Doubt he would come here but is just a sophomore and just got permission to speak with other teams about transferring from Ole Miss. Pretty good qb iyam but got hurt and Ta'amu took over.
http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...terback-ole-miss-rebels-talking-other-schools

5-4 for the good guys

OSU leads 55-26 early in 2nd half. Game is in Madison. How the mighty have fallen.

Boomer Sooner !

Go Buckeyes !

New Gophers QB Vic Viramontes bringing fire, tats and hair. Lots of hair.


Riverside City College quarterback Vic Viramontes, left, looks to pass in a 49-33 playoff victory over Ventura on Nov. 18 in Riverside, Calif. Viramontes Photo by Bobby R. Hester)

By ANDY GREDER | agreder@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press
PUBLISHED: December 1, 2017 at 2:11 pm | UPDATED: December 1, 2017 at 9:07 pm

Vic Viramontes sought another opportunity to play quarterback at a college program in a major conference, and the Gophers had a hole to fill in their 2018 recruiting class.

The match was made Monday. Viramontes, a Californian who is the top-rated junior college quarterback in the country, gave an oral commitment to join Minnesota. He plans to enroll in January, with three years of eligibility remaining.


Victor Viramontes, in 2014.

The Gophers parted ways with previous QB commit Brennan Armstrong during the season and their starter down the stretch of the 2017 season, Demry Croft, asked for a release from his scholarship soon after last week’s 31-0 season-ending loss to Wisconsin.

So, Viramontes enters the program with a real opportunity to become the starting QB next fall. His primary competition will be redshirt freshman Tanner Morgan and redshirt sophomore Seth Green.

Viramontes, of Norco, Calif., originally committed to Michigan in the 2016 recruiting class but signed with California because he viewed it as a better fit with QB Jared Goff leaving for the NFL.

It didn’t work out that way. Cal made a coaching change from Sonny Dykes to Justin Wilcox last January. After participating in spring practices, Viramontes transferred to Riverside City College near his hometown outside Los Angeles in June.

Viramontes shared details about his journey and the opportunities he sees at Minnesota, during an interview with the Pioneer Press on Thursday:

After committing to Michigan, redshirting at Cal and then transferring to Riverside, how much drive do you have to prove you can play at this level?

Just going through all of that and then going back to being a juco guy and not being on scholarship and not getting the things that a Division I player would get, it gave me the drive to get back out and earn that scholarship again.

What were the biggest adjustments in transferring from Cal to Riverside?

Coach (Tom) Craft and the staff at RCC did a really good job of running it like a Division I program. A bunch of these coaches have been at that level. Some have been coaches in the NFL and played in the NFL. Craft was the coach at San Diego State (from 2002-05). They ran practices like a Division I practice. The only thing is you don’t get the food and the luxuries like a Division I player would get.


Gophers pledge Vic Viramontes, center, poses for a photos with Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck during his recruiting visit to Minneapolis last weekend. (Courtesy of Vic Viramontes on Twitter)

What’s your hometown, Norco, like?

We have no sidewalks. We have horse trails. It’s more like a Texas type of feel, like a Friday Night Lights feel. … Friday nights everyone closes down their stores and attends a high school game. It’s very family orientated.

How long were you a starter at Norco?

As a freshman, I started on varsity and played safety. My sophomore through senior year is when I played quarterback.

What kind of success did your high school program have?

We’ve consistently made the playoffs (in now 31) consecutive seasons (the longest streak in the San Bernardino and Riverside counties outside Los Angeles). … We are in a hard division. We don’t have the numbers that a private school would have, but we are always known for being good in the trenches and being a big, physical team. We usually give it to some of the teams. We just don’t have the depth. (Former Vikings and Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, runner-up for the 2009 Heisman Trophy, is a famous Norco alum.)

Walk me through your initial recruiting process and what happened with Michigan?

I’m blessed to have gotten offers out of high school. I have Pac-12 schools, Big Ten. I had quite a bit, so I’m honored to do that.

I committed to Michigan. I thought that was the right fit with coach (Jim) Harbaugh. The energy, I loved everything about the program, but Cal offered me and that was the last trip I took. With my family, we decided that was the best opportunity at that time.

Did Michigan want you to play quarterback? Was a possible position switch a part of your decision?

No, they wanted me to play quarterback, coach Harbaugh said. It’s just that I thought I had a better opportunity at Cal. (That’s what) me and my family thought. Jared Goff was leaving (and is now with Los Angeles Rams), so we thought that was better opportunity. Michigan is a very high academic school as well, but Cal is also a good academic school. … It seemed like a win-win with whatever decision I made at the time.

What kind of grades do you have?

I’m a 3.0 (grade-point average) type of guy. Right now, I’m taking 27 units, so that is a heavy workload.

Why did you decide to transfer from Cal?

I was recruited by Sonny Dykes … and obviously there was a coaching change. The new coaches wanted a different style quarterback, and me and my family just considered that it would be the best thought to reopen my recruiting process over again.

Did they want more of a pro-style quarterback?

I guess they didn’t see me or the other freshman with me, that got recruited by the old staff, that we were the right fit for their … offense at the time.

What kind of offense did you run at Riverside?

It’s similar to what they are doing at Minnesota right now. It’s an NFL spread and we went under center a little bit. We had NFL-type verbiage, so that’s what I like at RTC and what they are doing at Minnesota. A lot of colleges run the spread type and they really don’t have the NFL verbiage, so I want to get ahead of that. If it does work out as planned and I do get a shot at the NFL, I want to be ready.

Run-pass option plays figure to be key in Gophers offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca’s offense. How does that fit with your ability to run and pass?

I feel like I fit pretty well. You can always do better at things, so right now I have a month to come in and train. I will be ready when I come to campus in January.

What do you weigh now?

It depends what the staff wants me at. They want me at a comfortable weight so I can move. In high school, I played at 240 (pounds). At Cal, I was 230, 235. (At) RCC, I cut a little bit (to 210) and it made me more mobile and faster. Obviously the Big Ten is a big, physical conference, so it depends on what the strength and conditioning and coaches want me at.

What impressed you during your visit to the Gophers?

I live like 45 minutes from L.A., so the city is similar. Not as crowded as L.A. … Being around the facilities (the new indoor practice facility at the Larson Football Performance Center). It was not even fully done yet, and it was just jaw-dropping, so I liked that.

What was the video they were showing when they took you through TCF Bank Stadium during your visit earlier this week?

When we walked into the stadium, it was at nighttime and they played a little pump-up video, a motivational video. Just being on the field and watching that video and how loud it was gave me chills. It painted an image in my mind of just being on the field playing.

What’s your impression of coach P.J. Fleck?

I love the energy. I love how demanding he is. Coach Craft at RCC is a very demanding coach and the trainers that I train with back home are very demanding, so I like playing for a demanding type of coach. (Fleck and the Gophers staff) want you to be a man on and off the field, and they teach you how to be a better man on and off the field, so that’s what I like.

What was the message about where you are on the depth chart and plan to possibly play next fall?

Before they offered me, I told coach Fleck that I just wanted a school — because I had already been through this once — where I can compete. That’s what he said. I’m going to be able to come in and compete and show my ability.

Being older than freshmen coming in, what have you learned most at Cal and Riverside on what’s needed in order to play?

Just being in film sessions and understanding what the coach wants from you, being on time for meetings, just having that college-level experience for a year and half or two since I was at RCC, just being around it more is a plus. It’s a big difference to go from high school to a college program.

You said your leadership style is to “get behind the seniors,” but at same time as a quarterback you have to be a leader. How would you describe your style?

A lot of people are different leaders in different ways. A lot of people are vocal or go by how they play on field and just doing their job and knowing that your brother or teammate is next to you, you hold accountability of doing your own job. I’m just trying to be a leader in the weight room, coming in and buying in to the program and being a leader in every way possible that you can.

During your visit, you met with Carter Coughlin and Rodney Smith, two current leaders on the Gophers. What was their messages to you?

They just spoke highly of the program and the coaching staff and just believing in what this coaching staff has going on right now, just buying into the program.

Tell me about your tattoos.

I have half a sleeve (a lion head on his left arm) and a cross on my back. Being a kid, always growing up watching the animal channel, I like how lions are so close to their pack and how they hunt in a pack. I like that mentality that they bring. It sticks out to me.

The cross must signify your religious beliefs.

Yeah, that is the thing that I liked about coach Fleck as well. ‘Row the Boat’ is a very spiritual thing, the way he explained it.

Are we going to see your long hair flowing out of the helmet next fall?

Yes, sir. (Laughs.) That’s the plan.

http://www.twincities.com/2017/12/0...ramontes-bringing-fire-tats-and-lots-of-hair/

Assistant coach Ed Conroy was at Carton's basketball game last night. So was Wisconsin ass't Joe Krabbenhoft. Post from some Rube on the Iowa site.

DJ Cartons game last night and no one from Iowa's staff was there. WTF? Ed Conroy (Minnesota assistant) and Joe Krabbenhoft (Wisconsin assistant) were there in the front row across from Bettendorf's bench. Carton's family was very aware that no one from Iowa was there. Pretty disappointing

Paup has an in-home visit. Okonji looks 3 inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter than Paup. Pretty small DE commit. Is he a DE or LB here?

Dupree McBrayer is hurt and will not play tonight. Isaiah Washington will start in his place.

First thing, I am thankful that so far every men's Gopher basketball game has been taped and put on YOUTUBE so you can re-watch any Gopher game played this year, up to this point..

Tried to break down the 2nd half, a bit more... Miami simply ran the pick and roll game like how the NBA does, in terms of style. Guards are looking to curl to the basket off the dribble. Everything was off motion, not passing from a stationary to another stationary player, on the outside.. If Minnesota closed out the drive with another defender in the key, the ballhandler kicks it out to the wing or looks for the big near the basket to pass it. Most all the 3 pointers in the 2nd half by Miami were not off the pick and roll, but because a Minnesota defender was either caught in "no mans land" by being indecisive as to who to guard or the Miami player was able to shake off the defender to hit the 3-ball..So we were late to get to the shooter or the Miami player made a nice move that we didnt respond..

The problem defending the Miami pick and rolls was actually Reggie Lynch. Miami ran 2 screen/rolls at the foul line extended, on both sides of the floor when Reggie was in the game. Both resulted in Huell dunks... Reggie has to decide what he is going to do, out high.. Either HEDGE OR SHOW, which means if Reggie is guarding the screener, he has to step out and stop the progress of the dribbler off the screen, until the original defender of the ballhandler gets back to position.. Or switch where the dribbler becomes the man that Reggie is guarding... Or stay with the screener and hope the original defender gets back to the dribbler..Maybe even close hard and trap the ballhandler on the sideline with the original defender. What Reggie did was just stand there, 2-3 steps away from the dribbler, and face the dribbler when he came around the screen, which created a huge area for the easy bounce pass to the CUTTING screener(Huell) for the dunk on the screen/roll... The NBA does that stuff.

Communication breakdowns were critical.. This is where we missed McBrayer the most. For instance, a Miami player was facing the basket inside the FT line, with a choice to shoot it or pass it to the wing...Jamir Harris of Minnesota was looking on and was indecisive of where to defend so he chose to go back and defend out at the top of the key which left the wing open for the easy 3 pointer... Harris needs to stay with the wing player in that circumstance because if the ballhandler is facing the basket, the most logical place to pass it from that position is to the wing and not behind him to the guard at the top of the key... Isaiah Washington actually defended the screen/roll as well as anyone in the 2nd half. There are still mental things to adjust but he has the makings of a very good player.

These are issues that good teams will expose so we have a lot of work to do yet.. We are a good team so this game against Miami was a great learning experience.... If we learn from this game, we can really be solid defensively if we get Dupree McBrayer back healthy.

In 1974.

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Three-star St. Louis safety Dallas Craddieth told me tonight he still talks with Minnesota, but they are not pushing hard for an official visit right now. They would be a strong candidate to get one, it sounds like, if they did decide to push hard. More on Dallas in the article below:

https://n.rivals.com/news/dallas-craddieth-alters-plans-after-nebraska-coaching-change

Rumor that it will be official tomorrow morning. Five years at $7.5 million per.

Vic Viramontes:

Positives:

• First thing you notice is the zip that the ball has coming off his hands. One of his highlights shows him throwing the ball over fifty yards in the air, and it is on a line
• He has the strength to hit the Cover 2 pocket in-between the corner and safety, and throw outside the hash marks
• Ability to run and escape the pocket. Accurate on the move
• Tough kid. Didn’t slide in any of the plays I watched. Tries running through defenders

Negatives:

• Tends to be a bit of a playground quarterback. Trusts his legs a bit too much to get him out of trouble. He won’t be able to run in the Big Ten like he does in JUCO
• In the clips I watched he rarely went through his progressions. If his first read wasn’t there, he looks to run. Only a few clips I saw actually had him look to a 2nd or 3rd option

Overall, Vic is a very talented quarterback who has a strong arm and exceptional running ability. The question going forward will be if he is able to grasp the offense Fleck wants to run, and if he will learn to go through his progressions before turning to his legs.

Matt posted his thoughts here, and Mark will be writing up a film review as well!

https://president.umn.edu/content/cost-tax-reform-our-students

President Kaler sent this message to the entire University community and a similar message to civic, business and political leaders across the state.

As the federal tax bill works its way through the U.S. Senate, our graduate students who work as teaching (TA) and research assistants (RA) urgently need our help. Right now.

The bill already passed by the House of Representatives would hit our more than 5,000 TAs, RAs, and other graduate assistants (GA) especially hard, and so, negatively impact the highly-skilled talent force we prepare at the University of Minnesota, a workforce that fuels our state's economic vitality. And this bill would likely discourage many of our undergraduates from pursuing advanced degrees. The fact is this tax bill will affect us all.

Here's what it would do to our grad students who teach our undergrads and who collaborate with our world-class faculty. The bill would count tuition reduction for TAs, RAs, and GAs as taxable income. That means if a TA receives a $1,000 tuition waiver for teaching, that $1,000 would be taxed. This provision would see our graduate students' taxes increase but without any additional dollars in their pockets. And, if the University has to provide additional compensation to offset the tax increases, it could mean finding up to $81 million a year, which would have a direct negative effect on our entire University budget.

That simply doesn't make sense, and it unfairly shifts the tax burden to those who can least afford to pay while they're contributing mightily to our University and our state. And, from a public policy perspective, the effects of fewer degree-seeking graduate students will surely be felt by employers.

One more thing: the House bill eliminates a $2,500-per-year student loan interest deduction, which would have a negative impact on all students, particularly those students in our professional programs, such as medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry. As you know, they often incur six-figure debt to pay for their education.

A Top Ten public land-grant research university like ours depends on the world's most creative grad students, and they rightly rely on us for support. That's why we have been working so hard these past few weeks to stop these harsh tax changes. Members of our Board of Regents and I have directly reached out to members of our Congressional delegation. I've made myself available for interviews to national media outlets to explain this flawed direction of the tax bill and will continue to advocate for our students.

As both House and Senate bills have developed, the University's Government Relations advocacy network has generated more than 12,000 emails to members of Congress, but we need to do even more, right now.

We need to pull together as a community and raise our voices to help our graduate students. The Senate may vote this week. Through our UMN Advocates website, you can reach members of our Congressional delegation to tell them to support our students.

Our voices matter to support the scientists, policy makers, and civic, cultural, and thought leaders of the future who study and work among us. Your voice will mean supporting a stronger Minnesota. It will mean supporting our students, our colleagues, and our friends.

4 of the 7 divisions in Ohio high school football have crowned state champions. Divisions 1, 2, 5, and 7 have completed their seasons..There are some stud athletes that I want to share with you that I would hope PJ Fleck would keep track of in the future for the Gophers.. 3 of the 4 starting QBs of the state championship teams will return next year so there is talent coming down the pike in Ohio, as usual. I wanted to share the Freshmen and Sophomores that made significant contributions to their teams in the state championship games

Division 1: Demeatric Crenshaw, 2020 QB for Pickerington Central.. Demeatric scored 6 TDs rushing tonight in their 56-28 victory over Mentor.. At 6-2 190 pounds, he has a strong arm as well. He will continue to see top level competition through the rest of his HS years.. Tough runner as well as fast.Tonight, they just didnt need to throw the ball that much but this kid is a special athlete.

Division 2: Shane Hamm, 2021 QB for Akron Hoban... Took over for much decorated Danny Clark, who is a freshman at University of Kentucky... Shane is a better QB than Danny Clark was as a Freshman, IMO.... Got great touch on the deep ball and fades..Good field vision and excellent accuracy... ,Threw for 243 yards and 4 TDs in the D2 state championship 42-14 victory over Cincinnati Winton Woods. He has 3 years to grow but is 6-0 190 pounds at this point. Very strong runner for his size and sneaky fast.

Division 2: Luke Bauer, 2021 LB for Akron Hoban... Amazing that a state champion caliber team starts 2 freshmen let alone one on a team with 70-80 players.. Bauer is the younger brother of DB Nate Bauer, who considered the Gophers... Luke is 6-1 230 as a HS freshman so he might outgrow linebacker.. But he is aggressive and reads plays very well... Good leverage and uses hands well to get off blocks..

Division 5: Jaden Rayford 2020 RB for Eastwood.. Eastwood lost an agonizing close game against Wheelersburg in the best state final so far. 21-14 in overtime.. .This kid lives near me up in Toledo... Jaden had 136 yards against a staunch defense in today's loss.. Eastwood runs a Wing-T offense so the defense knows it is a run but still had 2208 yards rushing with 35 TDs on the year. 6-1 195 RB with good burst....A very talented sophomore.

Just thought I would share some names that would be good potential Gopher recruits.

Major channels in BOLD

Friday, December, 1st
Pac12CG : Stanford vs. USC 7:00 pm ESPN / WatchESPN
Saturday, December, 2nd (Printable schedule w/ DirecTV channels)

AACCG : Memphis at UCF 11:00 am ABC / espn3 Video
CUSACG : North Texas at Florida Atlantic 11:00 am ESPN2 / WatchESPN
MACCG : Akron vs. Toledo 11:00 am ESPN / WatchESPN
Big12CG : Oklahoma vs. TCU 11:30 am FOX / FSGo Video
SECCG : Auburn vs. Georgia 3:00 pm CBS / CBS Video
South Alabama at New Mexico State 3:30 pm FSAZ+ / espn3 Video / AggieVision
SWACCG : Alcorn vs. Grambling 3:30 pm ESPNU / WatchESPN
Troy at Arkansas State 6:30 pm ESPN2 / WatchESPN
MWCCG : Fresno State at Boise State 6:45 pm ESPN / WatchESPN
ACCCG : Clemson vs. Miami 7:00 pm ABC / espn3 Video
B1GCG : Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 7:00 pm FOX / FSGo Video

http://www.lsufootball.net/tvschedule.htm

Post season ban. Current players can transfer with out penalty. Phoning Taamu!!! Sr qb making a great competition for VV?

I was just checking to see when Barry Alvarez first went to the Rose Bowl (4th season), when I noticed his overall B1G record was just 64-61-1. His legacy is actually better as an AD, but in any case, it made me wonder what would be a good overall expectation for PJ? Alvarez didn't go to a Rose Bowl again until season 9 and again in season 10. Would these be good numbers for PJ?

Sorry for the delays and lack of prompt responses. We take full responsibility for that and are looking more into where the coaches will be going. Happy to answer questions or anything else.

Coach Wenger and Burns were in to see Craig Williams
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Coach Callahan will be in to see Tyrik Henderson at some point

Coach Fleck, Linguist, and Simon went and saw Rashod Bateman
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I just confirmed Ciarocca was or will be in to see Matthew Baldwin this week

Coach Fleck, Burns, Smith, Linguist, and Warriner went to see C.J. Smith
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Coach Fleck was in to see Grant Norton
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There were coaches in Florida to see Ahanotu, and Bryce Williams. Possibly Dunlap.
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Minnesota offered recent four-star center and FSU decommit Verdis Brown and he's an IMG guy. We'll see if there's going to be any interest there.

A little bit behind since I was moving from my temporary corporate housing to my permanent home today. A couple of offers went out today. Here we go...

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Gophers offer 2019 3* Georgia Center Jakal Clark. He has P5 offers from Minnesota, Kansas, and Oregon State.

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Gophers also offered 2020 Illinois Wide Receiver Jadon Thompson. He has P5 offers from Minnesota, Illinois, and Indiana.

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@Matt Jessen-Howard @Connor Stevens

i saw on tos that Hopkins is hosting 4 games on Saturday that are displaying future Gophers or players that they are recruiting. One game pits Minnehaha vs East Ridge. Suggs obviously plays for Minnehaha but they are also recruiting Ben Carlson of ER. Mods, how good is Carlson and can he play with Suggs. Other games feature DeLaSalle vs Iowa City which is led by Future Hawkeye and son of the coach McCaffery, Orono (Gopher signee Omersa) vs Armstrong and CDH vs Hopkins ( Oturu vs Badger signee Hedstrom and Nnaji who the Gophers are recruiting). Would be great to have updates on this if anyone is going.

Yeah they manage to fill the stadiums. But contact any random person from an SEC state, at random....and they won't have a clue about football. They won't know who the coach is....or anything whatsoever about football.

With Mullen on his way to Fla and Schiano on his way to Tennessee which are both extremely good hires iyam that all but locks up Frost to Nebraska imo