Gophers Football Recruiting Nuggets & Tid-Bits: U Ready for Big Recruiting Weekend

Gophers Football Recruiting Nuggets & Tid-Bits: U Ready for Big Recruiting Weekend

Gophers Football Recruiting Nuggets & Tid-Bits: Minnesota Ready for Big Recruiting Weekend!
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/316487?referrer_id=388419

Minnesota is expected to host seven official visitors, including four commitments this weekend. The Golden Gophers have ten commitments to date and are likely to sign 19 to 21 players this season.

Minnesota will lose 12 seniors, so they are somewhat limited on how many scholarships that they have available compared to other big ten schools.

Here is an overview of the players making official visits to Minnesota this weekend:

Minneapolis Washburn running back Jeff Jones is one of the ten finalists for the Minnesota Mr. Football Award, which will be announced on Sunday.

Jones was named to the KARE 11 Sports and StarTribune All-Metro teams and was honored at halftime of last weekend’s Minnesota-Chicago game as a member of the Minnesota Viking All-State team.

Jones, who led the Millers to a 8-2 mark, rushed 167 times for 1525 yards (9.1 yards per carry) and 34 touchdowns. He caught 17 passes for 493 yards (29.0 yards per reception). Jones returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and had the game-winning overtime pass versus Bloomington Kennedy.

Jones will play in the Under Armour All-American Game January 2nd.

Jones has shined on the hardwood this season as he scored 37 points against Waconia and is averaging 26.5 points per game as the Millers are 1-1.

Here is a link to several Gopher Hole stories on Jones.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/306267?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/202377?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/144915?referrer_id=388419

Gaelin Elmore, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end from Somerset, Wisconsin committed to Minnesota in June. Elmore, who is one of the top football players in the Midwest, picked the Golden Gophers over offers from Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa State.

Elmore led the Spartans to a 11-2 mark, losing to Winneconne 16-14 in the Division 4 semifinals. Winneconne defeated Platteville 28-14 in the title game.

Elmore had originally planned to graduate early and enroll at Minnesota in January, but it now appears that he will play high school basketball and graduate in April instead.

Here is a link to several Gopher Hole stories on Elmore.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/279420?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/249541?referrer_id=388419

Andrew Stelter, a 6-foot-4, 254-pound senior defensive end from Owatonna (MN) High School, committed to Minnesota in July. Stelter, who was the lone non-senior named to the 2012 Associated Press All-State team, helped lead the Huskies to the Class 5A Prep Bowl title with a 24-0 win over Brainerd. Owatonna finished runner-up last season.

Stelter is one of the ten finalists for the Minnesota Mr. Football Award, which will be announced on Sunday. He was honored at halftime of last weekend’s Minnesota-Chicago game as a member of the Minnesota Viking All-State team.

Here is a link to several Gopher Hole stories on Stelter.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/282992?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/272404?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/309776?referrer_id=388419

Brandon Lingen, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end/defensive end from Plymouth (MN) Wayzata, helped lead the Trojans to a 6-3 record this season.

Here is a link to a Gopher Hole story on Lingen.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/297936?referrer_id=388419

Demopolis (AL) High teammates Demetrius Kemp, a 6-foot-1, 195-pounder and Cortez Lewis, a 6-foot-2, 202-pounder, committed to Wake Forest late last month. However, Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe recently resigned after 13 years as the Demon Deacon head man and a 4-8 mark this past season. The Gophers could be a potential landing spot for the Alabama duo, if they decide to re-open their recruitment.

Demopolis finished 7-4 this season.

Frank Ragnow, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound senior tackle/defensive end from Chanhassen, is the top available Minnesota player. He is also considering Florida State, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Miami of Florida and Mississippi.

Ragnow was named to the KARE 11 Sports and StarTribune All-Metro teams and was honored at halftime of last weekend’s Minnesota-Chicago game as a member of the Minnesota Viking All-State team.

Ragnow also plays basketball for the Storm and scored 21 points Thursday in a game that I attended. Wisconsin offensive line coach T. J. Woods was also in attendance. I interviewed Ragnow after the game and look for a story on him later this week.

Here is a link to several Gopher Hole stories on Ragnow.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/302852?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/254227?referrer_id=388419

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/211447?referrer_id=388419

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Wisconsin leads the Bug Ten with 25 commitments. The Badgers have six verbals since November 14th and ten since October. Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State and Nebraska have 17 commitments. Penn State and Michigan have 16 verbals. Indiana and Illinois have 14 commitments each. Northwestern has 12 and Purdue and Minnesota have ten.

Future Big Ten teams are doing their best to “Keep up with the Jones” as Rutgers has an 23 commitment to date and Maryland has 13.

UPDATED:

The Gophers have two other late visitors who have made previous commitments, but are hoping that they could have a change of heart.

Dorian Baker, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound wide receiver from Cleveland Heights (OH) High, is one of the most highly recruited pass catchers in the Midwest. He was the teammate and close friend of Minnesota freshman De’Niro Laster and that relationship could pay off for the Gophers. Baker committed to Kentucky in October, but Minnesota hopes that the speedy wide receiver has a change of heart.

Baker, who runs a 4.49 forth yard dash and benches 335 pounds and squats 420 pounds, led Cleveland Heights to a 10-2 mark, losing to perennial power St. Edward in the Division (largest school) quarterfinals.

Baker was recently upgraded to a four-star recruit by Rivals and is part of a Kentucky recruiting class that is ranked ninth in the country by Rivals. Baker is one of five wide receivers to commit to the Wildcats and is one of ten Ohio natives to commit to the SEC school.

Baker had 29 receptions for 615 yards and seven touchdowns going into the playoffs.

Trey Rutherford, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive tackle who is playing at the Kent School, The Canadian native committed to Connecticut in July, but Huskies head coach Paul Pasqualoni was fired during a disappointing 2-9 season. They play Memphis in the season finale Saturday.

Gopher assistant coach Mike Sherels saw Rutherford at the Sound Mind Sound in Detroit this spring and has kept in contact with him. The Gophers are hoping that the coaching change could switch Rutherford’s allegiance.

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/316487?referrer_id=388419

We border Canada. We should own Canadian recruits. Let's get some from Great Britain next. Take the school international.