Official 2013 Gopher Fall Camp Thread: Updates, Analysis, Links, etc.

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saw the BTN bus driving around downtown Minneapolis this morning. unfortunately i was not asked for my autograph




BleedGopher said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>All thumbs up from Philip Nelson as he signed the BTN bus this evening. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Ski&src=hash">#Ski</a>-U-Mah <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23YEAR3&src=hash">#YEAR3</a> <a href="http://t.co/LGxN5H1bVD">pic.twitter.com/LGxN5H1bVD</a></p>— Gopher Football (@GopherFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/GopherFootball/statuses/368535766827151360">August 17, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Go Gophers!!
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per Sid:

• Gophers quarterback Philip Nelson, who got his first action as a freshman last year in the Wisconsin game on Oct. 20, was asked how things are different for him after starting the final seven games of the season. “You know, last year was really just getting my feet wet a little bit and being able to figure out what it’s like,” Nelson said. “But I think our whole offense getting a year of experience and me getting a half of a season under my belt and spring ball and summer has prepared us. I think we’re ready to hit camp hard and hit the ground running and do what we have to do.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/220136371.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

Go Gophers!!
 



I watched part of the scrimmage at the stadium on Saturday night and the three fastest players I saw were all freshmen - Edwards, Jones and Streveler. I think the first two will play a lot this year and, while I think Streveler will redshirt, it might be tempting to find a way to use that speed. I think Coach Kill found three future offensive difference-makers.
 

Except for occasional comments about how good this guy or that guy is doing, I can't recall a more secretive football crew than this one. It's like Apple holding secrets about upcoming products. I think this is positive about what may happen once the whistle blows.

I personally look forward to the Gophers blowing out the Running Rebs to open up the season. This WILL finally be the year we don't have to bit our nails while defeating low ranked teams in bad conferences.
 

STrib: Gophers linebacker Hill goes from walk-on to senior leader

“He’s a tremendous student, a tremendous character and a great athlete,” Kill said. “Where I’ve been before in turning programs around, he’s the type of leader you want. I’m a huge Aaron Hill fan — huge.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/220296701.html

Go Gophers!!
 

COMMENTARY Hamar: Gophers looking for more magic from Kill

“I think the talent has always been there, but our mentality is very different,” Vereen said. “Our mentality is we’re hungrier. We understand now the steps it’s going to take to have the success we want to have. Coach Kill has done a great job of installing that underdog mindset in us.”

“When you leave a program, you want to leave it where your name is going to be remembered,” Vereen said. “Our seniors are definitely ready to do that. We know that this is a big year for us, that we can take that final step towards taking the University of Minnesota to where it needs to be.”

http://www.theindependent.com/sport...cle_edcf673c-0956-11e3-aa9a-001a4bcf887a.html

Go Gophers!!
 




Kill confirms that Nelson will be the starting QB against UNLV

Gophers coach Kill confirmed after Tuesday's practice that Philip Nelson would be the starting quarterback for the Aug. 29 opener against UNLV – not that there was any doubt.

Mitch Leidner will be the primary backup, with Chris Steveler the No. 3 option and Donovahn Jones shifted to wide receiver.

“A kid I feel really good about right now is Chris Streveler,” Kill said. “[In scrimmages], he just plays, and the chains move and good things happen.”

* Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys is preparing in case UNLV comes out running a no-huddle offense under first-year offensive coordinator Timm Rosenbach. With all the focus on who will start at middle linebacker – Damien Wilson or Jack Lynn – Claeys intends to play two units of linebackers a lot.

“We’re not going to know [the best starters to use] until after the first game,” Claeys said. “A lot of kids can practice, and all of a sudden, they get in the game, and they don’t play very well. So we’ll have two groups ready to go.”

* Freshman linebacker De’Niro Laster returned from his knee injury Tuesday, ahead of schedule. He’ll get several reps late in camp, with the coaches strongly considering playing him this year, at least on special teams.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/blogs/Gridiron_Gold.html
 

STrib: Gophers tight end Williams follows family tradition

Some athletes have good bloodlines. For Gophers tight end Maxx Williams, it’s more like a pipeline.

His parents were both Gophers athletes. Rochele Williams (nee Goetz) was a four-year volleyball letter-winner. Brian Williams played three seasons with the Gophers before playing center for the New York Giants from 1989 to ’99.

“He’s a great young man, and right now, offensively, he’s one of our better players,” Gophers coach Jerry Kill said. “If he wouldn’t have gotten hurt last year [with a bruised sternum], he probably wouldn’t have redshirted, but it’s worked out good. We’ve still got him for four years.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/220445071.html

Go Gophers!!
 

1500: CB Briean Boddy capitalizing on key opportunity in Gophers' secondary

"Briean Boddy has had a great camp. Great camp," Kill said. "Briean is certainly eye-catching with the way he's been playing."

Kills sees Boddy as a prime example of what he has been looking for to create the backbone in his now-three year overhaul of the Gophers.

"He never complains. He never comes in and gripes about his role. He doesn't say anything, just goes out and plays and works hard, does what he needs to do," Kill said. "That's the type of people you need to have to be successful and win. I'd jump into a pit with that kid. He's going to get after it and play hard for you."

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/...on_key_opportunity_in_Gophers_secondary082013

Go Gophers!!
 



Gopher Fall Camp – Day 16 by Nate Sandell

Notes and observations from Day 16 of fall camp (8/20)

• Installation of the game plan for the Gophers' Aug. 29 season opener against UNLV began on Tuesday. Coach Jerry Kill said specific preparations for UNLV will slowly be integrated in the next two days. The Gophers will have Friday off from practice before kicking off their typical game-week routine on Saturday.

"It's getting real now," safety Cedric Thompson said with a grin after practice Tuesday "Today we were getting excited. It's only nine days away now. We were all talking about it."

• Barring injuries, there is no doubting that sophomore Philip Nelson will enter the season as the Gophers' No. 1 quarterback, with redshirt freshman Mitch Leidner positioned as No. 2.

And although reassurance wasn't exactly needed, Kill gave it on Tuesday when he said Nelson is "certainly our starter."

The No. 1 and No. 2 spots aren't the only roles that look to be solidified.

After finally shifting true freshman quarterback Donovahn Jones into a wide receiver role, it has cleared any lingering debate over who the Gophers' third option under center is.

"A kid who has really come on here lately is (freshman) Chris Streveler," Kill said. "It seems like when he goes and plays in a scrimmage situation he just plays and the chains move and good things happen."

• Redshirt freshman defensive back John McKelvey has replaced wide receiver Andre McDonald on the 105-man roster. McDonald was removed from the camp roster recently for "violation of team rules. Kill has noted that McDonald's status will be reevaluated after the season opener.

McKelvey is expected to used on the Gophers' scout team defense

• Senior receiver Derrick Engel remains out with a groin injury. There doesn't seem to be much concern about his absence carrying over into the UNLV game, but it is critical to the "U" receiving corps that he is healthy and ready to go by the start of the season.

• Freshman linebacker De'Niro Laster returned to practice after being sidelined for more than a week with a knee injury. His return is slightly ahead of schedule, with it once projected that he wouldn't be back until next week.

Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys plans to give Laster a bump in reps the next several days in order to make a final evaluation about where he will fit into their game plan. The most likely destination for Laster is a spot on the special teams squad.

• Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany, who has been on a tour this August of the conference's 12 football programs, is scheduled to be in Minnesota on Thursday.

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/...parations_for_opener_against_UNLV_begin082013
 

Shama: Here’s Your Gopher Football Prediction(s)

What’s going to happen during 2013 including the start of the nonconference season next week? Well, three different scenarios are likely but none involve a winning season in the Big Ten where Minnesota faces eight conference rivals.

In a word, this program—now in its third year under head coach Jerry Kill—remains fragile. The Gophers still don’t have enough outstanding players. Translation: Minnesota needs more talented personnel that can decide the outcome of games, and depth is a concern even where there are playmakers.

The coaching and recruiting is in place to eventually make the Gophers winners and New Year’s Day bowl travelers. But in 2013 Minnesota could end the season with any of these records: 8-4 overall, 4-4 in the Big Ten. Or try this: 7-5 overall, 3-5 in the Big Ten. And perhaps: 5-7 overall, 1-7 or 2-8 in the Big Ten.

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Go Gophers!!
 

Joe Christensen's blog: Gophers notes: Engel, Wolitarsky, McDonald, Jones, Streveler

* Limegrover on reserve quarterback Chris Streveler: “It’s like that light bulb’s come on, kind of like what happened with [Philip Nelson] about Week 3 of fall camp [last year]. [Streveler] went through the spring, had his ups and downs. Early part of camp, wasn’t really feeling comfortable and all of a sudden, the light bulb went on. We’re pretty excited and pretty encouraged about Chris, especially the last four or five days.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/220568451.html

Go Gophers!!
 

PiPress: Gophers football: K.J. Maye will find a slot to play in

"In our offense, we really don't have an exact spot for me," Maye said. "It's less pounding on your body as a receiver. I like it better. But they recruited me as an athlete, so coming in they said I could play running back or receiver. I trained for both."

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci...rce=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Go Gophers!!
 

Gopher Fall Camp Day 17 – WR corps progressing, but still a question mark

by Nate Sandell

MINNEAPOLIS -- Wide receiver was already a major question mark for the Minnesota Gophers offense, but the receiver corps has taken a few hits recently that have only added to the speculation about the group's outlook.

The removal of troubled sophomore Andre McDonald from the 105-man fall camp roster last week was a blow to the Gophers simply because it left a vacancy in their receiver rotation, which has forced the rest of the crew to fill in the extra reps.

Reinstated with the team in the summer after being suspended in December for "violation of team policy," McDonald's speed and bulk had garnered a fair amount of hype in terms of what he could do with the second chance he had been given this season.

But while there was no doubting McDonald's potential, he was still a ways off from a dramatic change in his role three weeks into fall camp, shortly after he rejoined the active roster after being suspended in January.

From the moment coach Jerry Kill cleared McDonald, the coaching staff approached the young receiver's return with a dose of both optimism and caution. Knowing McDonald would have to be eased back in, the Gophers were already preparing other options.

In short, McDonald wasn't going to be a key go-to feature of the offense at the onset of the season.

Offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover acknowledged the loss of a potentially solid piece in his rotation, but he exuded confidence in several others, including Derrick Engel, Isaac Fruechte and sophomore running back-turned-receiver K.J. Maye, to form a solid backbone in a receiver corps trying to establish an identity.

"To be honest with you, Andre had a lot of work he needed to do to really be a force for us," Limegrover said. "He would have had that opportunity had he been able to stick around."

"But we're really getting comfortable with five or six guys ... I think we're going to be healthy and we're going to have a pretty good group. Those guys are really starting to feel it."

Kill hasn't shut out the possibility of McDonald being brought back again. The former Hopkins high school star remains on the team and is eligible to return when the "U" roster expands after next Thursday's season opener against UNLV. Kill said he would reevaluate the situation at that point.

Meanwhile, injuries have created another layer of lingering concern at receiver. Engel has missed practice time for the last week due to a groin injury. After sitting out on Monday, Engel was allowed to do individual drills only on Tuesday.

Engel's injury is being monitored closely, but there is not much mounting concern among the players and coaches that it will be a problem when kickoff against UNLV rolls around.

Freshman Drew Wolitarsky returned to practice Monday after being sidelined by a tight hamstring. Kill said Wolitarsky has been limited in what he's allowed to do. The true freshman still has an opportunity to break into the rotation this season, but Kill said he has "a lot to catch up with" before that happens.

Redshirt senior Victor Keise has been slowed by a hand injury, which he has been wearing a protective brace over. Kill said Keise went to see a specialist, but has been given no clear answer whether or not he will be cleared to play next Thursday.

Keise, who had one catch in his first three seasons, has been far off the radar of program onlookers, but he had been gaining mention for his performance in camp from Limegrover and Kill.

A recent positive for the receivers is the development of redshirt freshman Jamel Harbison, who is coming off an ACL injury he suffered in the first game of the 2012 season. Harbison had a slow start to camp, but seems to be gaining momentum as the season draws nearer.

"Jamel has really stepped up and really played well," Fruechte said "He's looked really good. It seems like every day he's up on (our team bulletin board) for having big blocks or big catches. He looks like he feels very comfortable with his knee."

Notes

• The final determination of who the Gophers' return man will be on punts and kickoffs has yet to be solidified, but Kill made it clear that junior Marcus Jones will be a member of the return team in some capacity.

"It brings a great deal of worth. That's what he does well, with some other things," Kill said. "He will definitely be a guy who will be involved in our return game. You always go back to trust-factor. Marcus has done it in a game, so I can tell he'll be a part of the mix. Anybody else after that I can't tell you.

Jones has returned 17 kicks for an average of 26.2 yards (445 total yards) in the course of his first two seasons.

A pair of ACL surgeries have hindered Jones' career, leading partially to the idea of moving him from receiver to cornerback in order to reduce the risk of injury. But when asked if he had any hesitation of using Jones on kick returns, Kill adamantly responded, "Zero."

• Limegrover said a decision on the offensive line starting-five will be made on Friday before full preparations for UNLV begin on Saturday. Position battles, like the ones at left tackle and center, are still being sorted out, per Limegrover.

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/..._corps_progressing_but_still_a_question082113
 


GopherSports: Receiving Corps Shaping Up

"I think we've changed so much since last year, since our first game," Fruechte said. "We're a different team now. We're bigger. We're faster. We're stronger. I think our offense will look different because of that. I think certain people's roles will be expanded."

http://www.gophersports.com/blog/2013/08/receiving-corps-shaping-up.html

Go Gophers!!
 

I thought this must be a tight end...

Drew.JPG

Drew Wolitarsky a big receiver!
 

EE_Gopher said:
<img src="http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/attachment.php?attachmentid=2230"/>

Drew Wolitarsky a big receiver!
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I thought the same thing! When I saw that pic I went to the roster to see which TE #82 was.
 


MadtownGopher said:
I might be jumping on the redshirt berkley edwards bandwagon.
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Yep, it could be a strong possibility depending on the severity of Edwards' high ankle sprain, which Kill announced today. Return is unknown, though the x-rays revealed nothing is broken.
 

PiPress: Gophers football: Big Ten boss says Jerry Kill 'a good football coach'

"He's a good football coach," Delany said. "I saw him at Southern Illinois. I saw him at Northern Illinois. He's a program builder. You look at his resume and places he's been. You don't really get a chance to build a program unless you're here four or five years. But obviously a lot of progress has been made -- better recruiting and better players. I think the program is in very good hands."

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_23919074/gophers-football-big-ten-boss-says-jerry-kill

Go Gophers!!
 



STrib: Gophers' safety Vereen establishes his own path

The Gophers’ Brock Vereen, whose brother Shane plays for the Patriots, seems to be coming into his own as he enters his senior season at the U.

At 6-foot, 202 pounds, Brock might have the makings of his own NFL career.

“I think the University of Minnesota in general is full of late bloomers,” he said. “I think with our lack of success in previous years, we’ve been overlooked. Coach [Jerry] Kill has brought it together, and now the talent’s showing.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/220763041.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

Go Gophers!!
 

Anybody else see Willie Mobley on the New Mexico State roster. What a joke his college career turned out to be. Should have stayed home.
 

gopherinpain said:
Anybody else see Willie Mobley on the New Mexico State roster. What a joke his college career turned out to be. Should have stayed home.
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Give him some credit. It can't be easy playing D-1 football when you're in your 40's.
 

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