Looking ahead to 2015, I'm interested in what local prospects and quarterbacks are on the radar, since those are almost always the first to commit. I remember looking at this before, but the # of non-QBs from outside our local recruiting area who commit before June (camps and such) is really low, both under Kill and Brewster (and presumably Mason and so on).
The reasons are pretty obvious (well, to most people, anyway). A kid in Florida or Texas is unlikely to have grown up dreaming of specifically playing for Minnesota and so will likely wait until at least the summer to make a trip on his own dime, or September to take an unofficial on ours.
The exception is quarterback, which has always traditionally been the first domino to fall in the recruiting season.
As a matter of perspective, here are our commits before June every year for the last few years:
2014
Jeff Jones (February 2)- Minnesota
Dimonic McKinzy (April 27)-Quarterback
Steven Richardson (April 29)- Chicago- Chicago is arguably within our range. 6 hour car ride. Steven and his parents made a few visits on their own dime.
2013
No commitments before June. Keelon Brookins did before he bolted.
2012
Philip Nelson (Feb 19)-Minnesota and Quarterback
Maxx Williams (Feb 23)- Minnesota
Andre McDonald also committed, then uncommitted, and then committed again. Good thing that wasn't a sign of things to come...
2011
Tommy Olson (Jan 18 of 2009)- Minnesota
2010
Jimmy Gjere (March 5)- Minnesota
Lamonte Edwards (March 8)- Minnesota
Tom Parrish (April 4)- Wisconsin and Quarterback
And so on. So, if history is any guide, if we're going to get a 2015 commitment in the next four months it's very likely to either be a quarterback and/or a local kid.
Looking at our current offer list (which is still super selective), there are only a few prospects who fit this criteria:
-Jashon Cornell, DE, MN -- can't see this happening that early. If Jashon does end up staying home, my guess is it's going to be a long process. I'd certainly be glad to be wrong.
-Drayton Carlberg, OL, MN -- I was glad to see the staff give Drayton the early offer. He already has offers from Pitt and Rutgers and has been in contact with Nebraska and Iowa. I haven't read much on the kid yet, so I could see this going either way.
-Grant Schmidt, OL, SD -- Big fan of this kid, and I'm including Sioux Falls as local. Has offers from North Carolina and Washington State and has been in contact with Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin. My guess is that he waits a while, but I'm optimistic we can get him.
-Trevor Ruhland, OL, IL -- Trevor is from the Chicago area and camped with us last June. Has offers from Northwestern and Nebraska. I think this could move fast.
-Landan and Levi Paulsen, OL, IA -- I'm assuming they are a package deal. Came here on an unofficial in the Fall. Would be a really tough get to snag these kids out of Iowa, but certainly worth the effort.
-John Kelly, ATH, MI- Has some local ties to the area, but until he actually makes a trip out here I wouldn't consider him a likely early commit.
That's about it in terms of kids with offers. In terms of kids without offers yet I've found the following:
Ryan Schlichte, QB, MN- A quarterback from Mankato that might be a better fit for a pro-style offense? Hmm.... Ryan is on the radar and I'm a little surprised we haven't offered yet, but there are people far more in the know on MNHS football who could speak on that.
Josh Corcoran, LB, MN- Another Minnesota kid where you've got to think it's just a matter of time before he gets an offer. With his size he might project better to DE.
Andrew Ruzek, DL, WI- Andrew visited in November and is from Stevens Point. I've seen him in person a few times and the kid has a great frame to be a college DE or DT. Reminds me a lot of Andrew Stelter but a little smaller in size. I'd be surprised if we don't eventually offer.
Datrice Mulsumo, ATH, MN- Easily my favorite Minnesota name since Bridgeport Tusler. Only 5'9", so that's an obvious concern. We probably won't offer him because we never offered Bridgeport, which is terrible because I really wanted an excuse to say Bridgeport Tusler like 50 more times.
Grant Perry, WR, MI- From Brother Rice, same school as Kenny Watkins. Camped with us in June. No offers yet but likely to come. Smaller guy, which Limegrover seems to be moving away from.
Cole Chewins, TE, MI- Camped with us in July. Has an offer from Central Michigan. 6'7" and 208 lbs, which almost doesn't seem possible.
Ben Swanton, OL, WI- Another Midwestern lineman. Took an unofficial last year. Been to tons of camps so far with no offers.
Ryan Boyle, QB, IA- Iowa's player of the year in 2013 as a Junior. More of a pro-style player, but he's a talented kid.
There are a ton more Minnesota kids that have camped with us that I don't know anything about. If someone like Bob who follows MNHS football much more than I do could chip in, that'd be great.
I'm really curious what we do at QB. Only 368 days until 2015 signing day!!
