DB Austin Winfield commits to the Gophers

**El Amin Fan** · 01-25-2019, 12:01 PM

Love the Winfield pipeline.

**Gophers_4life** · 01-25-2019, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Frank Grimey Grimes

Yeah, he is short...but his brother and father are plenty short as well and that has worked out just fine. Antoine and Antoine Jr. are both roughly 5-8. If Austin doesn't suceed it will be due to issues other than height. 3 inches is not much.

If Austin is pasionate about the game and a hard worker like his brother, there is no reason to think he can't be a DB for us. I have a feeling that the entire Winfield family have some ideas about making up for lack of height. I predict Austin will be a scholarship player at some point and people will feel silly about worryng about his height.

Height alone means nothing, if you're fast and can jump up and reach just as high (to knock down passes). The problem moreso, in my lay person's opinion, is weight. The shorter you are, means the less weight you can put on while maintaining a level of quickness. At safety, you need to play run plays like a linebacker. You can only take so much pounding from big Big Ten backs ...

Not saying he can't get up to the same weight as his brother and dad played at. Would just be a matter of if he could maintain the same quickness at that weight, as he has now in high school. It could very well be that he can. Just saying that's my concern.

FWIW, here are AW's combine numbers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoin...ssional_career
5-8, 176, 4.41sec 40

Our roster shows AWj as 5-10 205

**Word** · 01-25-2019, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by Gophers_4life

Height alone means nothing, if you're fast and can jump up and reach just as high (to knock down passes). The problem moreso, in my lay person's opinion, is weight. The shorter you are, means the less weight you can put on while maintaining a level of quickness. At safety, you need to play run plays like a linebacker. You can only take so much pounding from big Big Ten backs ...

Not saying he can't get up to the same weight as his brother and dad played at. Would just be a matter of if he could maintain the same quickness at that weight, as he has now in high school. It could very well be that he can. Just saying that's my concern.

Good summary of the shortest players in the NFL (https://thatonesportsshow.com/shorte...rs-in-the-nfl/). Shortest DBs are about 5'8". There's a point where your jumping ability can't make up for lack of height. If you get into a physical battle where you aren't able to fully jump, you can't out-compete a 6'4" receiver.

But if anyone were to prove me wrong, it would be someone with the last name of Winfield.

**Studwell55** · 01-25-2019, 03:28 PM

I don't see how you can play defensive back in the Big Ten at 5'5.

Prove me wrong kid!

**Ogee Oglethorpe** · 01-25-2019, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by Studwell55

I don't see how you can play defensive back in the Big Ten at 5'5.

Prove me wrong kid!

It will be hard, but even if he's a dynamic player, game-changer, in the kicking game, he'll be a fantastic contributor. I'd bet on him making an impact.

**STPGopher** · 01-25-2019, 04:47 PM

https://pics.me.me/thumb_1016200595088002.png

**#2Gopher** · 01-25-2019, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by STPGopher

https://pics.me.me/thumb_1016200595088002.png

Bingo! Winfield is going to make an impact.

**Pete smith** · 01-25-2019, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by leadpipegopher

Let’s hope he’s not falsely accused while having his face plastered all over the paper like his brother.

No way I would let my kid play under this spineless A.D. if I was the family.

Troll???
The A.D. is part of the Gopher family. If you don’t like it, take a hike.

**Bob_Loblaw** · 01-25-2019, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Pete smith

Troll???
The A.D. is part of the Gopher family. If you don’t like it, take a hike.

Most of us who don't like the A.D. have been here longer than him.

**hungan1** · 01-25-2019, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Gophers_4life

Height alone means nothing, if you're fast and can jump up and reach just as high (to knock down passes). The problem moreso, in my lay person's opinion, is weight. The shorter you are, means the less weight you can put on while maintaining a level of quickness. At safety, you need to play run plays like a linebacker. You can only take so much pounding from big Big Ten backs ...

Not saying he can't get up to the same weight as his brother and dad played at. Would just be a matter of if he could maintain the same quickness at that weight, as he has now in high school. It could very well be that he can. Just saying that's my concern.

FWIW, here are AW's combine numbers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoin...ssional_career
5-8, 176, 4.41sec 40

Our roster shows AWj as 5-10 205

If a tree stump can stop a car, so can Austin Winfield stop an offensive player on his tracks. He's adapted well and has good form tackling form.

**Gophers_4life** · 01-25-2019, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by hungan1

If a tree stump can stop a car, so can Austin Winfield stop an offensive player on his tracks. He's adapted well and has good form tackling form.

Yes ... once. My point was repeated battering from big backs, over the season. He can hold up with more ballast in the tank, but then can he maintain the same quickness and athleticism, stamina? We'll see!

**paulser21** · 01-25-2019, 08:32 PM

It is only a highlight video I know but the kid looks like he has great play recognition, closing speed, and is a ball hawk. How it transitions to the college game is yet to be seen. But the Winfield family has time and time again proved the doubters wrong.

**skauma** · 01-25-2019, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by Word

Good summary of the shortest players in the NFL (https://thatonesportsshow.com/shorte...rs-in-the-nfl/). Shortest DBs are about 5'8". There's a point where your jumping ability can't make up for lack of height. If you get into a physical battle where you aren't able to fully jump, you can't out-compete a 6'4" receiver.

But if anyone were to prove me wrong, it would be someone with the last name of Winfield.

How many 6'4 receivers will he be facing?

**HoustonTXGopher** · 01-26-2019, 12:03 AM

As a resident of The Woodlands, TX, I can tell you the Winfield name is highly respected on the football field. When my friends saw that Austin had accepted an offer to play at Minnesota they were all greatly surprised. When I shared with them that Austin is a PWO their reaction was, Oh, well that makes sense. Austin is no Antoine according to my friends that are in the know. They don't anticipate Austin being the same type of player that Antoine is.

BTW, The Woodlands High School is one of the mega high schools in Texas. Each class boasts approximately 1500 kids. The ninth graders have their own campus, so the actual high school is 10-12.

**hungan1** · 01-26-2019, 01:35 AM

Who knows, he may be extra motivated to prove people wrong and may surprise people. Does anybody know what his 40 time is?

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