BleedGopher
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per Randy:
The intersection of need and versatility worked out well for Mike Grant.
In the fall of 2014, the Eden Prairie football coach felt he needed more plays at linebacker, so he moved a do-it-all cornerback, Blake Cashman, to the middle. The result: Cashman helped the Eagles win their fourth consecutive big-school state championship.
“He played great,’’ Grant said. “Made big plays.’’
Four years later, it’s the Gophers who are benefiting from Cashman’s big plays. The senior linebacker leads Minnesota with 68 tackles (sixth in the Big Ten) and has 11.5 tackles for loss (tied for third in the conference). And he’s coming off a game in which he made 10 tackles that included a key third-down stop in the Gophers’ 38-31 victory over Indiana on Friday night.
“I felt like it was one of his best games,’’ Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said. “But when you look at how much better he can still get, he’s still growing every week. He’s gotten so much better from Game 1 to now.’’
People are noticing. On Wednesday, Cashman was one of 69 players nominated for the Burlsworth Award, given to the most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. In addition, Pro Football Focus’ college evaluators have the 6-2, 235-pounder as their top-graded linebacker in the Big Ten this season.
The accolades are nice, but Cashman is looking at the big picture that includes Saturday’s game at Illinois.
“I haven’t paid too much attention to it because I like to be humble and remain focused on what’s important,’’ he said, “and that’s playing at a consistent high level, playing for my teammates and winning games for this football team.’’
http://www.startribune.com/linebacker-blake-cashman-making-big-plays-for-gophers/499231031/
Go Gophers!!
The intersection of need and versatility worked out well for Mike Grant.
In the fall of 2014, the Eden Prairie football coach felt he needed more plays at linebacker, so he moved a do-it-all cornerback, Blake Cashman, to the middle. The result: Cashman helped the Eagles win their fourth consecutive big-school state championship.
“He played great,’’ Grant said. “Made big plays.’’
Four years later, it’s the Gophers who are benefiting from Cashman’s big plays. The senior linebacker leads Minnesota with 68 tackles (sixth in the Big Ten) and has 11.5 tackles for loss (tied for third in the conference). And he’s coming off a game in which he made 10 tackles that included a key third-down stop in the Gophers’ 38-31 victory over Indiana on Friday night.
“I felt like it was one of his best games,’’ Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said. “But when you look at how much better he can still get, he’s still growing every week. He’s gotten so much better from Game 1 to now.’’
People are noticing. On Wednesday, Cashman was one of 69 players nominated for the Burlsworth Award, given to the most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. In addition, Pro Football Focus’ college evaluators have the 6-2, 235-pounder as their top-graded linebacker in the Big Ten this season.
The accolades are nice, but Cashman is looking at the big picture that includes Saturday’s game at Illinois.
“I haven’t paid too much attention to it because I like to be humble and remain focused on what’s important,’’ he said, “and that’s playing at a consistent high level, playing for my teammates and winning games for this football team.’’
http://www.startribune.com/linebacker-blake-cashman-making-big-plays-for-gophers/499231031/
Go Gophers!!
