Kevin Warren has taken the podium.... begins his time talking about transformation and the Big Ten.

TE prospect out of St. Charles North (Ill.) recaps weekend visit with the Gophers

University of Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz was named to the Lombardi Award Watch List today. He is one of 77 players on the list, which honors a college football offensive or defensive lineman, who in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi.

This is the third watch list that Schmitz has been named to this preseason, as he was also placed on the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and Rimington Award (best center) watch lists.

Schmitz has been named a preseason All-American by numerous outlets entering the season. He was named All-Big Ten Second Team last season by the coaches and All-Big Ten Third Team by the media.

The four-time Academic All-Big Ten standout has played in 44 career games and has made 23 starts at center for the Gophers.

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August 1st means official offers are handed out, here is a look at Minnesota’s

I posted last week that the Gophers would be ecstatic about a recruiting class of Cam Christie, Nolan Winter and Taison Chatman. They landed Christie earlier today. Winter and Chatman are expected to visit for a football game this fall. Winter figures to be a two team race between Wisconsin and Minnesota. He is visiting Madison next week. The Gophers feel that it is a good sign that there is a month gap between that and his likely Minnesota visit. Nebraska offered the other day, but you wonder why they waited so long. Head coach Ben Johnson coached at Nebraska as an assistant, so he knows the strengths and weaknesses of Lincoln.


Chatman has Minnesota in his final five along with Kansas, Ohio State, Virginia and Xavier. His recent injury shouldn’t have a major impact i his recruitment. He is considering Xavier, another school that Johnson served as an assistant. Look for Minnesota to stay in until the end for the Torino-Grace standout.

More on the Gophers outlook at safety heading into the 2022 season from @Alex Carlson

Damon Friery, a 6-foot-8, 190-pound 2025 forward from Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius, is one of the top young players in Ohio. Friery played with the Michigan-based Bates Fundamental AAU program at the EYBL event in Kansas City, attracting attention from several top programs, including Minnesota as Gopher assistant coach Jason Kemp watched him.

Kemp was an assistant at Ohio University and still has strong ties to the Buckeye State.

Friery shined with his normal AAU team, the Ohio Rebels, helping lead them to the 16U D1 World Championships in Orlando, defeating Thunder Supreme 61-55. He was named Player of the Game.

The Gopher Report recently caught up with Friery to learn more about his early recruitment and upcoming sophomore campaign.

I take a look at the OL position that will have quite a few new faces this fall

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2023 prospect that is taking a prep year at Avon Old Farms in Connecticut

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Spann-Ford is a fan

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Haynes is at Penn State today camping with the Nittany Lions. With Penn State missing on Rodney Gallagher and fellow in-state WR Kenny Johnson possibly coming off the board shortly, I think Haynes could be in a spot to receive an offer. Early reports though are he’s testing really well today. If he does receive an offer, I expect Penn State to become the favorite for him. Something to watch…

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Attending a game at Beaver Stadium at PSU has been on my bucket list for a long time. I am coming out with 3 buddies. Where are others securing lodging? I think I am likely flying into Pittsburgh and then driving.
Pumped to attend as White-Out!

Taison Chatman, a 6-foot-4, 170-pound 2023 guard of Fridley (MN) Totino-Grace, reportedly suffered a torn MCL during the NBA top 100 Camp in Orlando. He is expected to be out at least two months. Chatman is considered the top player in the state of Minnesota in the Class of 2023.

Chatman recently announced his Top five schools, which were Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio State, Virginia and Xavier

A deep-dive into the Gophers' linebacker situation heading into the 2022 season from @Alex Carlson

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Big news for the running back coming off an injury last season that caused him miss most of the year

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