On today’s Sports Huddle Tracy Claeys discussed bowl game preparations, recruiting, who might be back for the Central Michigan game, and the seven players who have signed LOI and will be available for spring drills.
1) Sid wanted to know if Tracy Claeys was happy with the team’s progress in getting ready for their bowl on December 28:
“We had three great practices . . . (focusing on) fundamentals . . . (now) getting ready preparing for Central . . . leave Thursday (for Detroit) . . . Energy has been good!” Claeys replied.
2) Sid asked if some of the players who have been injured will be back for the Gophers bowl game:
“We’ll get a few back . . . Healthiest we’ve been in the past five games,” Claeys answered. He also acknowledged that they won’t get everyone back who has been injured.
Players listed who are getting better and will probably be ready for Central are Scott Ekpe, Steve Richardson, and Rodney Smith. Claeys sounded positive when he named the three players and the progress they’ve made health-wise.
3) Sid wanted to know about position changes:
Claeys was non-committal in his response to Sid’s query. “We’ll wait until after the bowl game for any changes.
There are two areas of focus in the remaining bowl practices, according to Claeys: “Develop young kids and being prepared for the bowl game.”
One very important positive of participating in the bowl game “Getting eight (remaining) great practices toward spring ball.”
Because of an off-season scheduled surgery that Mitch Leidner will undergo - it’s questionable whether he’ll be participating in spring drills - freshman quarterback Demry Croft has been getting a lot of reps in the bowl practices.
4) Dave Mona asked about the seven players that signed their LOI (Letter of Intent) and will be participating spring drills:
His immediate comments were about recruiting JUCO players. “Needed a couple JUCO offensive linemen (Garrison Wright and Vincent Calhoun) . . . We needed to take some pressure off the team’s redshirted freshmen . . . We recruit to get better . . . We’ll play the best (players whether freshman or upper classmen) . . . Good group of kids . . . (recruited) seven kids who can help us.” Claeys said.
On the defensive side of the ball, Claeys sounded positive when he cited two players that were redshirted this year – defensive tackle Gary Moore and defensive back Ray Buford. He also mentioned JUCO recruit and signee Merrick Jackson. Claeys soundded upbeat when he mentioned the trio.
Claeys emphasized the need for depth, and the strengths that the four JUCO players bring to the team. Defensive back Elijah Battle is the fourth JUCO player that signed a LOI last week.
5) Dave Mona asked about the signing of Seth Green, a former Minnesota high school quarterback who played this past season in Allen, TX:
Claeys said Seth’s father received a promotion that resulted in the move to Allen, Texas. He went on to say that many of the players on the high school squad in Allen had been in the football system since they were in junior high school. As a result of Seth’s transfer, he had to learn a new system.
Nevertheless, Claeys was very positive when talking about Seth Green’s abilities as player. “We were familiar with Seth Green. He’s extremely talented.”
6) Sid wanted to know the number of players left to be signed on National Signing Day:
Claeys expects to sign 18 more players or “couple more.”
The Gopher coaching staff will continue to offer players in January and that they have a secondary list of players that they’re looking at, according to Claeys.
The uncertainty of recruiting is something all teams experience in the closing days of the recruiting season – committed players changing their mind about schools that they’ve committed to.
7) Dave Mona wanted to know about players on the current roster who have graduated who might play another year, especially if they’ve been injured:
Claeys answered, “We have a couple who’ll try spring ball who have graduated.” He went on to say tight end Lincoln Plsek was one player that will be participating in spring drills and that there may be a couple other players as well.
8) Sid wanted to know if they’ll lose any current players after the bowl game:
Claeys wasn’t specific in his response to Sid’s question; however, he said after the bowl game he’ll sit down with the players, those wondering where they’re at on the team. “Kids want to play . . . There’s always some who will transfer . . . You win with kids who want to be here!”
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid wanted to know if Tracy Claeys was happy with the team’s progress in getting ready for their bowl on December 28:
“We had three great practices . . . (focusing on) fundamentals . . . (now) getting ready preparing for Central . . . leave Thursday (for Detroit) . . . Energy has been good!” Claeys replied.
2) Sid asked if some of the players who have been injured will be back for the Gophers bowl game:
“We’ll get a few back . . . Healthiest we’ve been in the past five games,” Claeys answered. He also acknowledged that they won’t get everyone back who has been injured.
Players listed who are getting better and will probably be ready for Central are Scott Ekpe, Steve Richardson, and Rodney Smith. Claeys sounded positive when he named the three players and the progress they’ve made health-wise.
3) Sid wanted to know about position changes:
Claeys was non-committal in his response to Sid’s query. “We’ll wait until after the bowl game for any changes.
There are two areas of focus in the remaining bowl practices, according to Claeys: “Develop young kids and being prepared for the bowl game.”
One very important positive of participating in the bowl game “Getting eight (remaining) great practices toward spring ball.”
Because of an off-season scheduled surgery that Mitch Leidner will undergo - it’s questionable whether he’ll be participating in spring drills - freshman quarterback Demry Croft has been getting a lot of reps in the bowl practices.
4) Dave Mona asked about the seven players that signed their LOI (Letter of Intent) and will be participating spring drills:
His immediate comments were about recruiting JUCO players. “Needed a couple JUCO offensive linemen (Garrison Wright and Vincent Calhoun) . . . We needed to take some pressure off the team’s redshirted freshmen . . . We recruit to get better . . . We’ll play the best (players whether freshman or upper classmen) . . . Good group of kids . . . (recruited) seven kids who can help us.” Claeys said.
On the defensive side of the ball, Claeys sounded positive when he cited two players that were redshirted this year – defensive tackle Gary Moore and defensive back Ray Buford. He also mentioned JUCO recruit and signee Merrick Jackson. Claeys soundded upbeat when he mentioned the trio.
Claeys emphasized the need for depth, and the strengths that the four JUCO players bring to the team. Defensive back Elijah Battle is the fourth JUCO player that signed a LOI last week.
5) Dave Mona asked about the signing of Seth Green, a former Minnesota high school quarterback who played this past season in Allen, TX:
Claeys said Seth’s father received a promotion that resulted in the move to Allen, Texas. He went on to say that many of the players on the high school squad in Allen had been in the football system since they were in junior high school. As a result of Seth’s transfer, he had to learn a new system.
Nevertheless, Claeys was very positive when talking about Seth Green’s abilities as player. “We were familiar with Seth Green. He’s extremely talented.”
6) Sid wanted to know the number of players left to be signed on National Signing Day:
Claeys expects to sign 18 more players or “couple more.”
The Gopher coaching staff will continue to offer players in January and that they have a secondary list of players that they’re looking at, according to Claeys.
The uncertainty of recruiting is something all teams experience in the closing days of the recruiting season – committed players changing their mind about schools that they’ve committed to.
7) Dave Mona wanted to know about players on the current roster who have graduated who might play another year, especially if they’ve been injured:
Claeys answered, “We have a couple who’ll try spring ball who have graduated.” He went on to say tight end Lincoln Plsek was one player that will be participating in spring drills and that there may be a couple other players as well.
8) Sid wanted to know if they’ll lose any current players after the bowl game:
Claeys wasn’t specific in his response to Sid’s question; however, he said after the bowl game he’ll sit down with the players, those wondering where they’re at on the team. “Kids want to play . . . There’s always some who will transfer . . . You win with kids who want to be here!”
Go Gophers!!
