As many as 15 Gopher players who could make the two-deep line-ups this fall might be natives of the state of Minnesota. Only one of those players, however, did not come to the program as a scholarship athlete--Blake Cashman. If you look at the scholarship grid on this website, you'll be hard pressed to find a WO listed who will make the two-deep line-ups.
At WI, 18 players projected to be in its two-line ups could be natives of the Badger state. But two of their starters and three back-up players were walk-ons. At IA, 18 Iowans are projected to be in the two-deeps but four starters were walk-ons, as were five back-ups.
Why continue to mention WI and IA? Mostly because the states are very similar to MN in size and location. They are also our most bitter rivals and have had stronger football teams than ours for many years.
From 2013 through 2016, MN awarded scholarships to natives of the Gopher state in the following sequence: 2013 (1), 2014 (3), 2015 (2) 2016 (8). If you add one walk-on to these numbers you get 15 players over four years, or about four a year. Is that all the talent MN high school teams are developing over and against high schools in IA and WI? I doubt it. Maybe NDSU is taking all of MN's walk-ons. But the situation puts MN at a big disadvantage.
At WI, 18 players projected to be in its two-line ups could be natives of the Badger state. But two of their starters and three back-up players were walk-ons. At IA, 18 Iowans are projected to be in the two-deeps but four starters were walk-ons, as were five back-ups.
Why continue to mention WI and IA? Mostly because the states are very similar to MN in size and location. They are also our most bitter rivals and have had stronger football teams than ours for many years.
From 2013 through 2016, MN awarded scholarships to natives of the Gopher state in the following sequence: 2013 (1), 2014 (3), 2015 (2) 2016 (8). If you add one walk-on to these numbers you get 15 players over four years, or about four a year. Is that all the talent MN high school teams are developing over and against high schools in IA and WI? I doubt it. Maybe NDSU is taking all of MN's walk-ons. But the situation puts MN at a big disadvantage.
