The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers signed its highest-ranked class ever in the internet era on Dec. 20. Today, Minnesota added eight preferred walk-ons to its roster.
Minnesota will add more walk-ons to its roster prior to starting the 2018 season on Aug. 30 against New Mexico State at TCF Bank Stadium.
Today, the Gophers added two linebackers, two tight ends, one offensive lineman, one defensive lineman, one kicker and one long snapper. The eight new signees are below.
Ty Barron // 6-0 // 225 // LB
Attends Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, Minn. • wore No. 44 for the Skippers • as a senior, totaled more than 120 tackles and led team to a 12-2 record and a berth in the state championship game • was a finalist for the 2017 Mr. Football Award • named 2017 Star Tribune All Metro First Team and KARE 11 All-Metro Team • coached by Dave Nelson.
Max Janes // 6-3 // 230 // TE
Attends Mounds View High School in Shoreview, Minn. • wore No. 9 for the Mustangs • as a senior, made 19 catches for 312 yards and three touchdowns on offense and totaled 60 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions on defense • as a junior, hauled in 24 catches for 581 yards and seven scores • coached by Jim Galvin.
Ryan Keating // 6-4 // 290 // OL
Attends Strongsville High School in Strongsville, Ohio • wore No. 74 for the Mustangs • played guard and defensive tackle throughout his high school career • was named to the First Team All-Conference and was named a Greater Cleveland Conference Scholar Athlete • coached by Lou Cirino • also lettered in lacrosse.
Jack Kern // 6-2 // 300 // DL
Attends Eau Claire Memorial High School in Eau Claire, Wis. • wore No. 77 for the Old Abes • earned First-Team All-Conference, All-Region and honorable mention All-State honors for both offensive and defensive interior line in his career • coached by Paul Kling.
Jack McNeil // 6-5 // 255 // TE
Attends Madison Edgewood High School in Madison, Wis. • wore No. 8 for the Crusaders • played defensive end, defensive tackle, tight end, wide receiver and quarterback in his high school career • played quarterback his senior season • earned All-Badger South Conference second-team and All-City honors at tight end as a junior and All-Badger South second-team honors at defensive end as a sophomore • also a two-time letterwinner in basketball and a three-time letterwinner and two-year starter in baseball as a pitcher, first baseman and third baseman • earned All-Badger South first-team and All-City honors in baseball as a sophomore and All-Badger South honorable mention honors as a junior • was coached in football by Alan Minnaert.
Micah Roane // 6-4 // 235 // LB
Attends Chaska High School in Chaska, Minn. • wore No. 50 for the Hawks • as a senior, led team to an 8-1 record after totaling more than 60 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and two sacks • named to the KARE 11 All-Metro Team and helped lead the South All-Stars to a win in the Minnesota High School All-Star Game • coached by Bryan Dahl • also lettered in baseball.
Michael Vojvodich // 6-3 // 215 // LS
Attends Woodson High School in Annandale, Va. • wore No. 51 for the Cavaliers • played guard and long snapper in his high school career • was evaluated by the Chris Sailer Kicking Camp in 2017 and was ranked the No. 37 long snapper in his class • had an average 15-yard snap speed of .81 and was given a 12.05 on the Rubio Standard Index.
Brock Walker // 5-10 // 190 // K
Attends Washington High School in Sioux Falls, S.D. • received a 4.5 star kicker rating from Kohl's • wore No. 20 for the Warriors • helped lead team to three straight 11AAA state championships • as a senior, named first-team All-State as a defensive back after totaling 88 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and three interceptions • made 13 of 22 field goal attempts, which included a 45-yarder • named team special team's MVP in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and was named defensive back MVP in 2017 • named to the National Honor Society, was a 4.00 Honor Roll student every semester of high school and 2017 Academic All State • coached by Chad Stadem.
Minnesota will add more walk-ons to its roster prior to starting the 2018 season on Aug. 30 against New Mexico State at TCF Bank Stadium.
Today, the Gophers added two linebackers, two tight ends, one offensive lineman, one defensive lineman, one kicker and one long snapper. The eight new signees are below.
Ty Barron // 6-0 // 225 // LB
Attends Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, Minn. • wore No. 44 for the Skippers • as a senior, totaled more than 120 tackles and led team to a 12-2 record and a berth in the state championship game • was a finalist for the 2017 Mr. Football Award • named 2017 Star Tribune All Metro First Team and KARE 11 All-Metro Team • coached by Dave Nelson.
Max Janes // 6-3 // 230 // TE
Attends Mounds View High School in Shoreview, Minn. • wore No. 9 for the Mustangs • as a senior, made 19 catches for 312 yards and three touchdowns on offense and totaled 60 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions on defense • as a junior, hauled in 24 catches for 581 yards and seven scores • coached by Jim Galvin.
Ryan Keating // 6-4 // 290 // OL
Attends Strongsville High School in Strongsville, Ohio • wore No. 74 for the Mustangs • played guard and defensive tackle throughout his high school career • was named to the First Team All-Conference and was named a Greater Cleveland Conference Scholar Athlete • coached by Lou Cirino • also lettered in lacrosse.
Jack Kern // 6-2 // 300 // DL
Attends Eau Claire Memorial High School in Eau Claire, Wis. • wore No. 77 for the Old Abes • earned First-Team All-Conference, All-Region and honorable mention All-State honors for both offensive and defensive interior line in his career • coached by Paul Kling.
Jack McNeil // 6-5 // 255 // TE
Attends Madison Edgewood High School in Madison, Wis. • wore No. 8 for the Crusaders • played defensive end, defensive tackle, tight end, wide receiver and quarterback in his high school career • played quarterback his senior season • earned All-Badger South Conference second-team and All-City honors at tight end as a junior and All-Badger South second-team honors at defensive end as a sophomore • also a two-time letterwinner in basketball and a three-time letterwinner and two-year starter in baseball as a pitcher, first baseman and third baseman • earned All-Badger South first-team and All-City honors in baseball as a sophomore and All-Badger South honorable mention honors as a junior • was coached in football by Alan Minnaert.
Micah Roane // 6-4 // 235 // LB
Attends Chaska High School in Chaska, Minn. • wore No. 50 for the Hawks • as a senior, led team to an 8-1 record after totaling more than 60 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and two sacks • named to the KARE 11 All-Metro Team and helped lead the South All-Stars to a win in the Minnesota High School All-Star Game • coached by Bryan Dahl • also lettered in baseball.
Michael Vojvodich // 6-3 // 215 // LS
Attends Woodson High School in Annandale, Va. • wore No. 51 for the Cavaliers • played guard and long snapper in his high school career • was evaluated by the Chris Sailer Kicking Camp in 2017 and was ranked the No. 37 long snapper in his class • had an average 15-yard snap speed of .81 and was given a 12.05 on the Rubio Standard Index.
Brock Walker // 5-10 // 190 // K
Attends Washington High School in Sioux Falls, S.D. • received a 4.5 star kicker rating from Kohl's • wore No. 20 for the Warriors • helped lead team to three straight 11AAA state championships • as a senior, named first-team All-State as a defensive back after totaling 88 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and three interceptions • made 13 of 22 field goal attempts, which included a 45-yarder • named team special team's MVP in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and was named defensive back MVP in 2017 • named to the National Honor Society, was a 4.00 Honor Roll student every semester of high school and 2017 Academic All State • coached by Chad Stadem.
