http://www.inforum.com/sports/38308...ndout-james-johannesson-will-redshirt-gophers
FARGO—James Johannesson, a former three-time all-state running back at Fargo South High School, will begin the upcoming college football season at the University of Minnesota as a redshirt player.
Troy Mattern, Johannesson's former coach at South, confirmed Wednesday that he communicated with Johannesson recently about the team's decision to redshirt the 6-foot-1, 221-pound running back.
"Going into fall camp there was the possibility of him not redshirting, but the scenario was more than likely that he was going to," Mattern said.
Johannesson does not appear on the Minnesota's two-deep depth chart for its season opener against No. 2-ranked Texas Christian, which is set for 8 p.m. Thursday at TCF Bank Stadium.
Minnesota does not announce what players on its roster are redshirting. A true freshman who redshirts is unavailable to play in games, but retains four years of eligibility. A team may choose to lift a redshirt off of a player. However, the season he plays in counts against his years of eligibility.
"I think it is a good move for James," Mattern said. "He'll have a year under his belt and will be ready for next season. If you look across the power five conferences, there is not a lot of true freshmen playing. It is not out of the norm."
Mattern also said Johannesson has been informed the team is keeping him at the running back position.
"The best thing about it, and I told him this, is that they are keeping him at running back," Mattern said. "There has always been speculation that he may move to the defensive side of the ball. He is a running back and that is the way the Gophers are moving forward with him."
Prior to fall camp, Johannesson turned in one of the team's fastest marks in what is known as the catapult (miles per hour) drill at his position. The drill measures the top velocity an athlete runs during workouts and Johannesson was recorded at 22.2 mph."He enjoyed his first camp," said James Johannesson Sr., who is Johannesson's father. "I was down there a couple days watching practice. They have some talented players at his position, but I think he is holding his own."
FARGO—James Johannesson, a former three-time all-state running back at Fargo South High School, will begin the upcoming college football season at the University of Minnesota as a redshirt player.
Troy Mattern, Johannesson's former coach at South, confirmed Wednesday that he communicated with Johannesson recently about the team's decision to redshirt the 6-foot-1, 221-pound running back.
"Going into fall camp there was the possibility of him not redshirting, but the scenario was more than likely that he was going to," Mattern said.
Johannesson does not appear on the Minnesota's two-deep depth chart for its season opener against No. 2-ranked Texas Christian, which is set for 8 p.m. Thursday at TCF Bank Stadium.
Minnesota does not announce what players on its roster are redshirting. A true freshman who redshirts is unavailable to play in games, but retains four years of eligibility. A team may choose to lift a redshirt off of a player. However, the season he plays in counts against his years of eligibility.
"I think it is a good move for James," Mattern said. "He'll have a year under his belt and will be ready for next season. If you look across the power five conferences, there is not a lot of true freshmen playing. It is not out of the norm."
Mattern also said Johannesson has been informed the team is keeping him at the running back position.
"The best thing about it, and I told him this, is that they are keeping him at running back," Mattern said. "There has always been speculation that he may move to the defensive side of the ball. He is a running back and that is the way the Gophers are moving forward with him."
Prior to fall camp, Johannesson turned in one of the team's fastest marks in what is known as the catapult (miles per hour) drill at his position. The drill measures the top velocity an athlete runs during workouts and Johannesson was recorded at 22.2 mph."He enjoyed his first camp," said James Johannesson Sr., who is Johannesson's father. "I was down there a couple days watching practice. They have some talented players at his position, but I think he is holding his own."
