Minnesota Gopher fans had been long pointing to this upcoming weekend as one of the most important contests in recent memory. The football team faces the Associated Press’ #15 team Michigan for the Little Brown Jug at TCF Stadium at 6 o’clock on Halloween night.
Gopher fans were hoping that they would have plenty of treats this weekend as the football team uses the big game atmosphere to welcome several Gopher commits and recruits for official visits this weekend.
However, some of the excitement dissipated with the news Wednesday that head coach Jerry Kill was going to retired, due to health concerns.
Minnesota has already landed 18 commitments to date and could be headed to one of their best recruiting classes ever. They have landed ten in-state commitments, several of which will be attending the game Saturday.
The Gophers are expected eight official visitors for the Michigan game.
Gopher commit Tony Poljan, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound quarterback from Lansing (MI) Catholic, has led his team to a 9-1 start and they have allowed just 22 points since a Week 4 loss to Portland. Poljan has completed 82 of 138 passes for 1299 yards and 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. The 2014 Division 5 runner-up faces Ovid-Elsie (7-2) Friday in the first round of the playoffs. Their two losses were to undefeated teams Portland and Freeland.
Tre Bryant, a 5-foot-10, 198-pound running back from St. Louis (MO) Chrisitan Brothers, committed to Kansas State in July. Bryant has 14 offers, including offers from Big Ten schools Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska (which offered last week) and Northwestern. Bryant has lead the Cadets to a 10-0 start this season and has 19 touchdowns and 835 rushing yards. The defending 6A champions (Missouri’s biggest class) faces Ritenour (4-5) Friday.
Arkeem Byrd, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound running back/defensive back from Savannah
(GA) Jenkins, will be making his second official visit this fall and his second chance to see Minnesota play in person. He visited Colorado State September 12th, who lost to Minnesota 23-20. Byrd has 14 offers.
Dredrick Snelson, a 6-foot, 192-pound wide receiver from Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan, was a bit of a surprise commitment when he announced his college choice of Minnesota in
August. The Falcons are 8-1 and have a bye this week. They will face traditional Florida power St. Thomas Aquinas November 6th.
Elijah and Elisha Daniels, a pair of 6-foot defensive backs from Fort Lauderdale (FL) Cardinal Gibbons, have led the Chiefs to a 3-5 start. They will face fellow 3-5 Stranahan Friday. The brothers come from an athletic family. Their mother was a high school sprinter and older brother Mike Jennings played in the NFL, despite not playing college football at Florida State.
Coney Durr, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound cornerback from Geismar (LA) Dutchtown, has 18 scholarship offers and is a former teammate of current Gopher freshman Alonzo Creighton. Durr visited Kansas State October 10th. The Griffins (6-2) face 6-2 Catholic- Baton Rouge Tuesday,
Kiondre Thomas, a 6-foot, 170-pound cornerback from Fort Smith (AK) Northside Senior, is a Louisiana Tech commit. The Grizzlies started the season 1-4, but have won the last three games. They face 7-1 Springdale Har-Ber Friday.
The Gophers are hoping that a good effort Saturday can reaffirm the commitments that they have already received and even add to their list of verbals.
Likewise, Gophers fans are hoping that Saturday night that the team has plenty of tricks up their sleeve in their first game of the post Jerry Kill era.