Recruiting Surprises?

[DL65]

LOI Day will soon be here and Minnesota still has approximately 4-5 slots available but only a handful of offers on the table, according to Scout and Rivals. Several teams have more than 25 verbals and are still in the running for highly rated recruits. As a result, it's not uncommon for teams to pull offers (fair or not) from early verbals, which leads to several late switches. We've already seen some high profile recruits re-opening recruiting options for a variety of reasons. Consequently on LOI Day there are usually some highly valued recruits available for late signings.

Will Minnesota receive commitments from some high profile recruits that aren't listed on the two sites or on our collective radar screens? I think we may be pleasantly surprised (emphasis on surprised) with the final remaining commitments to the maroon and gold!

Go Gophers!!

 

[SDGopherFan]

DL

is this posted with any inside knowledge or just a feeling you have?

 

[DL65]

Good question.

Just a feeling and what I've witnessed in previous recruiting seasons. I probably should have stated it was just my feeling in my initial comment.

Go Gophers!!

 

[Goldteam]

dont waste them on just anyone/

save them for next year......there is a ton of talent in this state next year

and next year we can actually bring them to a game on a bright sunny day in a brand new stadium

 

[50PoundHead]

I agree on not wasting scholarships just to fill out the class. Save them for next year or for rewarding quality walk-ons.

I'm not against tossing one at a kid with raw skills who may or may not develop, but with the limits imposed by the NCAA, I think it's wise to hold onto scholarships as opposed to giving one to a guy like Harold Howell (just an example) just because he's there and hasn't signed yet.

 

[Schnoodler]

I'm inclined to giving an extra schollie to an upperclassmen walk on type rather than a gamble on a marginal freshmen. I think it enhances the walk on program which can pay big dividends, plus you get it back that much quicker.

 

[DL65]

All good points! I'm sure we'd all agree that we shouldn't waste scholarships on marginal recruits, and rewarding upper classmen can result in long term benefits - especially when recruiting preferred walk-ons. However, my point is that there are still a lot of quality recruits remaining and some that have committed elsewhere will become available in the remaining days.

An example of a late recruit that signed with Minnesota after LOI Day was Tyrone Carter. Originally it looked as though, if I remember correctly, he was going to sign with Florida State. However, the Seminoles apparently backed off after signing a large class and Jim Wacker was able to sign Carter.

Another example of late recruiting surge is Penn State. A few years back, the Nittany Lion faithful were upset that recruiting was not going to match their usual standards. There was a lot of hand wringing and "O woe is me" attitudes. In the remaining days, however, several quality players were still available and they were also able to change some minds at the last moment. What appeared to be a down year in recruiting turned out to be an exceptional class. Yes, I know Penn State has some advantages that Minnesota doesn't enjoy.

Nevertheless, this recruiting season is far from over, IMHO.

Go Gophers!!