The Elephant in the Room

[50PoundHead]

The only thing that gave me a bit of a pause in MV's article was his comments regarding Will Johnson. I don't blame Johnson for wanting to gauge the situation at Mississippi after the new coach is hired, but I found MV's perspective that he's waiting for "new" offers puzzling.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

The only thing that gave me a bit of a pause in MV's article was his comments regarding Will Johnson. I don't blame Johnson for wanting to gauge the situation at Mississippi after the new coach is hired, but I found MV's perspective that he's waiting for "new" offers puzzling.

MV articulated better than what I was saying about having a bad feeling about Johnson. I don't blame the kid, he's been honest and all of that stuff, but his waiting to me is a sure sign that he isn't completely sold on the Gophers. I only say that because he has been waiting despite their being almost no new developments surrounding his recruitment. Again, I don't blame him, I just am not very confident he ends up here.

There were a couple other things that I found interesting in this thread and MV article:
#1: It's pretty surprising to me that the U seems more interested in Pierce (DT Holy Angels) than Harden. Pierce has the much more ideal frame (6'6" 265-270lbs) but he just was not as effective as Harden against worse competition. Kill and Co know more than me, but that just seems odd to me.
#2: It seems like it's going to be kind of a crazy off season. The only recruits that I ever really 100% count on until signing day are the local kids. That isn't always the case either (McDonald), so none of that really bothers me too much. I trust our staff will be able to put together a solid class.
#3: It'll be interesting to see who the kids are that leave. We all assume it's going to be the kids buried in the depth chart and I hope that's the case. I hope the amount of attrition we have is attributed to the players on the team who have been MIA this season and who don't seem like a fit. The bit of uncertainty that we do have is scary in terms of being unsure who the kids who are going to leave the program are.

 

[Gopherprof]

The only thing that gave me a bit of a pause in MV's article was his comments regarding Will Johnson. I don't blame Johnson for wanting to gauge the situation at Mississippi after the new coach is hired, but I found MV's perspective that he's waiting for "new" offers puzzling.

Every interview Johnson gives he discusses potential offers he's waiting for. You do that enough and it's pretty clear you're unsatisfied with what you have. I think Minnesota/Iowa are his fallback schools, but I think he has his heart set on something "bigger."

 

[Gopherprof]

#3: It'll be interesting to see who the kids are that leave. We all assume it's going to be the kids buried in the depth chart and I hope that's the case. I hope the amount of attrition we have is attributed to the players on the team who have been MIA this season and who don't seem like a fit. The bit of uncertainty that we do have is scary in terms of being unsure who the kids who are going to leave the program are.

I think I'm more skeptical than most about guys like Alipate leaving. What's his honest potential at this point? D2? Maybe he's happier just hanging out at the U on a free ride. I don't know him, so maybe he still has that drive to succeed, but if a guy has academic/work ethic problems, he might not be the type of guy who is willing to bust his ass outside of the spotlight just to start.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

I think I'm more skeptical than most about guys like Alipate leaving. What's his honest potential at this point? D2? Maybe he's happier just hanging out at the U on a free ride. I don't know him, so maybe he still has that drive to succeed, but if a guy has academic/work ethic problems, he might not be the type of guy who is willing to bust his ass outside of the spotlight just to start.

Yeah, I don't think Alipate is going to leave. He is supposedly a good student and enjoys his time at the U. I can't really blame him for thinking that playing football is second to finishing up his degree at the U. I think some Gopher fans would want a kid like him to transfer, but I don't. If he is a good student and a good citizen, I hope he graduates from here.

 

[AShreve20]

I would imagine they will sign the full 28 and count 3 back to the previous class. We signed 25 last year, and with Jones, Harris, and Campion all here for spring ball, they should count back to the 2010 class and leave room for 3 from this year to count back for 2011. We will have several from this year's class here for spring ball, including at least Nelson, Leidner, Fruechte, Stokes, and Shabazz (assuming a forthcoming commit) and any 3 of those could be used to fill the 25 counters from 2011. We currently have 22 commits, and I would expect both Stokes and Shabazz to commit, meaning 24 spots accounted for with 4 remaining. I'd love to see Harden and Sam Lee take two of those spots, and leave the last two for some studs and/or under-the-radar types that Kill has up his sleeve.

I think we way may only have 2 spots at most available in 2010 class for potential early enrollies to fill.

2010 - 26 signed LOI per Rivals. 3 didn't make it in (Thornton, Tillman, Hill). However Leston Simpson not on list. That makes total of 24. 3 (Ferguson, C. Lewis, and Eure) should have been able to count toward 2009 (since that year we didn't get anywhere near full class - even with Gray, Reeves, Maresh, Beal, Rallis as initial counters for that year as 2008 was otherwise full). That would put initial counter number at 21. Aaron Hill was awarded walk on schollie in '10 so he would either need to count towards 2010 or 2011. 2010 makes most sense with spot open to put number at 22. Hahn and Klitzke wouldn't have counted toward initial counter number as they were already on campus for 2 academic seasons when they were awarded scholarship in 2010. Number would then remain at 22.

2011 - 26 signed LOI per Rivals. Gardener didn't qualify, but Hawthorne not listed, so that keeps number of scholarship enrolee's at 26. 3 out of 4 early enrolee's (Jones, Harris, Campion, Hawthorne) should have been able to count back to 2010. The other + 22 fall enrolee's would put 2011 at 23.

That would leave only 2 spots open for early enrollee's in current class. Obviously more than 2 can enroll early, but only 2 can count. If I missed anybody than that that number may only be 1 or zero. If someone like Botticelli is awarded a scholarship, that would take another spot. This was discussed in another thread, but my guess if they were to give him a scholly, they would wait till next fall semester when he would only count towards total of 85 and not toward the anual 25.

 

[RodentRampage]

I don't want him to leave, but I can understand why I player might choose to stay even though he doesn't get to play, and I can see why a player might transfer. If he's not going to see the field as a QB, perhaps they can find some other way to contribute on the field.

 

[RoyalGopher]

#1: It's pretty surprising to me that the U seems more interested in Pierce (DT Holy Angels) than Harden. Pierce has the much more ideal frame (6'6" 265-270lbs) but he just was not as effective as Harden against worse competition. Kill and Co know more than me, but that just seems odd to me.

Bob said Harden was the best defensive player on the field against EP when Harden was sophomore. Did Harden mature early? Physically, has he already reached his max? We really don't know the answer to those questions.

 

[RoyalGopher]

Back to lack of scholarships- you have to think sooner rather than later guys like Prucilla will earn a scholarship.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Bob said Harden was the best defensive player on the field against EP when Harden was sophomore. Did Harden mature early? Physically, has he already reached his max? We really don't know the answer to those questions.

I don't know if that was neccesarily the case. The following year (his JR) season he was named Defensive Player of the Year in his conference and was All Metro (likely All State) again this year.

I really think he is just that good.

I think what is holding him back is solely his height. He isn't close to 6'0", he's 5'9" to 5'10", which makes for a really unorthodox DT. The concern is that when he faces the stronger / long armed OL of the Big 10, his lack of height and short arms will hurt him. That point is valid. However, if Harden was 6'2" - 6'3" he'd be one of the best DT's in the entire nation.

 

[nsmike]

I think that the problem with Harden is that, he will be limited to playing a zero technique in college, and lacks the versatility the coaches are looking for.

 

[nsmike]

On scholarships, there is the possibility that some players could be transfered to a Medical Scholarship status, and not count towards the 85 limit.

 

[gophervet]

Bob- I have heard the same about Harden. Listed at 6'0 and really like 5'9. For some reason, I feel like he could be the type to absolutely maximize his potential and make it on the field. At the very least, he would help our OL by being an absolute bulldog in practice. If we have one open, I'd like to see him get one, but who knows.

 

[zambam]

On scholarships, there is the possibility that some players could be transfered to a Medical Scholarship status, and not count towards the 85 limit.

Probably could be happening to Beal and likely already happened to Xzavian Brandon.

 

[nsmike]

I heard that Brools Michael might be a candidate.

 

[Killjoy]

Medical Leave

Probably could be happening to Beal and likely already happened to Xzavian Brandon.

Since Brandon is still on the roster but there is no mention of him on the injury reports it appears that this very well could be the likely scenario. Unless somebody has better information about Beal than what we already heard, I suspect we won't have any clarity on this for a while.

 

[corcoran1]

there will be transfers, if for no other reason than kids that have not at least bought the work ethic won't be here at their choice or the staffs. I do not believe that walk-ons getting scholarships right now necessarily have them for the rest of their careers. I think that is an individual thing. They will help any kid who works hard and they have room to help for the rest of a season, but that does no automatically mean they will have one the following season unless it is clear they will be significant contributors.

 

[corcoran1]

....we have 22 verbals. A very strange and scary post from MV at FBT. Read and weep

http://www.fringebowlteamblog.com/?q=blog/rah-crootin-update-1115

There is nothing in MVs post I find disturbing. Specifically, Balthazor does not weigh 170 pounds, look at his film on rivals, he is a big kid. As far as other kids listed as commits that may not really be; Kill actually knows and he thinks things are going okay or better. He has never seemed inclined to puff up the product; if he thinks they are okay, I believe him. I do think the speculators are right, there will be changes in the recruit list, and I think that will be at least alright. These guys have plans and several levels of backup plans. They will make it work.
Further, I don't think any of the Goph sites actually knows every recruit they are working on, and there is no one on staff dropping hints to recruiting sites to pump things up on long shot 4 stars like there used to be.