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Sun Sentinel: Pahokee ATH Ra'Shaun Croney signs late with Minnesota

Pahokee three-star athlete Ra’Shaun Croney inked a last-minute letter-of-intent with Minnesota on Tuesday, a near two months after National Signing Day.

Croney, the Sun Sentinel’s 14th-ranked player in Palm Beach County for the Class of 2014, had watched schools like South Carolina, FAU and Arkansas shy away after academic struggles, but it was Minnesota who finally gave him a chance.

The Big-10 program offered a scholarship over the weekend, and Croney faxed in his paperwork a day before the college football singing period ended on April 1st.

Croney had initially signed with Ellesworth Community College — a junior college hub for players with academic issues in Kansas — but according to Pahokee coach Blaze Thompson it was improvement in the classroom that got the Gophers involved.

“They have been talking to him for a couple of months now, but recently they decided to take a chance,” Thompson said. “I have seen greater gaps covered. ... he can do it.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...inute-with-minnesota-20140331,0,3880875.story

Go Gophers!!
 





<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>As I said yesterday on GopherIllustrated, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Minnesota&src=hash">#Minnesota</a> has added a JUCO walk-on DL from RCTC in Justin Carr. <a href="http://t.co/ObXJzCGITJ">pic.twitter.com/ObXJzCGITJ</a></p>— Ryan Burns (@RyanBurnsGI) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanBurnsGI/statuses/458640200873570304">April 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Carr (<a href="https://twitter.com/JJ_Carr64">@JJ_Carr64</a>) was a 2nd team All-American and led his team with 78 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 9 sacks last season. 3 years for 2.</p>— Ryan Burns (@RyanBurnsGI) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanBurnsGI/statuses/458640865318039552">April 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
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When you read his personal bio, he sounds totally dedicated, motivated, and with a chip on his shoulder.

Welcome aboard, Justin. You just might make some noise in the B1G.
 

Smart kid too. Kill & Co. are going after the right kids including Justin.

Welcome Justin!

Ski-U-Mah and Go Gophers!
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>As I said yesterday on GopherIllustrated, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Minnesota&src=hash">#Minnesota</a> has added a JUCO walk-on DL from RCTC in Justin Carr. <a href="http://t.co/ObXJzCGITJ">pic.twitter.com/ObXJzCGITJ</a></p>— Ryan Burns (@RyanBurnsGI) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanBurnsGI/statuses/458640200873570304">April 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Carr (<a href="https://twitter.com/JJ_Carr64">@JJ_Carr64</a>) was a 2nd team All-American and led his team with 78 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 9 sacks last season. 3 years for 2.</p>— Ryan Burns (@RyanBurnsGI) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanBurnsGI/statuses/458640865318039552">April 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Coached against him this past season and he was a good solid player in the MCAC and really seemed like a hard worker. He wasn't eye catching or anything but was solid and did his job when we played them and was a real all out effort type player with a high motor.
 




Just saw Justin Carr won't be the only walk-on from RCTC as Jake Kirsch will also be walking-on with the Gophers. Kirsch was a pretty dynamic player and Rochester used him all over the field in the slot, RB, FB, and wildcat QB. He has some good burst and is also pretty well put together, he was the type of player we had to specifically gameplan for and had to know where he was on the field at all times. Both Carr and Kirsch are from Rochester originally.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a> add two walk-ons from RCTC <a href="http://t.co/4JzxBCyTsb">http://t.co/4JzxBCyTsb</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/247Sports">@247Sports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Bolt&src=hash">#Bolt</a></p>— Gopher247 (@Gophers247) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gophers247/statuses/458652463327752193">April 22, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 


Just saw Justin Carr won't be the only walk-on from RCTC as Jake Kirsch will also be walking-on with the Gophers. Kirsch was a pretty dynamic player and Rochester used him all over the field in the slot, RB, FB, and wildcat QB. He has some good burst and is also pretty well put together, he was the type of player we had to specifically gameplan for and had to know where he was on the field at all times. Both Carr and Kirsch are from Rochester originally.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a> add two walk-ons from RCTC <a href="http://t.co/4JzxBCyTsb">http://t.co/4JzxBCyTsb</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/247Sports">@247Sports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Bolt&src=hash">#Bolt</a></p>— Gopher247 (@Gophers247) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gophers247/statuses/458652463327752193">April 22, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Not sure his tiny body will hold up in the B1G conference.
 

Alex Eugerbide, the cali WR just committed to Purdue as a PWO. Would have been nice to have him along the Eden Prairie Trio of Oslon, Anderson and Hove along with Perra. Perra is really the only walk-on that excites me in this class.
 



Alex Eugerbide, the cali WR just committed to Purdue as a PWO. Would have been nice to have him along the Eden Prairie Trio of Oslon, Anderson and Hove along with Perra. Perra is really the only walk-on that excites me in this class.

Disagree. That FB from Kansas, Thomas, was a good get, too.
 

Disagree. That FB from Kansas, Thomas, was a good get, too.
Oh yeah, forgot about Ohara and Thomas. They will definitely contend for the starting FB job. Kids like Park, Webber, Leach, Anderson etc. are nothing to get too excited about though.
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/GopherFootball">@GopherFootball</a> signee <a href="https://twitter.com/Numerouno1_">@Numerouno1_</a> named the Clayton News Daily Baseball POY <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a></p>— Derrick Mahone (@DerrickMahone_) <a href="https://twitter.com/DerrickMahone_/statuses/472186851357626368">May 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Go Gophers!!
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/GopherFootball">@GopherFootball</a> signee <a href="https://twitter.com/Numerouno1_">@Numerouno1_</a> named the Clayton News Daily Baseball POY <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a></p>— Derrick Mahone (@DerrickMahone_) <a href="https://twitter.com/DerrickMahone_/statuses/472186851357626368">May 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Go Gophers!!

Hopefully he sticks with football. He has the option to declare for the MLB draft.
 

“This is a huge honor to be named player of the year, especially since we played in one of the toughest regions in state,” Rodney Smith said. “I really didn’t expect this, but I’m pleased to have received this honor.”

This marked the third time in his career that he has hit over .400 for the Tigers.

Smith missed the 2013 season after sustaining a knee injury during the 2012 football season. He spent nearly 10 months rehabbing his knee following surgery. As a sophomore in baseball, Smith batted .429 with three home runs and 16 stolen bases as the Tigers advanced to the playoffs.

There was a good indication during this past football season, that Smith was headed to a special senior season. He rushed for 2,201 yards and 26 touchdowns to make the Georgia Sportswriters Association first-team all-state team, in addition to being named the Clayton News Daily’s Offensive Player of the Year.

He signed a football scholarship with Minnesota on National Signing Day in February, but is considered a Major League Baseball Draft prospect. The MBL draft will run June 5-7, and depending on where he is selected and the contract being offered, Smith could forgo football and pursue a professional baseball career.

http://www.news-daily.com/news/2014/may/23/rodney-smith-named-top-baseball-player-in-region/

Go Gophers!!
 

Holland will be a beast the next three years.

That is all.
 

So we could go from 2 to 0 RB recruits. I know, we could still get 2 as well. I'm not sayin - I'm just sayin.
 

So we could go from 2 to 0 RB recruits. I know, we could still get 2 as well. I'm not sayin - I'm just sayin.

MLB Draft is this weekend for Rodney Smith. If he isn't drafted in the first 5 rounds, I'd say its a pretty safe bet he's in Dinkytown 2 weeks from now!
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a> 2014 DB signee RT <a href="https://twitter.com/TrackEHS">@TrackEHS</a>: Craig James' 110HH time of 14.07 breaks Edwardsville's 2nd oldest school record of 14.16 set in 1984.</p>— Gopher247 (@Gophers247) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gophers247/statuses/472064208436469760">May 29, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Craig James: 110HH-3rd. 4x1-1st. 300IH-4th. <a href="http://t.co/Zb8MBBlxgD">pic.twitter.com/Zb8MBBlxgD</a></p>— Edwardsville Track (@TrackEHS) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrackEHS/statuses/472901609727733761">June 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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MLB Draft is this weekend for Rodney Smith. If he isn't drafted in the first 5 rounds, I'd say its a pretty safe bet he's in Dinkytown 2 weeks from now!

I haven't seen anything that has him rated in the top 100 prep baseball players so going in the first 5 rounds would be unlikely.

I expect him to get drafted in a later round with no signing bonus and be on campus in two weeks.
 

I haven't seen anything that has him rated in the top 100 prep baseball players so going in the first 5 rounds would be unlikely.

I expect him to get drafted in a later round with no signing bonus and be on campus in two weeks.

Hopefully! MLB Draft is very unpredictable. Remember first 5 rounds is actually like 160 players. I agree though, as I expect Rodney to be here as well.
 

Hopefully! MLB Draft is very unpredictable. Remember first 5 rounds is actually like 160 players. I agree though, as I expect Rodney to be here as well.

Yeah. He just said Top 100 prep. Don't forget about the college players.
 






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