Nick Connelly, a 6- 6 junior defensive tackle/offensive tackle from Red Wing (MN) High, attended the Minnesota Gopher game versus Iowa, his second home contest of the season. Connelly attended several Gopher camps this summer and talked to GopherHole.com about his early recruitment.
Red Wing struggled this season, but that did not stop Connelly from picking up attention with his strong play. He had 10 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and blocked field goal versus Northfield. Connelly had 14 tackles, five for loss, one sack and blocked an extra point against New Prague.
Connelly had a strong performance against standout tackle Frank Ragnow of Chanhassen in the regular season finale as he finished with 15 tackles.
Gopher Hole: I know that the team struggled, but how about your own individual play? How do you feel that you have played this season?
Nick Connelly: I am really impressed with how I have done. I was kind of worried about it with our whole team not doing so well, but I am really, really happy with how I have done. I think that me and a couple of other guys have really stepped it up a notch.
Gopher Hole: Is that something that you have to focus on that even if you are struggling as a team, that you have to do your job?
Nick Connelly: When you are not doing good as a team, you can’t get down. You still need to do your job and do it right. You have to be happy with the way that you do it. If I do my job and do the best that I can do it, that is all I can do. I can’t do anymore. Football is a team sport. One man can’t win it, so I do my job. I do it right. I just have to hope that the other guys do theirs right.
Gopher Hole: What things have you been really focusing on to continue to improve yourself as a player?
Nick Connelly: I have just been focusing on my speed and strength and just getting low. I am 6-6, so I am kind of tall, especially playing other O-lineman who are six foot and can get underneath you, so I just have to stay low and stay constantly low, so I can get underneath them and push them back.
Gopher Hole: You attended the Western Illinois and Iowa home games. What are you hearing from the Gophers?
Nick Connelly: Just a lot of interest. I probably get four or five letters a week from them about the games and different stuff. They haven’t offered me or anything like that, but it is just a lot of “get here.”
Gopher Hole: What other schools are you hearing from?
Nick Connelly: I have heard from Cincinnati, Mankato, Iowa, Missouri, Cornell, Princeton, Indiana, Purdue, Northern Illinois, Maryland, Colorado State, Ohio and Wake Forest. Harvard actually sent me something. Nebraska sent me a game invite as did Cincinnati.