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Young defensive lineman Hageman has loads of potential
By Marcus Fuller
Brandon Kirksey had the distinction of being the strongest player on Minnesota's defense last year, but that now likely belongs to a redshirt freshman.
Former tight end Ra'Shede Hageman's transition into a load at defensive end amazes even Kirksey, a junior defensive tackle. They both bench press over 400 pounds, but Hageman power cleans 390 pounds.
"His frame is ridiculous," Kirksey said of the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Hageman. "I don't take anything away from him. Any success he has is going to help the team and help me."
Kirksey and Hageman are roommates, along with 6-6, 305-pound freshman defensive tackle Sean Ferguson, sophomore defensive end D.L. Wilhite and Kendall Gregory-McGhee.
Hageman and Gregory-McGhee gained about 25 pounds while sitting out their freshman year. Wilhite put on about 10 pounds. And Ferguson arrived in the spring as massive as he is now.
Kirksey joked that there is never anything to eat in the house. It's easy to see why.
-- Gophers coach Tim Brewster said the 295-pound Kirksey has a chance to be one of the top defensive tackles in the Big Ten this year.
The St. Louis native said he's been hearing that kind of praise from his defensive line coach Tim Cross since last season ended, and even more after he was named a captain.
"It motivates me to know that my coach feels that way about me," he said. "It's nothing new. Coach Cross and I always talk about it, but it's time to fill the shoes."
-- The battle in the trenches at fall camp will resemble that of other Big Ten teams more than a year ago, because the offensive line is also getting bigger.
Kirksey hopes that will make Minnesota's defensive line, which has four new starters, more prepared for the season.
"I feel like in practice we can go harder than we do in the game," he said. "It's all about competing. I like the fact that the offensive line is getting bigger and stronger."
The entire starting offensive line returns with tackles Dom Alford and Jeff Wills, guards Chris Bunders and Matt Carufel and center D.J. Burris. But Brewster said tackles Ed Olson and Brooks Michel, guard Ryan Orton and cener Ryan Wynn could push for starting jobs.
-- The Gophers are four-point underdogs for their Sept. 2 season opener against Middle Tennessee State. Brewster said it was "deservedly so" and that he preferred to be overlooked.
But senior fullback Jon Hoese thought the oddsmakers' prediction was a lack of respect.
"It's a slap in the face, but it's not like they are a small college team with nothing to show for it," Hoese said of Middle Tennessee State, which won 10 games last year. "This whole season a lot of people are going to doubt us. We are going to have to prove them wrong."
http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers/2010/08/young-defensive-linemen-have-l.html
Go Gophers!!
By Marcus Fuller
Brandon Kirksey had the distinction of being the strongest player on Minnesota's defense last year, but that now likely belongs to a redshirt freshman.
Former tight end Ra'Shede Hageman's transition into a load at defensive end amazes even Kirksey, a junior defensive tackle. They both bench press over 400 pounds, but Hageman power cleans 390 pounds.
"His frame is ridiculous," Kirksey said of the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Hageman. "I don't take anything away from him. Any success he has is going to help the team and help me."
Kirksey and Hageman are roommates, along with 6-6, 305-pound freshman defensive tackle Sean Ferguson, sophomore defensive end D.L. Wilhite and Kendall Gregory-McGhee.
Hageman and Gregory-McGhee gained about 25 pounds while sitting out their freshman year. Wilhite put on about 10 pounds. And Ferguson arrived in the spring as massive as he is now.
Kirksey joked that there is never anything to eat in the house. It's easy to see why.
-- Gophers coach Tim Brewster said the 295-pound Kirksey has a chance to be one of the top defensive tackles in the Big Ten this year.
The St. Louis native said he's been hearing that kind of praise from his defensive line coach Tim Cross since last season ended, and even more after he was named a captain.
"It motivates me to know that my coach feels that way about me," he said. "It's nothing new. Coach Cross and I always talk about it, but it's time to fill the shoes."
-- The battle in the trenches at fall camp will resemble that of other Big Ten teams more than a year ago, because the offensive line is also getting bigger.
Kirksey hopes that will make Minnesota's defensive line, which has four new starters, more prepared for the season.
"I feel like in practice we can go harder than we do in the game," he said. "It's all about competing. I like the fact that the offensive line is getting bigger and stronger."
The entire starting offensive line returns with tackles Dom Alford and Jeff Wills, guards Chris Bunders and Matt Carufel and center D.J. Burris. But Brewster said tackles Ed Olson and Brooks Michel, guard Ryan Orton and cener Ryan Wynn could push for starting jobs.
-- The Gophers are four-point underdogs for their Sept. 2 season opener against Middle Tennessee State. Brewster said it was "deservedly so" and that he preferred to be overlooked.
But senior fullback Jon Hoese thought the oddsmakers' prediction was a lack of respect.
"It's a slap in the face, but it's not like they are a small college team with nothing to show for it," Hoese said of Middle Tennessee State, which won 10 games last year. "This whole season a lot of people are going to doubt us. We are going to have to prove them wrong."
http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers/2010/08/young-defensive-linemen-have-l.html
Go Gophers!!
