The staff has definitely been busy in the southeast recruiting skill players for 2017. The majority of the past 20 offers and more have gone to defensive backs and athlete-position type players in Alabama and Georgia.
In February and March, it seemed as if the staff was targeting offensive lineman and defensive tackles and defensive ends, proof coach Claeys was serious about changing the culture and performance of the trenches at UMN.
With only two weeks left in the spring evaluation period and the way the positions are stretched throughout the Midwest and southeast, you can say Georgia holds several of the staffs top targets at several positions, namely running back, wide receiver, cornerback, safety and offensive tackle. There are also several offers to cornerbacks and defensive lineman in Florida and prized offensive tackle Nick Brahms.
While the incoming class of 2016 is filled with in-state players, 2017 is shaping up to be completely opposite. The only thing I can see changing that from happening is many of these players falling off the Gophers' recruiting board if they commit elsewhere and the staff has to look at their B and C options, which could be prospects closer to home.
Its just my opinion, but it seems to me, and not just with Minnesota's recruiting this spring, that 2 and 3-star players in Florida, Alabama and Georgia are regarded as higher value than 2 or 3-star players in the Midwest. It could be because competition is tougher in the southeast and the players train and condition year round. To add, 7-on-7 in the southeast is almost as competitive and important as the regular season to some of these kids.
In February and March, it seemed as if the staff was targeting offensive lineman and defensive tackles and defensive ends, proof coach Claeys was serious about changing the culture and performance of the trenches at UMN.
With only two weeks left in the spring evaluation period and the way the positions are stretched throughout the Midwest and southeast, you can say Georgia holds several of the staffs top targets at several positions, namely running back, wide receiver, cornerback, safety and offensive tackle. There are also several offers to cornerbacks and defensive lineman in Florida and prized offensive tackle Nick Brahms.
While the incoming class of 2016 is filled with in-state players, 2017 is shaping up to be completely opposite. The only thing I can see changing that from happening is many of these players falling off the Gophers' recruiting board if they commit elsewhere and the staff has to look at their B and C options, which could be prospects closer to home.
Its just my opinion, but it seems to me, and not just with Minnesota's recruiting this spring, that 2 and 3-star players in Florida, Alabama and Georgia are regarded as higher value than 2 or 3-star players in the Midwest. It could be because competition is tougher in the southeast and the players train and condition year round. To add, 7-on-7 in the southeast is almost as competitive and important as the regular season to some of these kids.
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