Dutchtown's Alonzo Craighton comfortable with moves to Minnesota, cornerback
Answering questions about the cold weather in Minnesota appears to have become routine for Alonzo Craighton.
Dutchtown's senior safety knows his transition to college will be an adjustment, maybe more so than for most, but said his October commitment to the Golden Golphers couldn't be any more solid now, three months later and with National Signing Day two weeks away.
"I'm pretty happy about it," he said. "The cold, that's just something you've gotta deal with. My mom always says that you've gotta grind things out or you're not gonna get anything done, so it doesn't matter where I'm at — you've just gotta play football."
Craighton hasn't visited the university since September, but has kept in close contact with coach Jerry Kill and his staff, including defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator Jay Sawvel.
"Me and coach Sawvel and coach Kill have a great relationship," he said. "They were at my house (Monday) and just talking about how (Sawvel) can't wait to get a Louisiana player. He'd only had one the last couple years, so he doesn't get to really coach a lot of down south kids unless they're from Texas or Florida. The Louisiana/Mississippi area's not really heavily recruited by Minnesota, so it was nice for him to get a Louisiana DB, and we're looking to get more from down here — a couple of wide receivers we're hoping will commit."
The Golden Gophers continue to target Comeaux's Hunter Register and Hahnville's Brandon Singleton, with Register scheduled to announce a commitment Wednesday — with Louisiana-Lafayette, Minnesota and Tulane appearing the likeliest possible choices.
Craighton said he's attempted to help recruit the pass-catchers and is interested to hear their eventual choices.
"I need somebody I can come down home with," Craighton joked.
The bigger transition may be an expected move back to cornerback, where the 6-foot-2, 185-pound defensive back hasn't played for the Griffins since sophomore season.
"When coach Sawvel came and first saw me practice, he said, 'I wish I knew this guy could run,'" Craighton said. "Then he saw my combine when I ran a 4.6(-second 40-yard dash) flat, and he said, 'OK, we're gonna get him.' Ever since then, he's been talking to me about playing cornerback. It's just something you've gotta deal with.
"Nothing major, just learning the new position. You can play anywhere if you're a DB. That's why they call you 'DB' and not just safety and cornerback, but DB. You've gotta learn how to play everywhere. It's gonna be fun learning hot to play corner and the new coverages."
All that considered, Craighton said he felt extremely comfortable during his visit to Minnesota and looks forward to the upcoming move.
"When I went on the visit, the crowd was like the SEC," he said. "It was just like home. Big Ten football is on the uprise, and obviously you get to play agains the national champion (Ohio State)."
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Go Gophers!!