James Farrow no longer a MN verbal, wants to look around

Donate To GopherHole
BleedGopher

BleedGopher

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
62,249
Reaction score
18,927
Points
113
per this SuperPrep.com article:

Minnetonka (Minn.) cornerback James Farrow made an early commitment to Minnesota, but he has continued to add offers, and now wants to take a look around. He explained that and talked about the other schools he's looking at in this update.

After making an early commitment, James Farrow has decided to make sure he made the right choice when it comes to the most important decision of his life.
The 6'0, 170-lb cornerback from Minnetonka committed to Minnesota in March, and he says he's still committed to the Golden Gophers, it's just more of a soft verbal now.

"I talked to Coach Cosgrove yesterday, the defensive coordinator. He's been recruiting me. I just told him where I stood, and that I wanted the opportunity to look at some other places and make a decision I'm 100% comfortable with and that was best for me."

Farrow says the way Cosgrove and the Gophers have handled the situation is top notch.

"He said he respected my decision. Minnesota's been great about everything."

Offers from Toledo and Arkansas came this week, bringing Farrow's total to eight along with Minnesota, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, and Western Michigan. A couple other schools have stopped in to see him during this spring evaluation period as well.

"Michigan State has come twice. They came before and Iowa came through. I didn't go down and talk to them though. I'm not real interested in Iowa. Indiana came in town. I'm not real sure about them either."

Michigan State is a school Farrow has interest in though. He visited East Lansing in the spring, and they have visited him on two occasions. There is also another connection there.

"I just met with Michigan State today," Farrow said. "Coach Salem came and we've been chatting. I kind of have a more personal relationship with them. His dad coached my dad, and him being from Minnesota, I know him pretty well."

In addition to his visit to East Lansing, Farrow also took spring trips to Louisville, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Indiana, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. This summer, he says he is not sure about camps other than the Sound Mind, Sound Body camp at Wayne State University. One possibility though, is Wisconsin.

"Cincinnati and Wisconsin are definitely in the mix. Wisconsin's definitely one of my top schools even though they haven't offered yet. They suggested that I come to camp. I went down to their spring game, got a feel for the campus and some coaches down there. They want me to come to 1-day and tear it up."

Farrow says schools are recruiting him as both a corner, others are safety depending on how he fills out. All the schools also see value in his return ability.

As far as what he is looking for, Farrow says he mainly just wants to see what's out there before making a final call.

"I'm just looking to gain some experience. see some new things, meet new people. I'm looking to see some opportunities. My three things for recruiting are: the biggest things are the relationships with coaches, my dad and my Godparents, and the way I feel about the school and the campus and academics."

http://minnesota.scout.com/2/970803.html

The original therad after his verbal:

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/showthread.php?t=15822&highlight=James+Farrow

Go Gophers!!
 

Disappointing news to say the least. A Minnesota kid hoping for a Wisconsin offer? Gross.
 


Should pull his offer. I believe Bleed posted about Farrow a few months ago too and it was clear then he wasn't a solid verbal.

The good news just continues to roll in for Minnesota sports
 

Great- losing another solid Minnesota guy to Madison...

Now I know what Bielema means when he says "We consider Minnesota to be in-state recruiting."

This is getting pathetic.
 


Hoping for a Wisconsin offer? Never want to see him play for the gophers and honestly might be quite upset if he does.
 

JackiO said:
Hoping for a Wisconsin offer? Never want to see him play for the gophers and honestly might be quite upset if he does.
Click to expand...

Lighten up! The young man has an EGO that needs to be fed. If you pay attention to what he is doing and what he has said, it appears that he just wants everyone to recognize his value and quality. He just wants to get as many offers as possible and his rating up as high as possible. Remember, he said that he speaks with MC, our All American CB a lot. Ease up and let the young man develop his SWAG. He will sign with the Gophers more than likely.
 

[censored] said:
Disappointing news to say the least. A Minnesota kid hoping for a Wisconsin offer? Gross.
Click to expand...

Why not? Get the offer and turn them down to come here; I Love It. The young man is definitely a DB; he has a serious EGO but that is good. I like the jewels to not even go down to speak with the Iowas coach. Sounds like a future Gopher to me. However, the MSU offer is more concerning competion as they may sell more immediate PT.
 

Stargenes said:
Lighten up! The young man has an EGO that needs to be fed. If you pay attention to what he is doing and what he has said, it appears that he just wants everyone to recognize his value and quality. He just wants to get as many offers as possible and his rating up as high as possible. Remember, he said that he speaks with MC, our All American CB a lot. Ease up and let the young man develop his SWAG. He will sign with the Gophers more than likely.
Click to expand...

i agree with most of this. farrow has mentioned in interviews that he wants respect for himself and minnesota players in general, and i think adding the offers is his way of gaining that respect. if he is a solid verbal, the recruiting is going to dry up (a la gjere) but if he lets it be known that he is open, schools are going to offer. he wants to be recognized, a great attribute in a d-back.

that said, i don't think that he will 'more than likely' sign with the gophers, but i think that the gophers have as good a chance as any right now.

for the knee jerkers, there will be no pulling of any scholarships. this is how the game is played and the coaches know that and are going to make sure he knows he is wanted. the classic minnesota response to adversity, pouting and demanding his scholarship is pulled, is not a constructive response.

Farrow and Olsen will be the in-state gems of our recruiting class next year. Farrow has the body and the skills easily to be an all-big ten d-back and i would rather that distinction come with him in the maroon and gold, so i'm not going to turn my back on this guy.
 



also, i would add that offering his friend and teammate Austin Harrington would go a long way in getting Farrow here.
 

Stargenes said:
Lighten up! The young man has an EGO that needs to be fed. If you pay attention to what he is doing and what he has said, it appears that he just wants everyone to recognize his value and quality. He just wants to get as many offers as possible and his rating up as high as possible. Remember, he said that he speaks with MC, our All American CB a lot. Ease up and let the young man develop his SWAG. He will sign with the Gophers more than likely.
Click to expand...

Definitely god a good laugh out of that one...ha ha. He did say prior to committing to the gophers somewhere that he wants to get away from home. We shall see. Definitely wants his ego stroked.
 

Does Edina play Tonka this year? If so, I hope Rallis puts one right on Farrow's chin strap. And then lets him know about it.
 

TCF=UnitedWeStand said:
Does Edina play Tonka this year? If so, I hope Rallis puts one right on Farrow's chin strap. And then lets him know about it.
Click to expand...

I saw Rallis play Mahtomedi this year and that kid can lay hay-makers on anyone. Definition of Beast-Mode.
 



Recruiting is tough

Recruiting is tough everywhere. No doubt "kids" like to be pampered a bit as they have never experienced this sort of thing. No doubt Brewster made some mistakes in his first year or so. Hopefully once he settles in and the results start to show up on the field it will be much easier.
It is sad though, many kids who played elsewhere live in Minnesota now. Along the same lines, many Wisconsin and Iowa people live in Minnesota as apparently their needs wern't met in their home state. It is obvious that the quaility of living is much better in Minnesota or we wouldn't have all these people living here. I have faith that within time, hopefully shortly, we'll do better at keeping the folks home.
 

This is the one time when recruits have any power and some want to make the most of it.
 

Hopefully Mr. Farrow realizes that Minnesota is the right place for Minnesota kids to play football. OMG if he thinks playing for the BADgers is a great thing have him again talk to Royston. I'm sure Coaches Cosgrove and Horton can tell James what brent enema is really like. If he likes playing a patsy non conference schedule every year, he would enjoy playing for the BADgers.
 

James Farrow will still end up signing with Minnesota. There is no way he can resist the tremendous recruiting of Tim Brewster.
 

kids that grow up in the south burbs see Wisconsin as a more fun and better school then the U.
 

Brew_recruit said:
kids that grow up in the south burbs see Wisconsin as a more fun and better school then the U.
Click to expand...

That may have been the case in the past, but things have changed. Frankly, the team's success on the field this year will probably have more impact on the success of the recruiting class this year more than any of the years prior. Most folks are a bit worried but there are some seriously electric games on script for The Bank this year: USC, tOSU, PSU and Iowa. Play a couple close and win two of these and the class will be completely full before the season ends. The Minnesota recruits will be a LOCK.
 

Stargenes said:
Why not? Get the offer and turn them down to come here; I Love It. The young man is definitely a DB; he has a serious EGO but that is good. I like the jewels to not even go down to speak with the Iowas coach. Sounds like a future Gopher to me. However, the MSU offer is more concerning competion as they may sell more immediate PT.
Click to expand...

If he really is Minnesota bound and wants to make a statement, I think it would say more about Minnesota if he just committed and didn't waiver when other offers come in. These primadonna types don't appeal to me. Seems like more times than not they get a rude awakening when it's time to get to work and produce when the recruiting party is over.
 

Farrow has a close relationship with Ben Strickland, one of our Grad Asst coaches. He taught for a year at Wayzata, and coached DBs at Minnetonka before going back to UW as a GA.
 

Some of y'all are pretty hard on these kids. They're kids. They're flighty almost by definition. I hope he stays home because we could use a decent player like him, if he doesn't then I still wish him the bet.
 

Brew_recruit said:
kids that grow up in the south burbs see Wisconsin as a more fun and better school then the U.
Click to expand...

Have you ever looked at a map? I'll give you SW but definitely not S for Minnetonka.

Troll on.
 

Easing on his commitment is certainly no indication that this kid is "flighty" or a "primadonna." Just as many of us troll the professional world looking for the best job offer, so too must these kids. Just like any decision made in life, the most to gain usually comes after careful weighing of various options. When one does their homework and due diligence, things usually bode well for that individual. Kudos to this kid for taking his time making the most important decision of his life to this point. Good luck to him, and hopefully he'll be a Gopher.
 

save this post for 4 years from now: James Farrow has bust written all over him.
 


GopherGod said:
Should I just add it to the one where you said SH was a lock to come here.
Click to expand...

He was a lock to come here until dear old dad got dollars from USC he could not pass up. But You can add it to anything you want Troll.
 

ChiGopher said:
Easing on his commitment is certainly no indication that this kid is "flighty" or a "primadonna." Just as many of us troll the professional world looking for the best job offer, so too must these kids.
Click to expand...

If I accept a job offer, but continue to go on interviews, that job is gone if my prospective employer finds out. I'm not saying we should pull his scholarship, but if he's going to consider other options, then the Gophers should continue to look at other options too.
 

RodentRampage said:
If I accept a job offer, but continue to go on interviews, that job is gone if my prospective employer finds out. I'm not saying we should pull his scholarship, but if he's going to consider other options, then the Gophers should continue to look at other options too.
Click to expand...

Not exactly. I have every right to look for a job anywhere and anytime I see fit. what it comes down to is if its a strong employment market or not. If it is a strong employment market, the ball is in the court of the person looking for a job and the potential employer will certainly look the other way if the potential employee is looking elsewhere, the potential employee might even decide to sweeten the pot. If it is a bad employment market, then the potential employer has other options and certainly doesn't have to keep the offer on the table when there are tens of other potential employees out there.

Minnesota is operating in the strong employment market, they need to make the potential recruit feel wanted because often times there are not other options (at least not great options). OSU is in the weak employment market, they have other potential recruits lined up to jump at the offer.

Let's not act like the coaches pulling the scholarship is going to do anything more that hurt the program (end feed our Napoleon complex).
 

I didn't say that you didn't have a right to keep interviewing even after accepting an offer of employment. But if you have that right, then employers should be able to keep interviewing even after you accept an offer, and pull that offer at any point before you're actually hired. Works both ways. Strong employment market or weak employment market, if you're going to continue to interview after accepting a job offer, it's best not to let your prospective employer know about it.

If recruits see Minnesota as a "safety school", where they will accept an offer but only come here if they can't get anything better, that's not good for the U. We need to keep looking around too. Again, I'm not saying to pull his scholarship offer, but we need to keep looking too - if we get someone better, then maybe we'd consider pulling his scholarship offer.

If thinking we are Napoleon is a bad thing, than so is acting like doormat.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom