Gophers Football Recruiting Nuggets and Tid-Bits

Donate To GopherHole
GopherHole Staff

GopherHole Staff

GopherHole Admin
Staff member
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Messages
5,173
Reaction score
1,387
Points
113
Gophers Football Recruiting Nuggets and Tid-Bits
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/408551?referrer_id=388419

The Minnesota Gophers could be headed to their best recruiting class under head coach Jerry Kill after a strong eight-win season last year. They have nine commitments through the end of July, which includes seven three-star and two two-star athletes, according to Scout.com and six verbals before July.

The number of commitment is high for Minnesota compared to recent seasons. The 2013 signing class had three players commit before August 1. The 2012 signing class had 6, 2011 had four, 2010 had five, 2009 had eight, 2008 had four, 2007 had nine, 2006 had zero, 2005 had three and 2004 had zero.

***************

Despite the strong beginning to the Gopher's recruiting season, they are tied for last in commitments in the Big Ten as the other teams have gotten off to a great start on the recruiting trails. The 13 teams have a combined 180 commitments. Wisconsin and Penn State are tied for the most in the conference with 18 commitments. Big Ten newcomer Rutgers has 17 verbals. Northwestern, which normally waits until later in the year for its commitments due to its high academic standards and Big Ten newbie Maryland are tied with 16. Ohio State has 14 commitments, Purdue 13, Michigan State and Illinois have 12 each, Nebraska has 11, Indiana has 10 and Minnesota and Michigan have nine each.

***************

Vegas set the line on over/under wins this past week over the 12-game season. Minnesota, which finished 8-4 last season, is expected to win 6.5 games, according to the wise guys in Nevada. They were projected to win 5.5 games last year. The other Big Ten teams' over/under totals are Illinois (5), Indiana (5), Iowa (8.5) Maryland (6.5), Michigan (8), Michigan State (9.5). Nebraska (8), Northwesten (6), Ohio State (10.5), Penn State (8), Purdue (3.5), Rutgers (4.5) and Wisconsin (9.5).

The following is a look at last year's over/under totals and final regular season record. Six teams had more wins than projected and six had less.

TEAM O/U 2013 RECORD
Illinois 3.5 4-8
Indiana 5.5 5-7
Iowa 5.5 8-4
Michigan 9.5 7-5
Michigan State 8.5 11-1
Minnesota 5.5 8-4
Nebraska 9.5 8-4
Northwestern 8.5 5-7
Ohio State 11.5 12-0
Penn State 8.5 7-5
Purdue 5.5 1-11
Wisconsin 8.5 9-3

***************

Seven players from Scout's Top 100 have committed to Big Ten schools. Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State have two commits each. Last year at this time the Buckeyes had seven Top 100, the most of any school at this time last year. Michigan State has the other top 100 commit.

Penn State's recruiting class is ranked sixth in the country by Scout. Ohio State is 17th, Michigan 20th, Wisconsin is ranked 21st and Michigan State is 24th. Nebraska is listed 30th, Northwestern 33rd and Iowa 35th. Rutgers is ranked 45th, Maryland is 47th and Illinois is 48th. Indiana is 51st, Purdue 59th and Minnesota is currently 70th.

Penn State's recruiting class is also ranked sixth in the country by Rivals. Ohio State is 16th, Wisconsin is ranked 22th, Nebraska is listed 28th, Michigan 29th and Northwestern 31st. Maryland is 33rd, Michigan State is 35th and Iowa 43rd. Rutgers is ranked 45th, Maryland is 47th and. Indiana is 51st, Purdue 59th and Minnesota is currently 70th.

ESPN also has Penn State's class as the top in the big Ten as they are ranked fourth. Ohio State is ranked sixth in the country. Michigan is third in the Big Ten, according to ESPN and is 21st. Michigan State is ranked 28th, Wisconsin is 29th, Nebraska ranks 31st and Northwestern is currently 39th.


***************

The 14-team SEC has a remarkable 228 commitments to date and has eight teams in Scout's top 14 and eight in the top 13, according to ESPN.

Four teams in the SEC have more than 20 commitments and Mississippi State has a remarkable 27 verbals to date.

***************

Getting top recruits is always important when trying to build a team. However, recruiting is not an exact science. Last year, the Big Ten saw two of their top players at their position, lineman Spencer Long of Nebraska and wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, who were walk-ons who and were not given star status out of high school by Scout.com. Running back Venric Mark of Northwestern was a two-star wide receiver out of Texas. Lineman John Urschel of Penn State was also a two-star recruit.

This year's Athlon preseason All-Big Ten team features just one former two-star selection and three five-stars.

QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State (5 star)
RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska (3 star)
RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin (3 star)
WR Stefon Diggs, Maryland (5 star)
WR Devin Funchess, Michigan (4 star)
TE Jeff Heuerman, Ohio Statev
C Jack Allen, Michigan State (3 star)
G Jake Cotton, Nebraska (2 star DE out of high school)
G Pat Elfein, Ohio State (3 star)
T Rob Havenstein, Wisconsin (3 star)
T Brandon Scherff, Iowa (3 star)

First-Team Defense
DE Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State (3 star TE out of high school)
DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska (3 star out of high school who originally signed with Purdue before going to Arizona Western CC)
DT Michael Bennett, Ohio State (4 star)
DT Carl Davis, Iowa (3 star)
LB Chi Chi Ariguzo, Northwestern (3 star)
LB Mike Hull, Penn State (5 star)
LB Jake Ryan, Michigan (3 star)
CB Blake Countess, Michigan (4 star)
CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State (3 star)
S Ibraheim Campbell, Northwestern (3 star RB out of high school)
S Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State (3 star)
 

GopherHole Staff said:
Gophers Football Recruiting Nuggets and Tid-Bits
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/408551?referrer_id=388419

The Minnesota Gophers could be headed to their best recruiting class under head coach Jerry Kill after a strong eight-win season last year. They have nine commitments through the end of July, which includes seven three-star and two two-star athletes, according to Scout.com and six verbals before July.

The number of commitment is high for Minnesota compared to recent seasons. The 2013 signing class had three players commit before August 1. The 2012 signing class had 6, 2011 had four, 2010 had five, 2009 had eight, 2008 had four, 2007 had nine, 2006 had zero, 2005 had three and 2004 had zero.

***************

Despite the strong beginning to the Gopher's recruiting season, they are tied for last in commitments in the Big Ten as the other teams have gotten off to a great start on the recruiting trails. The 13 teams have a combined 180 commitments. Wisconsin and Penn State are tied for the most in the conference with 18 commitments. Big Ten newcomer Rutgers has 17 verbals. Northwestern, which normally waits until later in the year for its commitments due to its high academic standards and Big Ten newbie Maryland are tied with 16. Ohio State has 14 commitments, Purdue 13, Michigan State and Illinois have 12 each, Nebraska has 11, Indiana has 10 and Minnesota and Michigan have nine each.

***************

Vegas set the line on over/under wins this past week over the 12-game season. Minnesota, which finished 8-4 last season, is expected to win 6.5 games, according to the wise guys in Nevada. They were projected to win 5.5 games last year. The other Big Ten teams' over/under totals are Illinois (5), Indiana (5), Iowa (8.5) Maryland (6.5), Michigan (8), Michigan State (9.5). Nebraska (8), Northwesten (6), Ohio State (10.5), Penn State (8), Purdue (3.5), Rutgers (4.5) and Wisconsin (9.5).

The following is a look at last year's over/under totals and final regular season record. Six teams had more wins than projected and six had less.

TEAM O/U 2013 RECORD
Illinois 3.5 4-8
Indiana 5.5 5-7
Iowa 5.5 8-4
Michigan 9.5 7-5
Michigan State 8.5 11-1
Minnesota 5.5 8-4
Nebraska 9.5 8-4
Northwestern 8.5 5-7
Ohio State 11.5 12-0
Penn State 8.5 7-5
Purdue 5.5 1-11
Wisconsin 8.5 9-3

***************

Seven players from Scout's Top 100 have committed to Big Ten schools. Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State have two commits each. Last year at this time the Buckeyes had seven Top 100, the most of any school at this time last year. Michigan State has the other top 100 commit.

Penn State's recruiting class is ranked sixth in the country by Scout. Ohio State is 17th, Michigan 20th, Wisconsin is ranked 21st and Michigan State is 24th. Nebraska is listed 30th, Northwestern 33rd and Iowa 35th. Rutgers is ranked 45th, Maryland is 47th and Illinois is 48th. Indiana is 51st, Purdue 59th and Minnesota is currently 70th.

Penn State's recruiting class is also ranked sixth in the country by Rivals. Ohio State is 16th, Wisconsin is ranked 22th, Nebraska is listed 28th, Michigan 29th and Northwestern 31st. Maryland is 33rd, Michigan State is 35th and Iowa 43rd. Rutgers is ranked 45th, Maryland is 47th and. Indiana is 51st, Purdue 59th and Minnesota is currently 70th.

ESPN also has Penn State's class as the top in the big Ten as they are ranked fourth. Ohio State is ranked sixth in the country. Michigan is third in the Big Ten, according to ESPN and is 21st. Michigan State is ranked 28th, Wisconsin is 29th, Nebraska ranks 31st and Northwestern is currently 39th.


***************

The 14-team SEC has a remarkable 228 commitments to date and has eight teams in Scout's top 14 and eight in the top 13, according to ESPN.

Four teams in the SEC have more than 20 commitments and Mississippi State has a remarkable 27 verbals to date.

***************

Getting top recruits is always important when trying to build a team. However, recruiting is not an exact science. Last year, the Big Ten saw two of their top players at their position, lineman Spencer Long of Nebraska and wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, who were walk-ons who and were not given star status out of high school by Scout.com. Running back Venric Mark of Northwestern was a two-star wide receiver out of Texas. Lineman John Urschel of Penn State was also a two-star recruit.

This year's Athlon preseason All-Big Ten team features just one former two-star selection and three five-stars.

QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State (5 star)
RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska (3 star)
RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin (3 star)
WR Stefon Diggs, Maryland (5 star)
WR Devin Funchess, Michigan (4 star)
TE Jeff Heuerman, Ohio Statev
C Jack Allen, Michigan State (3 star)
G Jake Cotton, Nebraska (2 star DE out of high school)
G Pat Elfein, Ohio State (3 star)
T Rob Havenstein, Wisconsin (3 star)
T Brandon Scherff, Iowa (3 star)

First-Team Defense
DE Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State (3 star TE out of high school)
DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska (3 star out of high school who originally signed with Purdue before going to Arizona Western CC)
DT Michael Bennett, Ohio State (4 star)
DT Carl Davis, Iowa (3 star)
LB Chi Chi Ariguzo, Northwestern (3 star)
LB Mike Hull, Penn State (5 star)
LB Jake Ryan, Michigan (3 star)
CB Blake Countess, Michigan (4 star)
CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State (3 star)
S Ibraheim Campbell, Northwestern (3 star RB out of high school)
S Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State (3 star)
Click to expand...

A couple of things. Gordon was a 4-star on Rivals and was generally considered a top-drawer kid by most services (Top 25 RB by Rivals and 247 and Top 40 athlete on ESPN).

Gophers were in heavy on Ibraheim Campbell at one point and I remember there got to be a big kerfuffle in here about him. He said he was thinking about med school in his interview with Gopherhole and said his ACT score was 22 or 23 (or something like that) and a couple of posters laughed at his "delusion" that he could possibly get into medical school with a score like that. The conversation then devolved into a whole thing about affirmative action. It got really, really ugly.
 

How is it that Penn State keeps getting all these good recruits even in the midst of lengthy sanctions (incl bowl ban for 2 more years), and second coaching change in 3 years? Their 2015 class is rated in the top 10 by most services. I realize they're arguing for the bowl ban to be lifted after this year, and probably are telling recruits that, but still, something tells me that recruits are being lured to Happy Valley by more than "tradition" and "good recruiting." Boosters very motivated to keep the program afloat until sanctions expire, so they hit the ground running.
 

The preseason All-B1G team sure is loaded with former three stars. Not a great endorsement for the recruit rankings in High School.
 

corcoran1 said:
The preseason All-B1G team sure is loaded with former three stars. Not a great endorsement for the recruit rankings in High School.
Click to expand...

A lot of it just speaks to how few 4 stars the Big Ten has. I’m sure there are a lot more 4 stars on the all SEC team. Plus Penn State and especially Michigan, 2 of the top 4 best recruiting programs, aren’t getting the job done developing players.
 


corcoran1 said:
The preseason All-B1G team sure is loaded with former three stars. Not a great endorsement for the recruit rankings in High School.
Click to expand...

Or, in reality, it's a reflection of the fact that most of the recruits in the Big Ten were 3-stars coming out of high school. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that most of the recruits on the All-Big Ten team are 3-stars. If it were as bad as you say, there would be a ton of 2-star and unranked players, but there's only one from that combined subset. The fact that there are three 5-stars is amazing (3/22, 13.6%) given that the percentage of 5-stars on current Big Ten rosters, without looking, is likely under 1% of the total rostered players.
 

WanderingGopher said:
How is it that Penn State keeps getting all these good recruits even in the midst of lengthy sanctions (incl bowl ban for 2 more years), and second coaching change in 3 years? Their 2015 class is rated in the top 10 by most services. I realize they're arguing for the bowl ban to be lifted after this year, and probably are telling recruits that, but still, something tells me that recruits are being lured to Happy Valley by more than "tradition" and "good recruiting." Boosters very motivated to keep the program afloat until sanctions expire, so they hit the ground running.
Click to expand...

PA is a state that is very loyal to Penn State football and produces a high number of quality recruits consistently. The only options in state are Pitt and Temple which really don't pose much competition imo. Add the fact that a degree from Penn State carries a lot of clout and the high graduation rate for football players, its not that difficult to understand why recruiting hasn't dropped off that much.
 

WanderingGopher said:
How is it that Penn State keeps getting all these good recruits even in the midst of lengthy sanctions (incl bowl ban for 2 more years), and second coaching change in 3 years? Their 2015 class is rated in the top 10 by most services. I realize they're arguing for the bowl ban to be lifted after this year, and probably are telling recruits that, but still, something tells me that recruits are being lured to Happy Valley by more than "tradition" and "good recruiting." Boosters very motivated to keep the program afloat until sanctions expire, so they hit the ground running.
Click to expand...

James Franklin has always been one of the best recruiters. He brought in a top 20 class at Vanderbilt. If he can do it at Vanderbilt, there's no reason why he can't bring in consistent top 10-15 recruiting classes with Penn State's tradition and resources.
 

Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0 said:
PA is a state that is very loyal to Penn State football and produces a high number of quality recruits consistently. The only options in state are Pitt and Temple which really don't pose much competition imo. Add the fact that a degree from Penn State carries a lot of clout and the high graduation rate for football players, its not that difficult to understand why recruiting hasn't dropped off that much.
Click to expand...

Throw in the the best gameday atmosphere in the country and it's not hard to see why a recruit would want to play there.
 






Very nice article and one that i hope continues the pipeline. Jones will be a factor this season and the rest of his career. There are a lot of great players that do not get the flash that other kids get. I think I would rather take the right guy that can be molded to what our staff needs and wants than players that are peaking at their potential and have no way to go but down
 



You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom