Matt Kegel Decommit

[die hard gopher]

So the tweet he sent out today that says he is "not committed to the direction the program is going" is "zero reason" to think he possibly left on his own?

He also previously said something along the lines of the only way he wouldn't be coming to Minnesota would be if he died.

 

[MGGopher]

Huge bummer. Of course it's not unusual for kids to decommit after a coaching change -- especially when coordinators (and/or position coaches) leave -- but I hate to lose an in-state kid who had been so outspoken in his committment. The OV this weekend can't have been the first time Kegel communicated at length with the staff. Wonder what the tipping point was. We'll probably never know.

 

[MGGopher]

He also previously said something along the lines of the only way he wouldn't be coming to Minnesota would be if he died.

Do we know for sure he's still alive? I mean, has anyone seen him today? Somebody get over to his house and stake it out ASAP.

 

['13Gopher]

I'm not a big fan of pulling offers this late in the cycle. It can leave guys high and dry. I know winning is important but loyalty and committed should still mean something on both sides. Did Kill ever pull offers? Serious question as I can't recall any.

Obviously Kill's first year would be the only one worth looking back at.


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[BleedGopher]

per Joe:

Chaska offensive lineman Matt Kegel announced Tuesday that he is decommitting from the Gophers.

The 6-6, 300-pound Kegel is a consensus three-star recruit who also had reported offers from Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Pittsburgh before committing to Minnesota in May.

Kegel is the fifth player to decommit from the Gophers since Jerry Kill retired and Tracy Claeys taking over as head coach. The others are linebacker Andre Polk (from Florida), defensive end Tralund Webber (Texas), offensive tackle Sean Foster (Illinois) and quarterback Tony Poljan (Michigan).

But some of these partings have been mutual. The Gophers have reshaped their offensive line recruiting strategy since firing Matt Limegrover, who handled both offensive coordinator and offensive line duties.

http://www.startribune.com/kegel-decommits-from-gophers/362565991/

Go Gophers!!

 

[koppco1]

If that's the case, then we can likely rule out Claey's and Co quitting him.

Why's that? We quit on a higher ranked linemen a few weeks ago. Its clear that Claeys wasn't happy with all of the current oline commits based on the fact we really put the hard sell on more guys like Cushenberry, Castillo, and Wright despite already having 5 commits (including Foster and Kegel). Also, Kegel was very excited to go to the U so the quick change is likely mutual. Coaches have backup plans and so do many players as teams like OK state, ISU, etc. probably kept in touch with him and said "If things change give us a call". That's likely what he did here. If he fits a scheme for another team better than Minnesota it does no good for either party to stay committed. Good for him and the Gophers that it appears it may work out for the best for both sides.

 

[Tucker32]

There was a ton of good news this weekend, with some great recruits committing. Then, we lose a kid and people start freaking out. This happens every year with some kids.

It's also not a crappy thing to do to Matt if Coach told him our philosophy is shifting and you don't fit. If it's my kid I want the coaches to be honest with him so he can find a situation that fits rather than have a limbo year or be unhappy. Being involved with high school recruits in the past it usually goes something like - we will honor the scholarship, but here's the situation... It may be in your best interest to look at other programs.

I've seen some kids stick with a commitment because they love the school, most choose to move on because they want a situation that fits and they appreciate the honesty. And, who knows, this could just simply be a 17 or 18 year old kid changing his mind. It happens.

 

[Section2]

It's highly likely this is mutual. I'm frankly shocked that people would assume otherwise. If a defensive player leaves, you can assume the opposite.
As to harming the kid, much less harmful to respectfully let them know now they aren't a fit when they aren't penalized for transferring. It does no good to "honor" a commitment to have a kid riding the pine.

 

[hungan1]

It's highly likely this is mutual. I'm frankly shocked that people would assume otherwise. If a defensive player leaves, you can assume the opposite.
As to harming the kid, much less harmful to respectfully let them know now they aren't a fit when they aren't penalized for transferring. It does no good to "honor" a commitment to have a kid riding the pine.

That is why he was echoing Jerry Kill on not wanting to cheat the University.

It is hard to see a kid like him go, but it might be for the best for him than sitting on the bench if he does not "fit" the new offensive scheme.

I don't know if I am to be excited or worried. Two quality OL in Foster and Kegel being allowed to move on.

Is Claeys switching from the Wiscy beefcake model eschewed by Kill & Limegrover to a Glenn Mason type quick shifting agile linemen or a semblance of it?

Like with Barber & Maroney tandem, will we see something similar with Smith & Brooks or someone who may step up next season and surprise us? That will be one heck of an offense with the passing game opened up. Can't wait to see how everything pans out. You've got to be excited about the shape of things to come. If not, we always have GH.

 

[josh087]

This is gonna sound like bad timing and not to trash the kid, but I saw him play twice this year and wasn't impressed. I'd say that whether or not he was still committed. I commented to a couple people at the time i watched him so it's not like this is a new opinion.

Just my $.02

 

[GopherGod]

This is gonna sound like bad timing and not to trash the kid, but I saw him play twice this year and wasn't impressed. I'd say that whether or not he was still committed. I commented to a couple people at the time i watched him so it's not like this is a new opinion. Just my $.02

Did you state this opinion on here before he decommitted?

 

[Chris Monter]

I spoke to Matt Kegel after halftime at the Minnesota Viking-Seattle football. He and six other Gopher commits were named to the Minnesota Viking All-State. I had planned on running this interview before his visit.

He had some comments that I thought were interesting at the time and now are a bit telling.

Here is part of the interview.

Gopher Hole: Are you just as strong with your commitment as you ever have been with the changes?

Matt Kegel: I have to talk to Claeys a little bit more before I lock down on anything, but I have my official visit this weekend, so we’ll see how that goes.

Gopher Hole: What are you hoping to get out of the visit or learn?

Matt Kegel: I just really want to sit down with coaches and talk about the school and what is going to be changing with the new coaches. Going to talk through the new offense that they are putting in. Looking at what it means for the zone offense and what they are thinking about doing with that. Just learning a little bit more about who they are thinking about hiring and getting to know Coach Claeys and the staff as a whole now since I am so used to just talking to Coach Limegrover and Coach Sherels. I should probably start reaching out to the other guys and start talking to them.

Gopher Hole: Does that make it a little bit hard because you thought that you were set and I am sure that a lot of your friends and classmates know where they are going to college. Does that make it tough when a lot of your buddies or kids from school ask you what is going on?

Matt Kegel: I just kind of tell them the same thing over and over again. I’ll let them know when I do and they tend to just stop asking questions about it. I’m not too worried about it or anything. I know that wherever I end up will be a great place to be.

Gopher Hole: What is (former Chaska teammate and current Gopher) Bronson (Dovich) saying to you? I know that you are good friends

Matt Kegel: Bronson is just saying to be patient. Wait and talk to the new O-line coach when they hire him. Just stay loyal to Minnesota, so he is definitely edging me to Minnesota as much as he can.

 

[60's Guy]

It Shouldn't Surprise People

Claeys fired Limegrover. Someone he's worked 18 hours a day with for 20 years, or whatever the similar number is. He's not going to be shy about being honest with recruits he's only met a handful of times.

 

[highwayman]

I find it hard to believe we would have told him to look elsewhere. Possible, but I don't see it.

Could be any number of things, including grades, interfering parents, other better players who are flipping to Minnesota...

Doesn't have to be a negative for Minnesota.

He also may still recommit.

 

[wait!what?]

Claeys fired Limegrover. Someone he's worked 18 hours a day with for 20 years, or whatever the similar number is. He's not going to be shy about being honest with recruits he's only met a handful of times.

yep.

 

[BarnBoy]

Did you state this opinion on here before he decommitted?

Why do that?

 

[Plinnius]

Just committed to Oklahoma State.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

Just committed to Oklahoma State.

That sure was quick. Link?

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

That sure was quick. Link?

It's true. Definitely makes it look like this was his choice, and not necessarily mutual.

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[supadupafly]

That sure was quick. Link?

Sounds like he has a lot of family history with Oklahoma State (see his note...says something like the 5th generation of his family to attend Okie State....the first to play football there), so this shouldn't be a surprising second choice for him after mutually departing with Minnesota. Best of luck and wish him no ill will. Go Gophers! Ski-U-Mah!

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[beavergopher]

The lure of Eskimo Joes was too strong to overcome.

 

[Golden_Sloth]

Well this is a bummer. I would be pretty surprised if we told him to look elsewhere and he was able to commit to OK State this quickly. I'm thinking it's more likely we just lost out.

Good luck to Matt, hopefully we are able to get Castillo, Cushenberry, or both.

 

[Spoofin]

So I think this is the first "real" fallout from the Limey Firing, right?

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Monter's interview makes it pretty clear it wasn't necessarily mutual. Sounds like the scheme may be going to the Mason era? Or did I misread?

A few of the guys at 247 implied this isn't a huge loss based on his senior year. I don't know, can't have enough decent lineman prospects. We really need to land one or both of Castillo or Cushenberry.

 

[husker70]

It still leaves us without an offensive line coach which is the bigger story. How Coach Claeys fills this position will tell you how the offense will go. Is there an in house candidate? Or will he look for an Offensive Coordinator and ask who he would like as O line coach.

 

[Winasota Gopher]

I would think it depends on where he commits to next... if it's a lower tier school than here, then it's most likely he was asked to look around. But if it's a better program, then most likely he left on his own. It's a pretty simple logic.

No. That would imply that every guy that gets a better offer always takes it. He could conceptually go to a "lower tier program" and have done it on his own accord. If he doesn't mesh well with Claey's he 100% could voluntarily jump ship and go to any school he chooses.

It's not simple logic, at all.

 

[dpodoll68]

It still leaves us without an offensive line coach which is the bigger story. How Coach Claeys fills this position will tell you how the offense will go. Is there an in house candidate? Or will he look for an Offensive Coordinator and ask who he would like as O line coach.

Claeys has stated multiple times that he will hire the O line coach first, probably before the bowl game. The only in-house candidate is Trevor Olson, but I very much doubt that Claeys will entrust that opportunity to a first-time position coach with no professional staff or recruiting experience.

 

[50PoundHead]

Monter's interview makes it pretty clear it wasn't necessarily mutual. Sounds like the scheme may be going to the Mason era? Or did I misread?

A few of the guys at 247 implied this isn't a huge loss based on his senior year. I don't know, can't have enough decent lineman prospects. We really need to land one or both of Castillo or Cushenberry.

Not really sure, but Calhoun and Wright are big bodied OGs and Mason didn't have a lot of those. That said, today's training methods have made players bigger over the past decade, so that may not be an apples-to-apples comparison. If we bring back a Mason era approach, I want Claeys to get a Mason-like sport coat as pictured below.

 

[balds]

My 2 cents on where the offense is heading: Look no further than TCU. By no means am I predicting that we will execute the transition as well as TCU did. I know Claeys is close with the TCU staff, and It's my presumption that it was eye opening to witness the different trajectories of each teams offense the past two years. Add to that Clayes numerous comments about getting the ball to his best players in space, the recruitment of an ultra athletic QB, and an apparent shift to more nimble OL who are more capable at operating in space.

Claeys has been fairly solid at identifying and recruiting needs on defense, hopefully he can be as successful on the offensive side of the ball.

 

[Otis]

My 2 cents on where the offense is heading: Look no further than TCU. By no means am I predicting that we will execute the transition as well as TCU did. I know Claeys is close with the TCU staff, and It's my presumption that it was eye opening to witness the different trajectories of each teams offense the past two years. Add to that Clayes numerous comments about getting the ball to his best players in space, the recruitment of an ultra athletic QB, and an apparent shift to more nimble OL who are more capable at operating in space.

Claeys has been fairly solid at identifying and recruiting needs on defense, hopefully he can be as successful on the offensive side of the ball.

I hope you are right. Getting the #12 dual threat quarterback would help us go to a more wide open offense. Grind it out football has worked for Kill but we need more to get to the next level.