Marcus R. Fuller ‏@GophersNow 45m45 minutes ago


Lot of offensive fireworks today in #Gophers spring practice. Brooks, Smith, Still & Register big plays

Eric Wilson and Nico Bolden, two of the states top recruits, said they will attend the spring game on Saturday.
Eric Anojei said he is planning to attend, but is not 100% sure.

Other in-state prospects who said they will attend are Malik Lofton and Thomas Hennessy. We'll add more to the list as we get confirmation.

I am thinking of providing a new service to you all.

I thought we could rate each thread with a score card. As follows:
The number of posts before the CrakerJack crowd starts with the frivilous humorless posts and a second score for the percentage of posts in the first ten that are sophmoric and meaningless to the thread.
For instance a score of 3-20 would be three legimate posts before the thread deteriorates and 20% of the first ten posts are frivilous.

Any thoughts?

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040616aaa.html

* I enjoy reading these, gives good insight

The title is a big misleading, I actually talked to his brother who is handling all the recruiting stuff.

But it looks like Jordy will be taking his time on this. Arizona does seem to still be involved although I feel like they are stringing him along. Nebraska wants him for sure, he will visit there next. I was told by a person out east like myself who is a national guy that BC was expected to be the favorite this winter but that seems to be gone now.

Anyway, read what his brother said about Minnesota and recruiting below.

https://minnesota.n.rivals.com/news/tshimanga-talks-recruiting

Also, this is what three scouts said about Jordy. First is a coach who is recruiting him right now.

"Jordy is a big man! Right now he is a good defensive big man. Solid hands. But more of a defensive big"

"He's just ok. Bug but fights to stay in shape. Grinder. Has some toughness."

"Good, tough player. He is hard to move but he will move you. A grinder."

Jordy Tshimanga is visiting Minnesota this weekend his brother just told us after a question.

They are also visiting Nebraska the following weekend. They were recently to visit Arizona too but it never happened.

Here is his Rivals profile page:

https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/maple/158321

Jordy was at one point in the Rivals 150 I believe.

Another guy that could use the scholarship of Dorsey or a guy that could replace a potential transfer.

during the home games.

THis would be a NICE get for the gophers. He is immediately eligible and has good size and skill. With departing Dorsey, they need someone

"Milwaukee transfer Akeem Springs told @CBSSports he will visit both Ole Miss and Minnesota this weekend. Immediately eligible for 16-17."

I watched the video interviews on 'the other site' and watching Leidner as a Senior I have to say I'm really impressed with how he's grown up. We as fans look at these players as pawns sometimes and forget they are literally children in many ways, especially when they first start out. Watching Leidner's interviews, he is SO MUCH more grown up than he was a few years ago - the way he handles questions and is confident in himself is great to watch. That's got to be just as rewarding as coaches watching these kids become men as it is watching their accomplishments on the field.

Not just as a fan of the game, but I'm really rooting for Leidner to have a great Senior campaign. The kid deserves it.

I was shocked today to see that Mitch Leidner is considered a very draftable QB prospect in 2017, at this relatively early stage. I like him and think he mostly gets a bum rap around here but I never saw future NFL guy in him.

• Walter Football ranks him #8 QB prospect overall, including juniors-to-be
• NFLDraftScout.com has him #5 QB among seniors-to-be

Those position rankings are well above what any of our CBs have posted at any time, and above any recent player besides Maxx. In fact I don't think any Gopher QB has rated that highly in my memory.

Has the general WR deficit during his time sandbagged a much better QB than we thought? Or is this a way of saying Mitch has come a long way in his time here and should have a monster senior year? I hope.

Or is it a bunch of internet guys who saw his size and 4 year starter -- but no tape -- and assumed he must be a prospect?

Junior receiver Denzell Fondungallah, who attends nearby Cretin Derham Hall in St. Paul, will be at Thursday's practice.

Fondungallah holds an offer from Cornell.

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https://minnesota.n.rivals.com/news/spring-football-offense-tailors-receiving-unit-s-strengths - Receiving unit will be better under Johnson strategy

https://minnesota.n.rivals.com/news/5-things-we-learned-at-gophers-spring-practice - 5 things we learned from spring practice w/ video from Claeys

Recruits- Eric Wilson and Levi Duwa main prospects on site with offers.

What's your take here? I've heard rumors of them not being very good, however I've seen no evidence to support that based on the fact that it seems he's developed pretty good relationships with the local talent. Also would be curious to hear your thoughts on how he compares with the former coaches (Clem, Monson, Tubby) and how they were perceived locally.

Just interested to know.. What was the most exciting game?? I am feeling a bit nostalgic today and was hoping you would fill in what the players were like during that exciting game.. The different personalities on the team and how they handled pressure, excitement, or disappointment.. Just was hoping you would share some of your better memories of that great Gopher team.

I put an article together on Springs including notes on his game, his numbers, a bit of video, and an interview from last August. Have a look, like the scouting notes the best and love the dive to seal the game against UWGB.

https://minnesota.n.rivals.com/news/transfer-akeem-springs-to-visit-minnesota

Lost another of the original Outlaw country artists, so many great songs

What happened to Jose Mendez?

Last year, he was consistently at the top of the Big10 for golf, now he's not even on our varsity, and has terrible scores when he does play? Is he hurt?

Just curious...I always follow Gopher Men's golf from a distance....Runar Arnorsson earlier this season shot an incredible 62.

My wife's company had a lockdown training today at their headquarters. Apparently there is a Somali fellow who they have restraining order against because of several disturbing incidents involving him in and around their offices. One where he deposited a backpack outside the building at a transit stop and sat in the parking lot filming how long it took it took for someone to notice and respond. They singled him out but they also mentioned there were 60 former employees with restraining orders against them.

Fun, huh?

Really interesting reading on the 11 million documents leaked from Panama. Uncovering of the largest money laundering schemes to this date. Most of the figures listed come from corrupt governments, but there are a few from Western governments as well. Not sure what the fall out will be for everyone involved, I sure wouldn't want to be pissing off some of these guys named in the papers. I'm thinking a few employees in Panama might find themselves headless in the jungle. Not sure that it will play out in a movie, though a book would be a fascinating read.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ld-s-rich-famous-revealed-huge-data-leak.html

There is a note from I believe CBS that the UW-Mil grad transfer is coming here as well as Ole Miss over the weekend.

I thought he was from Mississippi but says he is from Illinois

He would work perfect for a year and then move that scholarship into 2017 giving them two.

I will have more on him when I have time. This is a guy we really need to get to know this week, could help this team for sure in the guard rotation.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/62805/akeem-springs

I love his attitude - Sticking up for the game of football. A lot of guys/gals on this board want us
to change to flag football.

He talks about :
- The game of football has done a hell of a lot of good for a lot of people
- Teaching technique -
- Injuries - There is a risk in everything you do, except if you work at the post office. Only risk you have there is how many breaks you get each hour
- There is more risk getting in your car each day.. not sure if that is correct, but the bottom line is there is risk at anything you do

Do you think for a moment the coaches want there players having concussions and missing games ? Do you think the coaches like playing 2nd and 3rd stringers ? Do you think coaches like getting fired because they had to many losses because of to many injuries ? let the coaches coach... football is a VERY physical game, that is not going to change. newsflash, injuries are going to happen, head, foot, knee, hand, spine, wrist, arm, toes, ankle, etc..

I think, I love the game of football, just like hockey, a lot of times you will get your teeth knocked out, hockey will not pass a rule that you cant check anymore, because you will still get your teeth knocked out by either a puck, fist, or stick. Football is a physical game, there are risks, you either except the risks and play or you dont. If you accept them, step on the field and go to battle or step on the ice and your in the Lions den. Competition is a wonderful thing.

....site is pretty disappointing. Seems a little expensive for sarcasim and sophmoric humor and better content available on free sites.

It boils down to 4.....I'm talking stars, 4 stars. For the Gophers or any program to be able to compete with the big boys, a college team must land several 4 star recruits.. Recruiting a squad of 3-stars, with a couple of 4-stars, just won't cut it.
The top 20 ranked classes in the 2016 Rivals recruiting rankings averaged 12, 4-star or higher recruits. For example, Alabama had 10, 4-stars and 5, 5-stars for a total of 15, 4-star or higher recruits. Ohio State had 2, 5-stars and 15, 4-stars for a total of 17, 4-star or higher recruits. Our Minnesota Golden Gophers had 0, 5-stars and 1, 4-stars recruit. The goal for our Golden Gophers should be to reach double figures in 4-star or higher recruits. Remember, the top 20 schools averaged 12, so why not at least land 10?