Q&A: Nick Connelly Says It Was Amazing To Get Gophers Offer; Will Visit Iowa Thur

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Q&A: Nick Connelly Says It Was Amazing To Get Gophers Scholarship Offer; Will Visit Iowa Thursday
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/396857?referrer_id=388419

Nick Connelly, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound junior defensive tackle/offensive tackle from Red Wing (MN) High, received a scholarship offer from Minnesota Wednesday.

Connelly, who is rated as a three-star recruit by Scout, averaged ten tackles and four solo tackles per game this past season. Connelly attended the Minnesota Gopher home games versus Western Illinois, Iowa, Penn State and Nebraska and Nebraska's home game versus Michigan State.

Connelly talked to Gopher Hole Wednesday evening about the Minnesota offer and the latest on his recruitment.

Gopher Hole: When did you get the offer from Minnesota?

Nick Connelly: I got it today on my visit. I talked to Coach Kill on the phone on Saturday. We just talked for a bit. Just small talk and he said that it would be good for me to come up for a visit sometime this week and see them work out and just talk to Coach Limegrover and stuff. I wasn't really thinking that much of it at all. I didn't figure it was an offer. I just thought it was a visit, just like all the other ones. I talked to Coach Limegrover last night and set it up for today and got there around 12-ish. Me and coach Limegrover talked for close to four hours, just about everything, basically. At the end, Coach Kill came in and they both offered me together.

Gopher Hole: How special was it to get an offer from the hometown team?

Nick Connelly: It was amazing (laughing). It was a dream come true. I grew up liking the Gophers. My dad has had season tickets forever, so I have watched the games and stuff. It is amazing thinking that someday I'll be on that field, maybe.

Gopher Hole: I remember the first time that I met you was at the Gopher camp. If I had told you back then that down the road that you would have an offer from the Gophers, would you have believed me?

Nick Connelly: No, I wouldn't have. Honestly, I wouldn't have. Back then, Mankato was pretty interested in me and I was stoked about that. I was like "Woo-hoo Mankato." Not bashing Mankato or anything like that. I thought that was really good for me and here comes this summer and I am picking up four Division I offers. That is crazy. I never would have thought that.

Gopher Hole: What was it like to get that first offer from Montana State?

Nick Connelly: It was great. Montana State is not a huge school or anything, but it is still Division I and it was still my first offer, so it was an amazing feeling. It was almost like a burden was lifted off my shoulders. Getting that first offer finally and seeing my work pay off just a little bit. It was great. It was a great feeling.

Gopher Hole: You have offers to Minnesota, Illinois State, Montana State and Wyoming. Are you going anywhere this week?

Nick Connelly: I'm going to Iowa tomorrow.

Gopher Hole: Have you been down much to Iowa before?

Nick Connelly: I have been there once this year for a camp and I talked to Coach Reid, who recruits my area last week. He said that it would be good to just come down for another visit to talk, so I set it up for tomorrow, so I am going down there. I don't really know what is going to happen. I am just going down there for a visit and talk.

Gopher Hole: Do you think that now that Minnesota has offered that any school that doesn't offer would be a little bit behind the eight ball?

Nick Connelly: Yes. They could end up surprising me like Minnesota did today, offering me, which would make my decision really hard. When Minnesota offered me, they said that they would like to know in a week, if I'll commit or not, so I kind of have a time frame there. I don't know. We'll have to see how it plays out tomorrow.

Gopher Hole: Had you even thought about committing this early or was it even something you had thought since you didn't have the offers until this week?

Nick Connelly: Yea, I didn't even think of it like I didn't even know that coaches put on a timeline until today. I thought that you just got an offer and you would wait until signing day or whenever it is tendered, but I guess that is not how it works, so I never thought about committing this early

Gopher Hole: What other plans do you have the next couple of weeks? Have you thought that far ahead? Any other trips that you are going to try to make?

Nick Connelly: I am going to Iowa tomorrow and next week, I am flying out to Colorado to see some family and I was also planning on doing the Colorado camp and then visiting Wyoming because it is only a couple of hours from Denver. I'll probably still end up doing that just for the heck of it, even if I do end up committing to Minnesota. That is all I have planned for right now.

Gopher Hole: What has the reaction been with your family and friends so far with the Minnesota offer?

Nick Connelly: They are going crazy, especially my mom (laughing). She is amazed. She is going crazier than anybody else. She is kind of out of the loop when it comes to football, but it is awesome. Everyone is so excited for me. Red Wing kid, coming from a small town. A school of 700 or whatever getting an offer from the state school, the only D1 school in Minnesota for football. It is a pretty big deal. Everyone is happy for me.

Gopher Hole: We have talked before about Red Wing wasn't successful win-wise, but you knew that you had to do the best job possible and worry about yourself. Does that make you appreciate all the hard work you have put into it now that you have gotten these offers?

Nick Connelly: Yes. It sucks that the team has not been very good, but I just have to put in all the work that I can do. I have been working as hard as I can in the offseason. Honestly, I was getting kind of discouraged. It didn't seem that that many schools were too interested, but it has started to pay off and I am glad that I put in all the hard work to get here.

Gopher Hole: What schools are you hearing from the most besides the four schools that have offered you?

Nick Connelly: Iowa and Illinois are probably the next two that are up there as far as FBS schools. Besides them, there is North Dakota State and South Dakota State. A little bit from Wisconsin, but not much.

Gopher Hole: It seems like when a kid gets a big offer that other schools will come out and figure that maybe they know something that we don't. Do you think that you will start hearing from some big schools?

Nick Connelly: Yes, I think so. I have heard that Minnesota only has six or so Division I players that they will offer each year and that if Minnesota does not offer a player that they might not be good enough to play Division I. I have heard that before and that when Minnesota does offer, that especially with this coaching staff. I have heard that they are very, very thorough in what they do instead of going off the offers that they have already. I wouldn't be surprised if schools started jumping on just because it usually seems like that is what happens when you get a big offer, but we'll have to see.

Gopher Hole: What is your timetable going to be like in the next week? Have you even thought that far yet?

Nick Connelly: Not really (laughing). It is kind of surreal right now, but it is a great feeling. I think that I am going to try to go up next week back to Minnesota and the Coach has offered to give me a tour of the whole campus again and all the facilities. I think that I am going to go up there next week and get back with them and see how it goes. Whatever happens.
 

I hope his mom convinces him to stay with Minnesota. I wonder if he'll play offense or defense. Since Limey was the one to offer, maybe he'll be on the offensive line. But averaging ten tackles a game for a defensive tackle is pretty impressive.

Sent from my MUCH i5 using Tapatalk
 

Isn't this the kid that gave Ragnow a tough time last season?
 

I'm curious how much influence Rickey Foggie had, if any, on this offer being extended.
 

Isn't this the kid that gave Ragnow a tough time last season?

Yep, the first half of his highlight video is just vs Ragnow and Chanhassen.

<iframe src='//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/1815916/highlights/40759376' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe>
 


I hope his mom convinces him to stay with Minnesota. I wonder if he'll play offense or defense. Since Limey was the one to offer, maybe he'll be on the offensive line. But averaging ten tackles a game for a defensive tackle is pretty impressive.

Sent from my MUCH i5 using Tapatalk
It was for offense.
 


Kind of interesting we gave him a deadline. Considering how excited he sounds in this interview, I'd expect a commitment soon kind of like Dovich after he was offered.
 

Amazing to Get a Gophers Offer...will visit Iowa...

Isn't that the equivalent of saying..."Received an invitation to visit the White House...will go see Vladimir Putin..."? Son, you don't wanna go down there to live with the enemy. :pig:
 



I hope he gets an offer from the Pigeyes, and then tell them to fu@k off.
 

Does every recruit feel like they need to "look around" before committing? Aren't there any Minnesota kids that just commit the moment they are offered by the Gophers (like I would have)?

Yellow bananas, man. This is frustrating.
 

Does every recruit feel like they need to "look around" before committing? Aren't there any Minnesota kids that just commit the moment they are offered by the Gophers (like I would have)?

Yellow bananas, man. This is frustrating.

Brandon Lingen did. I think the staff might tell kids to let it soak in a few days to make sure they're making the right decision. But in Connelly's case, yeah, just cancel your Iowa trip man. Not sure why that's necessary if you just got your dream offer.
 

If he really truely wants to be a Gopher, whu not sign now like Bronson Dovich?

My fear is that by dilly-dallying, he'll end up elsewhere like Ragnow. If it is for trying out camps that is one thing.

But, common man. Why consort with Iowee?

If his heart is with the Gophers, or if he truly wants to make his mom happy sign with the Gophers and be done with it.
 



If he really truely wants to be a Gopher, whu not sign now like Bronson Dovich?

My fear is that by dilly-dallying, he'll end up elsewhere like Ragnow. If it is for trying out camps that is one thing.

But, common man. Why consort with Iowee?

If his heart is with the Gophers, or if he truly wants to make his mom happy sign with the Gophers and be done with it.

Connelly was just offered yesterday. Dovich actually waited 10 days after his offer to commit. I certainly wouldn't say Connelly is already dilly-dallying, but I do agree the Iowa trip is unnecessary unless he just wants the satisfaction of getting another B1G offer.
 

Connelly was just offered yesterday. Dovich actually waited 10 days after his offer to commit. I certainly wouldn't say Connelly is already dilly-dallying, but I do agree the Iowa trip is unnecessary unless he just wants the satisfaction of getting another B1G offer.

Cant wait until he hears about all the other Minnesota kids who went to iowa turned out pretty good generally speaking. how they turn 3 stars into the NFL rookie leading studs.
 

Cant wait until he hears about all the other Minnesota kids who went to iowa turned out pretty good generally speaking. how they turn 3 stars into the NFL rookie leading studs.


troll much. thanks for your input hogeye scum. :pig:

p.s. and wait until he hears about all of your glorious iowee hogeye players who have been arrested over the past couple years, kicked off the team for various serious transgressions, and how most of the iowee team had to go to the hospital during team training activities with life threatening health problems because your "top notch" (sarcasm intended) training staff down there in old ioweee city doesn't know what in the hell they are doing and apparently treat the football players who come to ioweee like nothing more than herds of cattle.

at least the U of M coaching staff and system gives a rip about their players well being and conduct as a citizen and student. can't say the same for your illustrious u of i.

later cheech. come back and play again real soon, you hear. :p
 

Ferentz runs as tight a ship an any bigten coach. Its true if you mess up youll probably find yourself off the team, simple concept. Karl Klug, Eubanks, and the Binns brothers say hello. Watch this unfold when the smoke and mirrors routine sorts itself out.
 

Ferentz runs as tight a ship an any bigten coach. Its true if you mess up youll probably find yourself off the team, simple concept. Karl Klug, Eubanks, and the Binns brothers say hello. Watch this unfold when the smoke and mirrors routine sorts itself out.

I bet you come here everyday and just wait for someone to mention Iowa, must be a pretty sad life
 

I hope his mom convinces him to stay with Minnesota. I wonder if he'll play offense or defense. Since Limey was the one to offer, maybe he'll be on the offensive line. But averaging ten tackles a game for a defensive tackle is pretty impressive.

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Mom is always the key. If Mom wants him closer to home, and they already have season tickets it would seem Minnesota would be the correct answer. If he goes with Montana State, Colorado, Iowa or Wyoming then it just wave from the bench and wave saying HI! Mom.
 

I believe he was caught off guard with the offer. He is following through on a commitment that he made with Iowa coaches and knew that was coming up. Thursday (today) is pretty quick, so perhaps he'll come back, chat with family, meet with the coaches and then come on board. I would think that his dad who has season tickets and mom loving to watch him here would be a plus for the family. They could have a lot of fun hanging out at TCF knowing that their son is going to be on the field that day.
 

Ferentz runs as tight a ship an any bigten coach. Its true if you mess up youll probably find yourself off the team, simple concept. Karl Klug, Eubanks, and the Binns brothers say hello. Watch this unfold when the smoke and mirrors routine sorts itself out.

The way you talk, you'd think recruits who have both MN and IA offers go to IA more often than MN. Of course that isn't even close to being true.
 

Cant wait until he hears about all the other Minnesota kids who went to iowa turned out pretty good generally speaking. how they turn 3 stars into the NFL rookie leading studs.

This kid is a Gopher lock so you picked the wrong thread to troll in.
 

The Gopher offer caught Connelly by surprise, so he still took the trip since it was the next day and his head was still spinning. He's probably on the phone committing to Coach Kill right now.
 

Ferentz runs as tight a ship an any bigten coach. Its true if you mess up youll probably find yourself off the team, simple concept. Karl Klug, Eubanks, and the Binns brothers say hello. Watch this unfold when the smoke and mirrors routine sorts itself out.

Satire?

Do you even follow your own team?

Marcus Binns? I actually know Marcus, so I'm not ripping on him at all, but he was a walk-on at Iowa who never played (I think he was on the team for a year). Do you think that "hello" from walk-on Marcus Binns is going persuade Mr. Connelly? Heck, even his brother, Broderick is a teacher at Cretin. That should lock up Mr. Connelly.
 

I agree it caught him off surprise. If it came 10 days sooner he wouldn't be at Iowa right now but since it was the day before he followed through with it.
 

Cant wait until he hears about all the other Minnesota kids who went to iowa turned out pretty good generally speaking. how they turn 3 stars into the NFL rookie leading studs.

First he's got to show up to Iowa City to hear that
 

MspHawk missed on a key observation Connelly didn't go to Cretin! He also didn't grow up on the Iowa border! Iowa hasn't done very well, with MN kids, unless one of those two descriptions apply.
 

The really funny thing with the Iowa trolling is that Nick has cancelled his Iowa and Illinois visits and is visiting us on Tuesday now. I think that odds are he commits then.
 

The really funny thing with the Iowa trolling is that Nick has cancelled his Iowa and Illinois visits and is visiting us on Tuesday now. I think that odds are he commits then.

He canceled his visit yesterday? Or he canceled a future Iowa and Illinois visit?
 





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