In the last seven recruiting classes (starting in 2012, which includes Jerry Kill's first full year of recruiting) about 20% of Gopher football recruits (28 players) have come from MN. Almost 67% of that amount, 18 players, came in the 2012 and 2016 classes.
Some players (Andre McDonald, Phil Nelson, Jeff Jones and Nick Connelly) left the program early in their careers. Others (Duke Anyaninu and Chris Wipson) seldom played. A few (Ben Lauer and Isaac Hayes) left with a year of eligibility remaining. Max Williams left two years early to go pro.
Several were/are multiple-year starters (Mitch Leidner, Jonah Pirsig, Isaac Freuchte, Nick Rallis, Lingren and Andrew Stelter). The 2013 had one Minnesotan (Chris Wipson) and the 2015 class has only one (Branson Dovich) remaining.
Four members of the 2016 had their RS pulled and are current starters (Tyler Johnson, Kamal Martin, Carter Coughlin and Thomas Barber). The other four from this class (Connor Olson, Sam Schueter, Philip Howard and Drew Hmielewski) are either starting or in the two deep line-ups.
Blaise Andries is the most outstanding MN native from the 2017 class which also includes Boye Mafe, Dominik London and Grant Ryerse. In sum, the best players from MN to play for the Gophers in recent years have been Max Williams, Mitch Leidner, Jonah Pirsig and Isaac Freuchte.
As Lou Holtz said when he first became the Gophers' coach, "The heart and soul of this team is going to come from the state of Minnesota. The arms and legs, however, are going to have to come from somewhere else."
Some players (Andre McDonald, Phil Nelson, Jeff Jones and Nick Connelly) left the program early in their careers. Others (Duke Anyaninu and Chris Wipson) seldom played. A few (Ben Lauer and Isaac Hayes) left with a year of eligibility remaining. Max Williams left two years early to go pro.
Several were/are multiple-year starters (Mitch Leidner, Jonah Pirsig, Isaac Freuchte, Nick Rallis, Lingren and Andrew Stelter). The 2013 had one Minnesotan (Chris Wipson) and the 2015 class has only one (Branson Dovich) remaining.
Four members of the 2016 had their RS pulled and are current starters (Tyler Johnson, Kamal Martin, Carter Coughlin and Thomas Barber). The other four from this class (Connor Olson, Sam Schueter, Philip Howard and Drew Hmielewski) are either starting or in the two deep line-ups.
Blaise Andries is the most outstanding MN native from the 2017 class which also includes Boye Mafe, Dominik London and Grant Ryerse. In sum, the best players from MN to play for the Gophers in recent years have been Max Williams, Mitch Leidner, Jonah Pirsig and Isaac Freuchte.
As Lou Holtz said when he first became the Gophers' coach, "The heart and soul of this team is going to come from the state of Minnesota. The arms and legs, however, are going to have to come from somewhere else."
