GopherHole's Sports Huddle Summary: Coach Jerry Kill - 5/3/15

DL65

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Today’s notes/recap of the Sports Huddle with Jerry Kill:

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/510752?referrer_id=

1) Sid opened the segment talking about the recent NFL Draft. Minnesota had four players taken in the draft and Ohio State had five players selected for the next level: :

Kill responded with pride when he answered Sid: “It was a good day for our kids, the state, and school . . . It’s good to see good things happen to good people.”

2) Sid asked if the Gopher coaches are recruiting now:

“Yeah. Right now guys out over the country and Minnesota (evaluating and watching high school spring practices and track meets). ” replied Kill. “Spend a lot of time on the phone.” Once again, Kill said, at this time, he’s allowed only one phone call with a recruit; however, a recruit can place a phone call as often as he wants.

Kill - referencing the success of the Gopher’s four players in the recent NFL Draft – said they need to continue to recruit players that will upgrade the team: “Need to get seven to eight in the draft.”

Kill’s final comment to Sid’s question was related to the importance of reaching out to Minnesota citizens and the coaches’ busy schedules during the off-season, “Getting involved in the community.”

3) Sid asked Coach Kill for his thoughts on Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney’s proposal that freshmen not being eligible for play during their freshmen year in college:

“I wish I had the answer . . . want to do what’s best for the athletes . . . everyone’s searching to do what is best for the kids . . . It’s more about the students,” said kill.
Kill said there are some that think the players need a year to get acclimated to the college environment and its academic rigors. However, Kill also quickly added that academics for the Gopher team has improved dramatically, “Our kids are doing well.” The team has a 3.0 APR.

4) Sid asked if the college players should be paid:

In his response, Kill mentioned the money that is coming in from college football. He said the players don’t have summer jobs and they’re very busy with “Captain Practices and their coursework during summer months. As a result, he believes the players need some money, “Getting a stipend is a good thing.”

5) Sid said a national publication spoke highly of the Gopher offensive line. According to Sid, they’re the third best offensive line in the Big Ten – behind Ohio State and Michigan State:

“We’ll see. You have to do it on the field,” answered Kill, “younger guys must step up.” Additionally, Kill said they need to have Jon Christenson “at hundred percent,” which he expects will be the case.

Kill, once again, emphasized that he does not put much stock in pre-season predictions. Nevertheless, they’ll let the players know about the positive statement made concerning their offensive line, and the importance of living up to expectations.

6) Sid asked if this year’s recruits are on campus:

Kill said most of the recruits will be on campus June 14 – start of summer school. However, Kill said there are a lot of variations in school schedules of closures and graduations. Also, having all the recruits successfully complete the required coursework in high school is a concern: “Always worry about a player getting senioritis (taking time off from his coursework).”

7) Dave Mona mentioned a successful epilepsy awareness event that occurred this past week:

“It was a great event . . . Rebecca got an award (for her work) . . . I’m proud of her,” responded Kill. One could hear in Kill’s voice his pride of his wife’s efforts in epilepsy awareness, and that he was pleased with the awareness event and recognition. Kill said his wife works harder and does more than he does in efforts to counteract epilepsy.

8) Dave Mona asked a follow-up question to Kill’s earlier comment about having only one phone call to recruits; whereas, there are no limitations on phone calls made to coaches by the recruits:

Social media has impacted the recruiting process greatly, according to Kill, especially facebook. In some cases, someone might use facebook as means of contacting a recruit and encouraging him to “call the coach.”

Kill said football needs to be like basketball in rules dealing with recruits and what they can do in recruiting and coaching wise with their players in the off season. Kill said the basketball coaches are more cohesive as a group “that get things done.”

9) Sid asked what the players are doing since the end of spring drills:

“They’re under our watch after spring (practices),” replied Kill. He said they’re busy in the weight room, speed training, and getting ready for finals.

At the end of the second semester, players will be off (vacation) until June 14. He said many of the players will be at their homes during the break; however, he added that some players are staying on campus in May – "that can be a good or bad thing." The players need a break from football.

10) Dave Mona asked the final question, which was related to Philip Nelson’s transfer to South Alabama:

Kill was positive in his response to Dave's’s question: “That’s a great place, South Alabama . . . (we) wish him luck . . . He’ll do well.”



Go Gophers!!
 

Thanks,DL. Love this coach and his staff. It is a Golden time to be a Gopher/fan.
 

If the gophers can get 7 to 8 in the draft yearly that would outperform the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, USC most years. I like that he's setting the bar high. Go get 'em Jerry.
 

If the gophers can get 7 to 8 in the draft yearly that would outperform the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, USC most years. I like that he's setting the bar high. Go get 'em Jerry.

Yeah...I don't see that happening. I can see us having a year like that every 4 or 5 years, much like winning the B1G title when we get there. But FSU just set a record of 29 draft picks in a 3 year period...so us getting to 20+ in a 3 year period seems like a big reach.
 

A big reach for those who fail to believe!
 


Yeah...I don't see that happening. I can see us having a year like that every 4 or 5 years, much like winning the B1G title when we get there. But FSU just set a record of 29 draft picks in a 3 year period...so us getting to 20+ in a 3 year period seems like a big reach.

I think he was setting himself up for success next year when we could very well have 7 or 8 drafted. I agree that's not going to happen every year but next year....

Sure things barring injury:
CB-Eric Murray
CB-Brien Boddy-Calhoun
S-Damarious Travis

Likely:
LB-De'Vondre Campbell (His size, speed and athleticism scream NFL. He'll kill it at the combine.)
G-Josh Campion (A guy that can probably step right in and play Guard immediately, or be a quality back-up. Position flexibility makes him more attractive.)

Realistic Shot:
DE-Thieran Cockran (Good size, yet room to get bigger. When lined up next to Hageman he was a terror. A solid Senior year would get him drafted. If he has a year like he did as a Soph he could be a Day 1 draft pick)
C/G-Jon Christenson (If he's 100% & proves he's not a health risk. He's got the size, intelligence and position flexibility to play in the NFL.)

Outside Shot:
RB-Rodrick Williams (With a solid Sr year he could find his way into the draft. He's got NFL size & low miles.)
TE-Lincoln Plsek (Good size & takes pride in blocking. Could be a blocking TE in the league.)
P-Peter Mortell (Tough to get drafted as a punter, but an All-B1G year could conceivably get him drafted in the 7th.)
 

I think he was setting himself up for success next year when we could very well have 7 or 8 drafted. I agree that's not going to happen every year but next year....

Sure things barring injury:
CB-Eric Murray
CB-Brien Boddy-Calhoun
S-Damarious Travis

Likely:
LB-De'Vondre Campbell (His size, speed and athleticism scream NFL. He'll kill it at the combine.)
G-Josh Campion (A guy that can probably step right in and play Guard immediately, or be a quality back-up. Position flexibility makes him more attractive.)

Realistic Shot:
DE-Thieran Cockran (Good size, yet room to get bigger. When lined up next to Hageman he was a terror. A solid Senior year would get him drafted. If he has a year like he did as a Soph he could be a Day 1 draft pick)
C/G-Jon Christenson (If he's 100% & proves he's not a health risk. He's got the size, intelligence and position flexibility to play in the NFL.)

Outside Shot:
RB-Rodrick Williams (With a solid Sr year he could find his way into the draft. He's got NFL size & low miles.)
TE-Lincoln Plsek (Good size & takes pride in blocking. Could be a blocking TE in the league.)
P-Peter Mortell (Tough to get drafted as a punter, but an All-B1G year could conceivably get him drafted in the 7th.)

I see 8 draft picks and 3 FAs in this group. That spells a West Championship.
 


I made a mistake in correct attribution. I wrote that Sid asked the final question; however, it was Dave Mona who asked about Philip Nelson's transfer to South Alabama.

I have made the correction in the recap.


Go Gophers!!
 



I see 8 draft picks and 3 FAs in this group. That spells a West Championship.

Agreed, blocking TE and non award winning punters rarely get drafted. Low milage RB that split a lot of carriers their Senior year (which remains to be seen) rarely get drafted as well. Rodrick would need to have a hell of a season to get a look as a draft pick.

I cannot believe we have this kind of talent, how many people did we have drafted in the prior 4 years combined?
 

We are going to be DBU around the country pretty soon here.

Be nice if we could get 8 guys a year drafted.
 


I see 8 draft picks and 3 FAs in this group. That spells a West Championship.
Agreed, blocking TE and non award winning punters rarely get drafted. Low milage RB that split a lot of carriers their Senior year (which remains to be seen) rarely get drafted as well. Rodrick would need to have a hell of a season to get a look as a draft pick.

I cannot believe we have this kind of talent, how many people did we have drafted in the prior 4 years combined?

Not sure if you didn't know or are making a point but...

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/11-nfl-draft-history.html

To summarize, Minnesota had 2 players drafted the four years prior. The last 7 seasons combined (2009-2015) they have had 8 players total drafted.

The last 2 times they've had 8 players drafted within a 2 year period were 1990 & 91 (5 players would have been outside the modern 256 pick draft) and 1987 & 88 (3 players out today).

The last time the Gophers had 8+ players selected: 1969 (9 total, 3 would have been outside the modern draft)

1950 and 1944 are the only years that would have had 8+ (both had 10) players that would be within the modern 256 picks (1950 had 3 more for 13 total drafted!).

Obviously players drafted then aren't the same as now and positions are drafted differently, blah blah blah, but it just points to how significant 8 players in the draft would be for this team!
 



Interesting. Thanks for doing the work, Lakeville
 

Not sure if you didn't know or are making a point but...

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/11-nfl-draft-history.html

To summarize, Minnesota had 2 players drafted the four years prior. The last 7 seasons combined (2009-2015) they have had 8 players total drafted.

The last 2 times they've had 8 players drafted within a 2 year period were 1990 & 91 (5 players would have been outside the modern 256 pick draft) and 1987 & 88 (3 players out today).

The last time the Gophers had 8+ players selected: 1969 (9 total, 3 would have been outside the modern draft)

1950 and 1944 are the only years that would have had 8+ (both had 10) players that would be within the modern 256 picks (1950 had 3 more for 13 total drafted!).

Obviously players drafted then aren't the same as now and positions are drafted differently, blah blah blah, but it just points to how significant 8 players in the draft would be for this team!

I definitely didn't have those numbers but I thought the story would be something along those lines. Thanks for the legwork.
 

The U is becoming a fertile ground for future NFL players.

Kill was right all along when he said that it will take five years to right the ship.
 




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