone, “We’ve got challenges ahead of us.” He went on to say that he’s checked the Wisconsin and Iowa rosters and didn’t see any Minnesota players that they (Gopher coaches) recruited. He did mention Tyler Marz. a Minnesota native, who is playing for the Badgers, however.
Kill acknowledged that two Minnesota recruits opted to play at Ohio State and Oregon. When he finished his statement about the two 2015 Minnesota recruits leaving the state to the finalists in this year’s first-ever playoff Championship game, Kill said emphatically, “We need that facility.”
He finished answering the question saying they have to work harder to keep the local talent home.
4) Dave Mona wanted to know his thoughts about two recruits who signed their Letters of Intent: Jonathan Femi-Cole, a runningback, and quarterback Demry Croft: Kill said, “Femi-Cole is built like Melvin Gordon . . . I’m not saying he’s Melvin Gordon.” Coach Kill sounded excited when he talked about the Canadian player’s athleticism and speed. A plus in recruiting Canadian players: when a Canadian player commits to a school the recruiting of the player is “shut off.”
Kill also sounded very excited when he described Croft’s abilities as a quarterback. He said Croft has good speed, is athletic, and can throw the ball – strong arm.
They discovered and started recruiting Croft when he attended one of Minnesota’s summer camp.
5) Sid said he understood that 2016 will be a good year in Minnesota for recruiting: “Yeah . . . We’re recruiting hard ( in Minnesota for next year’s class) . . . Two or three will be national recruits,” replied Kill.
6) Mona asked about the quarterbacks and receivers who are in school and working out during the off-season: Kill replied, “Our kids are working hard.” Kill sounded excited when he talked about the size of the receiving corps, including two recruits that will report for school in June and summer camp in August.
7) Mona asked about Jeff Jones and Georgia runningback Rodney Smith: Kill didn’t say anything about Jones, because, as he said, they knew his abilities as they were recruiting him and they’re looking forward to seeing him in spring drills.
He spoke at length on the athletic abilities of Rodney Smith: “Rodney Smith is special, big time recruit . . . 205 pounds . . . People will be excited . . . He could’ve played this year.” He didn’t play because they didn’t need to given the depth and talent at runningback.
8) Sid asked Kill if there will be position changes this spring: Kill answered Sid’s query saying “at this point” he didn’t think there’d be any changes. However, he did say the coaches will get together in late February to discuss what changes, if any, will occur in the spring drills.
9) Sid asked Kill if he were open to transfers: Kill talked about the benefits of having JUCO transfers, “but we need to be careful.(selective).” By his comments there are a few, good JUCO players that haven’t signed a Letter of Intent; however, I didn’t take it that he is planning to sign anymore JuCO players this year.
10) Kill discussed the abilities of three redshirt recruits, after Mona asked about Gentry and Gant: He said (excitedly) Holland is the third redshirt recruit at wide receiver. Gant recently had a 40” vertical jump and Gentry “is gifted. “Those three we’re excited about.” He also said they’re excited with the recruited receivers that are coming to Minnesota.
11) Kill sounded positive when discussing the center position. He was excited and glad that Jon Christenson will be available. He also mentioned Brian Bobek, Conor Mayes and Tyler Moore, who is in school and available for spring drills.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid asked for Kill’s thoughts on this year’s recruiting class: Kill sounded excited in his response. “We feel good about it . . . Our kids have done a good job recruiting . . . They’re our best recruiters.”
Kill said team members would tell the recruits about Gopher culture, which, according to Kill, is very important as they try to get recruits that will fit well in the Gopher program.
2) Sid then asked Kill if he thought some of the recruits will see the field next year: Kill replied, “We want them all come in with attitude that they can play (right away).”
Kill sounded positive about the recruiting class and that there are recruits that we will see play next fall, but he didn’t give any names of recruits who may see playing time next fall.
3) Sid gave a lengthy account of a Minnesota parent who wanted his son to play at Iowa State University. When the father asked a Cyclone coach why they didn’t recruit Minnesota, the coach reportedly said, ”Jerry Kill has put a fence around Minnesota.” Sid then cited the two big-team recruits that left Minnesota this year: Coach Kill replied in a matter-of fact-tone, “We’ve got challenges ahead of us.” He went on to say that he’s checked the Wisconsin and Iowa rosters and didn’t see any Minnesota players that they (Gopher coaches) recruited. He did mention Tyler Marz. a Minnesota native, who is playing for the Badgers, however.
Kill acknowledged that two Minnesota recruits opted to play at Ohio State and Oregon. When he finished his statement about the two 2015 Minnesota recruits leaving the state to the finalists in this year’s first-ever playoff Championship game, Kill said emphatically, “We need that facility.”
He finished answering the question saying they have to work harder to keep the local talent home.
4) Dave Mona wanted to know his thoughts about two recruits who signed their Letters of Intent: Jonathan Femi-Cole, a runningback, and quarterback Demry Croft: Kill said, “Femi-Cole is built like Melvin Gordon . . . I’m not saying he’s Melvin Gordon.” Coach Kill sounded excited when he talked about the Canadian player’s athleticism and speed. A plus in recruiting Canadian players: when a Canadian player commits to a school the recruiting of the player is “shut off.”
Kill also sounded very excited when he described Croft’s abilities as a quarterback. He said Croft has good speed, is athletic, and can throw the ball – strong arm.
They discovered and started recruiting Croft when he attended one of Minnesota’s summer camp.
5) Sid said he understood that 2016 will be a good year in Minnesota for recruiting: “Yeah . . . We’re recruiting hard ( in Minnesota for next year’s class) . . . Two or three will be national recruits,” replied Kill.
6) Mona asked about the quarterbacks and receivers who are in school and working out during the off-season: Kill replied, “Our kids are working hard.” Kill sounded excited when he talked about the size of the receiving corps, including two recruits that will report for school in June and summer camp in August.
7) Mona asked about Jeff Jones and Georgia runningback Rodney Smith: Kill didn’t say anything about Jones, because, as he said, they knew his abilities as they were recruiting him and they’re looking forward to seeing him in spring drills.
He spoke at length on the athletic abilities of Rodney Smith: “Rodney Smith is special, big time recruit . . . 205 pounds . . . People will be excited . . . He could’ve played this year.” He didn’t play because they didn’t need to given the depth and talent at runningback.
8) Sid asked Kill if there will be position changes this spring: Kill answered Sid’s query saying “at this point” he didn’t think there’d be any changes. However, he did say the coaches will get together in late February to discuss what changes, if any, will occur in the spring drills.
9) Sid asked Kill if he were open to transfers: Kill talked about the benefits of having JUCO transfers, “but we need to be careful.(selective).” By his comments there are a few, good JUCO players that haven’t signed a Letter of Intent; however, I didn’t take it that he is planning to sign anymore JuCO players this year.
10) Kill discussed the abilities of three redshirt recruits, after Mona asked about Gentry and Gant: He said (excitedly) Holland is the third redshirt recruit at wide receiver. Gant recently had a 40” vertical jump and Gentry “is gifted. “Those three we’re excited about.” He also said they’re excited with the recruited receivers that are coming to Minnesota.
11) Kill sounded positive when discussing the center position. He was excited and glad that Jon Christenson will be available. He also mentioned Brian Bobek, Conor Mayes and Tyler Moore, who is in school and available for spring drills.
Go Gophers!!
