True Freshmen to watch for the Gophers

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Gopher315

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Thomas, Jackson and Keys are featured. I don't see a lot of time for many true freshmen this year, but you never know. I guess there is a path for these guys to see some time.

cfbsaturdays.com

Minnesota Gophers: True Freshman To Watch In 2020

We provide our breakdown of some true freshman to keep an eye on and why they could see time during the Minnesota Golden Gophers 2020 season.
cfbsaturdays.com cfbsaturdays.com
 

I’m guessing Jackson and Thomas both get some reps... I think as you see more of our players draftable (and the changes incoming to the transfer rules), the value in RS has decreased.
 


Jalen Glaze will get an opportunity to play nickel corner (Chris Williamson’s replacement). I think Emilien or Jackson have a great shot to be our 4th WR. Ky Thomas could end up seeing some carries as a RB.

Overall, there shouldn’t be many true freshman on the field unless they blow everyone away in fall camp, which is typically a good thing.
 

I think there are definitely more opportunities for freshmen to get in on defense than offense. Injuries can quickly shake that up though.
 


Thomas hype train starts right here, allll aboaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaard!

Super excited for this kid, like no other freshman RB i can remember in a few decades.
 

John Galt said:
Jalen Glaze will get an opportunity to play nickel corner (Chris Williamson’s replacement). I think Emilien or Jackson have a great shot to be our 4th WR. Ky Thomas could end up seeing some carries as a RB.

Overall, there shouldn’t be many true freshman on the field unless they blow everyone away in fall camp, which is typically a good thing.
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Was there some talk about Glaze possibly being able to step in freshman year. Just wondering cause he wasn't one of the higher ranked recruits in the class.
 

GopherGuy8 said:
Was there some talk about Glaze possibly being able to step in freshman year. Just wondering cause he wasn't one of the higher ranked recruits in the class.
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I believe Burns mentioned Glaze competing for nickel spot. Iirc he mentioned it being between Solomon Brown, Justus Harris, Glaze and potentially Philip Howard (though in the spring Howard was backing up on the outside)
 

guys will get on the field given we'll be blowing fools out and the freshman can play 4 games and still redshirt ;)
 



noamfromm said:
I believe Burns mentioned Glaze competing for nickel spot. Iirc he mentioned it being between Solomon Brown, Justus Harris, Glaze and potentially Philip Howard (though in the spring Howard was backing up on the outside)
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I keep reading this, but I kind of think we match up a little different this year. I think Smith, Durr, and St. Juste see the most run.
 


Bob_Loblaw said:
I keep reading this, but I kind of think we match up a little different this year. I think Smith, Durr, and St. Juste see the most run.
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Do you think Smith will be playing on the outside and they move one of the other two to nickel, or that he is playing nickel?
 

Can't wait to see the next surprises young True Freshman.

We can't forget the developmental players who become the backbone of the team in their junior and senior year.
 



I don't know much about Jackson, but I think folks are pretty spot-on with Emilien getting some run out there. I thought I remember hearing he was an early enrollee and was running circles around our DB's

It seems like Ky Thomas will get his shot the same way Wiley got his shot last year. After watching Thomas' highlight video, I'm a little unsure whether he'll have an immediate impact or not. He definitely didn't play in a zone scheme in High School...so it might take a year for that to click. Zone is funny, some kids can run it and some kids can't

I know a kid who can run zone...Mo Ibrahim. He's gonna break Cobb's rushing record this year.
 

KoolAid said:
I don't know much about Jackson, but I think folks are pretty spot-on with Emilien getting some run out there. I thought I remember hearing he was an early enrollee and was running circles around our DB's

It seems like Ky Thomas will get his shot the same way Wiley got his shot last year. After watching Thomas' highlight video, I'm a little unsure whether he'll have an immediate impact or not. He definitely didn't play in a zone scheme in High School...so it might take a year for that to click. Zone is funny, some kids can run it and some kids can't

I know a kid who can run zone...Mo Ibrahim. He's gonna break Cobb's rushing record this year.
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I don't think Mo will get near that 300+ carry work load that Cobb got.
 

btowngopher said:
I don't think Mo will get near that 300+ carry work load that Cobb got.
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The only reason I think he could is because he didn’t see much of the workload last year, he let Smith and Brooks have their senior year. So he should be the big dog on campus now at RB. I’m wondering who gets the most rotations behind him out of all of our RB’s.
 

btowngopher said:
I don't think Mo will get near that 300+ carry work load that Cobb got.
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No he won't get 300 carries, but it's realistic that he could break the record with 260 carries (which would be 20 per game). He'd have to average a little over 6.2 yards a carry, which is high, but not out of the realm of possibility. His freshman year (when we weren't the stallions we are today, he averaged 5.7 ypc on 202 attempts).

You've got defenses game planning for one of the best QB-WR duos in the world...another stud in CAB and then there's surely someone on the roster who will step up and into that 3rd WR role. Then you've got an all-star crew OL all coming back. Faalele, Andries, Schlueter, Dunlap and Olson all have some sort of All Big-Ten distinction on their trophy case (most of those guys have multiple all big ten awards). The only lineman that didn't get any post-season honor was John Michael Schmitz. He didn't see the field much in the first 3 games (in which our offense looked very pedestrian), then played the majority of snaps in the final 10 for a dominant offense. Pro Football Focus lists him as the 11th best lineman in the country...so this is a good OL

On top of all of that, you've got a TE group that could go toe-to-toe with any TE group in the country. I absolutely think the world of Ko Kieft as a football player. The kid just goes out there and mauls people.

So...everything is set up for Mo to run for 1,600 yards. It took me way to long too get to my point.
 

KoolAid said:
I don't know much about Jackson, but I think folks are pretty spot-on with Emilien getting some run out there. I thought I remember hearing he was an early enrollee and was running circles around our DB's
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Emilien just enrolled this week.

247sports.com

Douglas Emilien, Kansas Jayhawks, Wide Receiver

Douglas Emilien is a 6-0, 175-pound Wide Receiver from Fort Lauderdale, FL.
247sports.com 247sports.com
 


Honestly think that Qwon Burns will be given a fair shot at some LB play this year. Especially if Oliver's injury is as serious as some people have been speculating.
 


GopherGuy8 said:
Honestly think that Qwon Burns will be given a fair shot at some LB play this year. Especially if Oliver's injury is as serious as some people have been speculating.
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I saw we just recently offered a JUCO LB so possibly these have to do with each other. Looking for guys that can step in. I do think that is the major spot up for grabs where guys need to step up. We got Sori-Marin for sure, then without Oliver it's wide open and could use a couple able guys. I know Fleck was hyping up Cody Lindenberg as potentially stepping in there. I hope to see James Gordon break through as he's been in the system for a year now and may have a better feel.

Also I'm thinkin we've got Thomas, Wiley, and Williamson competing for the RB2/3 spots. It will be interesting who comes through there. I know Bryce Williams saw time last year but he really struggled against Georgia Southern and not much lateral movement. Maybe there's been improvement and we'll find out but I'd think those other 3 would be more likely to get reps. Bryce seems like a guy to me that could move to LB if he was willing. I know the learning curve would be tough but he's a big and physical kid.
 

PoockItInfor6 said:
I’m guessing Jackson and Thomas both get some reps... I think as you see more of our players draftable (and the changes incoming to the transfer rules), the value in RS has decreased.
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Fleck, and almost all other coaches, will continue to redshirt most first year players
 

Gophs24 said:
Fleck, and almost all other coaches, will continue to redshirt most first year players
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Likely yes, but the more Rashod Bateman’s you have... they aren’t staying at your program for 5 years.
 

I support playing any kid that makes your team better more than 4 games. If Thomas is the RB2 I'm playing him more than 4. If Jackson shows up to be the WR3/4 I'm playing him more than 4. Same with those linebackers coming in. We should be in win now mode and I trust whatever PJ decides, I just think he'd play 'em more than 4 if there's impact there. I could be wrong and maybe it does make sense to redshirt those guys if you look at past data, but it's hard to sit a guy that makes us even that much better.

If a guys plays more than 4 and he's at the same level as others at that spot, makes no sense and redshirt should absolutely be used.
 
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Agree with everyone saying LB, particularly if Oliver can't go this year.

If JDS doesn't come here, then would be interesting to see if Jackson pushes to take over the starting slot receiver spot.
 

GopherGuy8 said:
Was there some talk about Glaze possibly being able to step in freshman year. Just wondering cause he wasn't one of the higher ranked recruits in the class.
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Glaze is one of my favorite recruits based on his film. The staff is super high on him and he will get a shot to play nickel CB if the guys in front of him struggle. IMO nickel corner is the biggest question mark on the entire team. Williamson was so consistent in both coverage and the run game. I don’t think we have anyone that can play at his level this year.
 

PoockItInfor6 said:
Likely yes, but the more Rashod Bateman’s you have... they aren’t staying at your program for 5 years.
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of course....but redshirting will always be valuable to a program like MN

college football did a great thing when they started allowing "redshirts" to play in 4 games! even the idea of proving yourself you may get in for 4 games is a homerun for college football. that was the toughest part for me my redshirt year...the season, and the grind, got long my freshman year...but man i was a heck of a lot better my 5th year then i was when i got to college
 

GopherGuy8 said:
Was there some talk about Glaze possibly being able to step in freshman year. Just wondering cause he wasn't one of the higher ranked recruits in the class.
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I know PJ Fleck mentioned on the signing day event talking about Jalen, that with Chris Williamson leaving we do have a void at nickel that needs to be filled....so will be interesting if he will be ready! Solomon Brown is another guy that will have a chance to prove himself in the nickel.
 

MplsGopher said:
Agree with everyone saying LB, particularly if Oliver can't go this year.

If JDS doesn't come here, then would be interesting to see if Jackson pushes to take over the starting slot receiver spot.
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I'd love to see him go win it. Or have DD lock it down and claim it. Either would be great
 

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