Which freshmen play this year?

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IMO Jeff Jones will play this year. Yes we have a lot of running backs (Kirkwood, Williams, Cobb, Edwards) but I don't think Kirkwood and Williams are really great B10 running backs. Kirkwood and Williams are both 1 trick horses, they just puts their heads down and runs through people. They never make any attempt to make people miss in the open field. They will look good against the New Mexico States or Western Illinois teams but Cobb, Edwards and Jones all have breakaway speed and the wiggle to turn a 5 yard run into a 50+ homerun. Jones will see carries simply because he is more gifted.
 

MNVCGUY said:
I am surprised there is not more concern being expressed in regards to the prospect of true freshmen starting on the DL next year. I think in regards to Jones it will really depend on his ability to block, I am in the camp that hopes he can redshirt next year but if he is as good as advertised he will almost certainly play.
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Botticelli and Ekpe are almost guaranteed to be starters on the D-line, and both have played a lot of football for us. Behind them, no one has proven themselves yet. Peppers looks the part and should be in the rotation.
 

CDH27 said:
I think Gentry and Holland may play because of the lack of WR depth. I think Moore has the size to play as a freshman. James may get a chance to play.
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I think you're right on these. The real question is how much will they play. The gophers are a run heavy team that is deep in the te position so I think any playing time from the freshman receivers will be limited. Injuries will change things and cb is a position that may be impacted by this again this year so I can see a freshman getting limited reps there as well. If Jones can help us or is simply better than the other options with the exception of edwards I think he plays as well but probably won't be a third down back for us. RB by committee will probably be the way it goes this year.
 

I was digging through old threads trying to find out when they start announcing game times (late April) and came across this. Kill wasn't blowing smoke about DL playing as freshmen.
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
I was digging through old threads trying to find out when they start announcing game times (late April) and came across this. Kill wasn't blowing smoke about DL playing as freshmen.
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Thanks for pulling this up, it's fun to look back and see how our predictions fared. The most surprising part to me still is that we played 4 D-lineman and 0 WRs. I'm going to have to start a similar thread for 2015.
 


The coaches are straight shooters, it pays, to listen to what they are saying. I hate when people speculate about things and they are saying things 180% opposite of what the coaches said.
 

nsmike said:
The coaches are straight shooters, it pays, to listen to what they are saying. I hate when people speculate about things and they are saying things 180% opposite of what the coaches said.
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This board is always speculating. Which bowl, how many games will we win, how many will we redshirt and the list goes on and on to the point of senseless so I don't waste my time posting on those posts.
 

nsmike said:
The coaches are straight shooters, it pays, to listen to what they are saying. I hate when people speculate about things and they are saying things 180% opposite of what the coaches said.
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Exactly how opposite is 180%?


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Sorry about the double negative. I should have said one or the other, 180 degrees or opposite, I do know better. I'd blame the post surgical drugs but I haven't had any for a week.
 

#2Gopher said:
This board is always speculating. Which bowl, how many games will we win, how many will we redshirt and the list goes on and on to the point of senseless so I don't waste my time posting on those posts.
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Ahhh come on man, thats 90% of the fun. You gotta drum up interest for the 8 months of the year there isn't football!

Does anyone think anyone out of the 2015 class will play this year???
I wanna say that still or register might grab a catch or two, and if we get the injury bug on the O-line again Oselund or Moore might get some spot duty. Our RB's and TE's are just too stacked and Croft needs to season for a couple years.

Our defense is pretty set, but If there is one guy I could maybe see getting time is Beebe. Dude was Bobby Bell award winner two years in a row or something like that. Really like his nastiness and I dont think he stays at backer or move to fullback but plugs in on the D line. I see him becoming a Bottecelli or Van de steeg type guy. Winston Delattaimnotgonnapretendiknowhowtospellhisname looks really good and I would say he cracks the lineup but he is only 17. Super excited about him.
 

nsmike said:
Sorry about the double negative. I should have said one or the other, 180 degrees or opposite, I do know better. I'd blame the post surgical drugs but I haven't had any for a week.
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Don't be sorry. Your boo-boo gave me a good gut wrenching laugh!
 

I hope all the freshmen sit, but that won't happen. I'll bet a big pile of nickels that one of the DBs plays this year.
 



Breakin' The Plane said:
I hope all the freshmen sit, but that won't happen. I'll bet a big pile of nickels that one of the DBs plays this year.
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I think Dior Johnson sees the field this year. I hope that is it though. I would be fine with no 'true' freshman playing this season.
 

nsmike said:
The coaches are straight shooters, it pays, to listen to what they are saying. I hate when people speculate about things and they are saying things 180% opposite of what the coaches said.
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Yep, you got that right. If people paid more attention to what the coaches actually say they might be amazed as to how they share about what going on and what they are thinking.
 

Based on what I have heard from the coaches via podcasts or interviews is that the DL may be the most likely position to see a freshman playing but likely no freshman will be starting (really high on Beebe). Also the LB Jaylen Waters has been said to be physically ready and that is also a possibility due to position depth. On the offensive side of the ball, it sounded to me that if anyone played it would be an OL. Of the OL recruits (I could be wrong) but Quinn Oseland has a college ready body as well as Tyler Moore. Also, Limegrover has stated that of the WRs Hunter Register is as polished a WR that they have ever recruited and is a candidate for action this year. But that is based on my memory and is open to GH scrutiny for those who want to partake.
 

Killjoy said:
Yep, you got that right. If people paid more attention to what the coaches actually say they might be amazed as to how they share about what going on and what they are thinking.
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Not sure I agree with this. I think the staff brags players up for different reasons, not all so transparent. Sometimes they praise a player simply because he's playing great like Steven Richardson. Sometimes they praise a player who needs confidence like Mitch or Pirsig. Sometimes they praise a player to motivate the guy ahead of him like the Damien Wilson vs Jack Lynn battle for MLB two season ago. It was clear that Wilson was brought into take that job and all the talk about the tight battle was mostly just that, talk. They gushed about the Juco RB they brought in their 1st or 2nd year to be the starter, and he never ended up playing much at all. Jamal Harbison was the best thing since sliced bread and although he was injured, he never panned out after his return. I don't think the staff is dishonest, I just think they're master manipulators and say exactly what they believe will push the buttons of the specific player they're discussing.
 

I see the following Freshmen playing:

Offense: I think we have to prep a couple guys to take over the starting C and G spots the following year, as well as begin the process of replacing Maxx.

TE- Bryce Witham. The staff has shown a willingness to play Freshmen TE's/HB's with both Maxx and Lingen getting meaningful playing time as Freshmen. With Witham being a pass catching TE/HB and already being 250lbs, I could see him getting some run. The only pass catching TE/HB ahead of him really would be Duke who's had major surgery on both knees over the past two seasons.

C- Tyler Moore. I think he has to get some snaps as the following year he may well be the starting C or G.

FB- Colton Beebe. IF and only IF he ends up at FB, it's conceivable he could win the starting job. If he ends up at DL he red-shirts. If he ends up as the back-up FB, he red-shirts.

Defense: We have such a log jam of young players at LB that I doubt we see any Freshmen take the field this year. The DL we signed are all projects and are probably a few years away from playing much. We must get 2 CB's ready to see the field behind Myrick and James and a couple safeties ready to play behind Rodgers and McGhee.

CB- Ray Buford. With Murray and BBC graduating after this season we'll need two more CB's with some experience behind Myrick and James. Buford seems like the obvious pick to see immediate playing time.

CB- Antonio Shenault. We'll need a second CB to get some snaps as well and Shenault's speed makes him the likely other guy besides Buford, imo.

S- Dior Johnson. We need two more Safeties to get their feet wet so they're ready to be the #3 & 4 guys the following year behind Rodgers and McGhee. We specifically need some guys with speed as both Rodgers and McGhee are more run-stopping type Safety's.

S- Jacob (or is it Julian?) Huff. The kid brings the wood and has been here since December. I think people underestimate him because he signed early, but he could become our version of Ed Reid.
 

Costa Rican Gopher said:
I see the following Freshmen playing:

Offense: I think we have to prep a couple guys to take over the starting C and G spots the following year, as well as begin the process of replacing Maxx.

TE- Bryce Witham. The staff has shown a willingness to play Freshmen TE's/HB's with both Maxx and Lingen getting meaningful playing time as Freshmen. With Witham being a pass catching TE/HB and already being 250lbs, I could see him getting some run. The only pass catching TE/HB ahead of him really would be Duke who's had major surgery on both knees over the past two seasons.

C- Tyler Moore. I think he has to get some snaps as the following year he may well be the starting C or G.

FB- Colton Beebe. IF and only IF he ends up at FB, it's conceivable he could win the starting job. If he ends up at DL he red-shirts. If he ends up as the back-up FB, he red-shirts.

Defense: We have such a log jam of young players at LB that I doubt we see any Freshmen take the field this year. The DL we signed are all projects and are probably a few years away from playing much. We must get 2 CB's ready to see the field behind Myrick and James and a couple safeties ready to play behind Rodgers and McGhee.

CB- Ray Buford. With Murray and BBC graduating after this season we'll need two more CB's with some experience behind Myrick and James. Buford seems like the obvious pick to see immediate playing time.

CB- Antonio Shenault. We'll need a second CB to get some snaps as well and Shenault's speed makes him the likely other guy besides Buford, imo.

S- Dior Johnson. We need two more Safeties to get their feet wet so they're ready to be the #3 & 4 guys the following year behind Rodgers and McGhee. We specifically need some guys with speed as both Rodgers and McGhee are more run-stopping type Safety's.

S- Jacob (or is it Julian?) Huff. The kid brings the wood and has been here since December. I think people underestimate him because he signed early, but he could become our version of Ed Reid.
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The difference between Maxx and Lingen is that Maxx was a RS-FR and Lingen was a True Freshman last season. Lingen will develop more into the on the line blocking TE more like Goodger & Plsek. If Witham sees the field this year, it will probably be due to injury as the staff really likes Duke and/or Nick Hart to replace Maxx in the short term, possibly long term depending on health & development. We have a ton of TE's, so I think they will all get opportunity eventually.

EDIT: I also notice that they are both wearing #81 on the official roster. So, obviously that will have to change. Link below:

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/minn-m-footbl-mtt.html
 

e.bigelow said:
The difference between Maxx and Lingen is that Maxx was a RS-FR and Lingen was a True Freshman last season. Lingen will develop more into the on the line blocking TE more like Goodger & Plsek. If Witham sees the field this year, it will probably be due to injury as the staff really likes Duke and/or Nick Hart to replace Maxx in the short term, possibly long term depending on health & development. We have a ton of TE's, so I think they will all get opportunity eventually.

EDIT: I also notice that they are both wearing #81 on the official roster. So, obviously that will have to change. Link below:

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/minn-m-footbl-mtt.html
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I wonder if the same number thing has to do with both possibly wanting to wear that number and whoever wins the Spring and Fall ball battles for a starting spot gets that number. I've heard that sometimes the coaches will dangle that "carrot" to make sure he gets the most out of them while competing for PT. I may be waaaaayy off but it was just a thought.
 

e.bigelow said:
The difference between Maxx and Lingen is that Maxx was a RS-FR and Lingen was a True Freshman last season. Lingen will develop more into the on the line blocking TE more like Goodger & Plsek. If Witham sees the field this year, it will probably be due to injury as the staff really likes Duke and/or Nick Hart to replace Maxx in the short term, possibly long term depending on health & development. We have a ton of TE's, so I think they will all get opportunity eventually.

EDIT: I also notice that they are both wearing #81 on the official roster. So, obviously that will have to change. Link below:

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/minn-m-footbl-mtt.html
Click to expand...
Plsek also played as a true frosh and Maxx would have had he not gotten injured. With Lingen moving over to Y with Plsek and Wozniak, Gibson being more of a WR than H as Limegrover said yesterday and Duke coming off of an injury, I could very well see Witham getting PT. And I don't think he would have trouble beating Nick Hart.
 

Costa Rican Gopher said:
I see the following Freshmen playing:

Offense: I think we have to prep a couple guys to take over the starting C and G spots the following year, as well as begin the process of replacing Maxx.

TE- Bryce Witham. The staff has shown a willingness to play Freshmen TE's/HB's with both Maxx and Lingen getting meaningful playing time as Freshmen. With Witham being a pass catching TE/HB and already being 250lbs, I could see him getting some run. The only pass catching TE/HB ahead of him really would be Duke who's had major surgery on both knees over the past two seasons.

C- Tyler Moore. I think he has to get some snaps as the following year he may well be the starting C or G.

FB- Colton Beebe. IF and only IF he ends up at FB, it's conceivable he could win the starting job. If he ends up at DL he red-shirts. If he ends up as the back-up FB, he red-shirts.

Defense: We have such a log jam of young players at LB that I doubt we see any Freshmen take the field this year. The DL we signed are all projects and are probably a few years away from playing much. We must get 2 CB's ready to see the field behind Myrick and James and a couple safeties ready to play behind Rodgers and McGhee.

CB- Ray Buford. With Murray and BBC graduating after this season we'll need two more CB's with some experience behind Myrick and James. Buford seems like the obvious pick to see immediate playing time.

CB- Antonio Shenault. We'll need a second CB to get some snaps as well and Shenault's speed makes him the likely other guy besides Buford, imo.

S- Dior Johnson. We need two more Safeties to get their feet wet so they're ready to be the #3 & 4 guys the following year behind Rodgers and McGhee. We specifically need some guys with speed as both Rodgers and McGhee are more run-stopping type Safety's.

S- Jacob (or is it Julian?) Huff. The kid brings the wood and has been here since December. I think people underestimate him because he signed early, but he could become our version of Ed Reid.
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Good analysis. I think two freshman corners play for sure, but I could see us redshirting one of the safeties given that Rodgers is in the mix. Julian Huff looks really impressive, IMO one of the best highlight videos of anyone in this class. I could see him getting some time on special teams. The staff has really talked up Register and said he's the most polished receiver that they have recruited, so if he's the real deal he could also see action.
 

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