With Minnesota playing it's final game last night, recruiting will soon kick into full swing. Here's the latest of every target and every position.
Quarterbacks
Minnesota quarterback 5.6 three-star commitment Highlights @D_McKinzy1
I think Minnesota has been and will continue to be set with McKinzy at quarterback. McKinzy will enroll early and will move in on January 17th.
Preferred Walk-ons
1. Pioneer Press, Star Tribune, Gatorade Player of the year and Roseville (Minn.) quarterback Senior Highlights @JPerra16
2. St. Louis Park (Minn.) Benilde St. Margaret's quarterback Senior Highlights @KjStudsrud
I don't see anything more than a preferred walk-on offer coming from Minnesota as they don't have the scholarships to give out in this class. They'd both be great gets as walk-ons to build depth at the position.
Running Backs
Commitments
1. Rivals 92nd overall player and four star Minnesota running back commit Senior Highlights @WaveyJJ_10
Jones took two official visits in December, one to Minnesota and Iowa State. I've heard that the visit to Minnesota went very well and Jones' got all of his questions answered. His visit to Iowa State went well, but I've also heard that there is little to no chance he goes there. So I still feel very good about Minnesota's chances.
No other visits are set with Jones right now, but two schools that you'll hear Jones say he wants to visit in January are Michigan State and Mizzou. If you look at Michigan State's commitments, they already have two backs committed and I don't see them taking another. Yes Jones is an elite talent, but from what I've heard, they're set with those two. Mizzou on the other hand is interesting, but again their class is close to full and they have two backs committed already.
I think Minnesota's biggest competition for Jones hasn't even surfaced yet. I think an SEC team will offer in January and the Gophers will be in another battle with the SEC.
Wish list order:
1. Jonesburo (Ga.) Mundy's Mill running back Highlights @_Numero_Uno_1
2. Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb running back Highlights @bigdaddyvonte_
3. Wichita (Kan.) 5.6 three-star running back Highlights @deronthetruth20
4. Coral Gables (Fla.) running back Highlights @GregoryCG8
Things have been changing in the running back wish list for Minnesota and I firmly believe that Smith is on top now. He's vastly under-recruited right now as he tore his ACL during his junior season and didn't go to any camps last summer as he was recovering from injury, but he's put on a show this year rushing for 1709 yards on 206 carries for an average of 8.3 yards per carry, averaging 155 yards a game and also rushed for 20 touchdowns. Anderson went down twice in December to Georgia to spend time with Smith and he's developed a great relationship with Smith and his parents. Kill and Anderson will do an in-home visit with Smith in January and Smith plans to decide shortly after his ECU visit. I think Smith is a Gopher all the way.
Herrod has to be one of the oddest recruiting stories I've covered here at GI. He told me back before he visited that there was a great chance he committed shortly after his visit, but now it's almost January and he's said recently that Minnesota isn't among his top schools anymore. So what happened? I think some of it is academic issues, which are there, but I think that Herrod doesn't have anyone to help him through the recruiting process as he asked me recently if Minnesota and Southern Miss have the same academics. Minnesota didn't end up seeing Herrod in December, so things may be growing apart between the two parties.
Thompson and Howell haven't done anything wrong as they put up great senior seasons, I just think that there are better prospects on the board than them now. Thompson has great speed that this staff really values and Howell is a load and putting up great numbers in the Miami-Dade county right now. Thompson recently took the ACT again and is hoping for a better score. It'll be interesting to see what happens between Minnesota and Thompson if that happens as Thompson has spoke with Coach Miller weekly since he visited, so the interest in still there.
Preferred Walk-ons
1. Chisago Lakes (Minn.) running back Senior Highlights @KidBrookSweeps
2. Eden Prairie (Minn.) running back Senior Highlights @HeyImAnt
Wide Receivers
1. Ashburn (Va.) Briar Woods wide receiver Highlights @MelloYllw21
2. Demopolis (Ala.) wide receiver Highlights @DemetriusKemp
3. Demopolis (Ala.) wide receiver Highlights @CortezLewis1
4. Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller wide receiver Highlights @IsaiahGentryWr7
5. Mentor (Ohio) wide receiver Highlights @CjKrizancic_5
I'd be shocked if Minnesota didn't sign at least two of the guys of this list. You could arguably interchange any of the 1 - 5 on the Wish List as I think they're all takes for the staff at this time. Melvin Holland to me, is probably one of the most under-recruited recruits in the nation at this point and that's very good for Minnesota. This is Holland's first year playing receiver as he's flat out dominated. Coach Anderson saw he and his father twice in December and have developed a great relationship with the family thus far. Holland has connections to Gopher commit Khari Blasingame as they played 7 on 7 together last summer and Gopher RB target Rodney Smith through I believe Smith's Coach is Holland's godfather. Holland told GI that Wisconsin and Georgia Tech have both said they'll be visiting him early on after the dead period is over on the 15th and will offer.
The good news for Minnesota is his visit is set in stone on the 17th. The weekend of the 24th, Holland has a class ski trip to Canada and doesn't want to miss it. That leaves only the weekend of the 31st, and will these schools have filled up by then? Time will tell. But I feel good about Minnesota's chances right now.
Kemp and Lewis both have visited and I know Coach Sawvel is working them hard. The staff views Kemp as a wide receiver a lot more than a defensive back at this point, and I love the way he plays. If you watch his highlights, he LOVES contact and runs through tackles left and right. Kemp looks for contact and is the one delivering the hit, not taking it. Lewis on the other hand is flat out an athletic freak. You don't see many 6'2" 200+ lbs kids run a legit 4.5 and be able to dunk a basketball with ease. He already blocks very well and I think either of these two would be great gets. Both will be visiting Purdue on the 17th and have nothing set after that. I think a late SEC offer is very possible for either of these kids.
I like Minnesota's chances with Lewis better than Kemp at this point as Kemp didn't take well to the weather. The Gophers Ace in the hole is Coach Kill though as both Kemp and Lewis love Kill and respect him very much. Kill and Sawvel will have their chance to seal the deal in January when they do their in-home visits.
Gentry and Krizancic both received multiple visits from Coach Zebrowski in January with Gentry's visit set for the 24th and Krizancic still figuring out which weekend works best. Vanderbilt has stepped up their interest in Gentry and will be a factor as with potentially Kentucky. It'll go Kent State on the 17th, Minnesota on the 24th and an open date on the 31st for Gentry, and again, you wonder if other teams will have filled up by then. Coach Z has made a great impression on Gentry's family and if Gentry receives a qualifying score, he instantly receives a Gopher offer. Krizancic has had a Gopher offer for some time and Coach Z again has made good progress with his family and Krizancic will set an official visit in the next few weeks to Minnesota.
I think Minnesota takes at least two, maybe three receivers this class.
Preferred Walk-ons
1. Highlands Ranch (Colo.) Mountain Vista wide receiver Senior Highlights @RoccoPalumbo7
2. Sioux City (Iowa) East wide receiver Senior Highlights @Ronnie_Nashh
Tight ends
1. Minnesota tight end commit Highlights @Elmore2014
2. Minnesota tight end commit Highlights @Brandon_Lingen
3. Theodore (Ala.) athlete Highlights @TheNew_JG3
All three are very solid to Minnesota and Elmore and Lingen will be great blocking tight end adds to the class, while Gibson will start out as an H-back, with the option to move to OLB if it doesn't work out.
Offensive line
Commitments:
1. Van Alstyne (Texas) offensive lineman Highlights @PuppyloveMayes
2. Brookfield (Wis.) Central offensive tackle Highlights @Rasquatch75
Wish List
1. Victoria (Minn.) Chanhassen offensive tackle Highlights @KNARFWONGAR
It's been clear for many months that Ragnow is on the top of Limegrover's wishlist and Ragnow has taken an official visit to Minnesota and Florida State thus far. Florida State could be close to filling up at the OL position, so that may eliminate them. Will Ohio State start making push? Will Wisconsin secure a late official visit in January? Those are the two schools I'm most worried about now. It'll be between those four schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Florida State for Ragnow. Kill will be the last coach that Ragnow will see before making a decision and that will be huge because Ragnow has the best relationship of all coaches with Coach Kill and I'm not sure he can say no to him. If Minnesota misses on Ragnow, look for this class to be done scholarship wise for offensive line.
Preferred Walk-ons
1. Eden Prairie (Minn.) offensive lineman Senior Highlights
2. Hartland (Wis.) Arrowhead offensive lineman Senior Highlights @Bigman5576
Defensive line
Commitments
1. Owatonna (Minn.) defensive tackle commit Highlights @Steltz_78
2. Chicago (Ill.) Mt. Carmel defensive tackle commit Senior Highlights @mteam_srich
3. Canadian defensive end Highlights @JPKafo44
Wish List:
1. Pensacola (Fla.) West Florida Tech defensive end Highlights @RMcwilliams_98
2. Florence (Ala.) defensive end Highlights @GrindFor10
Stelter and Richardson will both be defensive tackles in my eyes when things are said in done. Richardson is Roland Johnson 2.0 for 4 years and I can't wait to see what he can do. I think Stelter has an outstanding frame to put on weight and I think he could play next year at defensive tackle with the depth we'll need there. Kafo is a 20 year old Canadian defensive end that has great athleticism and is a big build guy.
I use the word Wish List very carefully on the DL as the Gopher staff hasn't decided if they're going to take another DL this class or not. If they do, expect these names to surface as they'd visit in the last weekend of Janaury.
Linebackers
Commitments:
1. Mansfield (Texas) Legacy linebacker Highlights @Everett2Dreaded
2. Council Bluffs (Iowa) Iowa Western community college linebacker Highlights @codyallenpoock
Wish List:
1. Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain linebacker Highlights @Tegray_Scales8
2. Tampa (Fla.) Sickles linebacker Highlights @darkassassin_12
Poock has already signed and will be here in January for Spring Ball and Williams is very solid as well. It'll be between Minnesota, Indiana and Illinois for Scales, with Ohio State as a Dark horse to some degree. It needs to be said that if they do, Scales will be a Buckeye. With Scales wrestling schedule, it'll be tough to get Scales on a visit, but he wants to take an official visit to the Twin Cities. He's be the top guy on the board since the summer and could play right away next year at outside linebacker. Coach Z and Coach Miller have made in-home visits with Scales in December, so Minnesota is right in the thick of it. Black was offered back in the spring, but things have picked up again recently as he's set to visit Minnesota on the 24th of January. He had multiple tackles for loss in 8 games this year and for the season, Black totaled 103 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 20 sacks and 3 caused fumbles. I think Minnesota would take him as they've set an official visit with him, but crazier things have happened.
Defensive backs
Commitments:
1. New Market (Ala.) Buckhorn safety Highlights @kb_bucks1
Wish List:
1. Muscle Shoals (Ala.) cornerback Highlights @Mims_NotHot
2. Edwardsville (Ill.) cornerback Highlights @1ofGodsoldiers
3. Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Paul Bryant cornerback Highlights @Pat_Porter11
4. Phenix City (Ala.) Central cornerback Highlights @9ChrisRock
5. Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain cornerback Highlights @Kelv_10
Blasingame will be the only safety in this class I think he's a lot like current Gopher Damarius Travis as a safety. Hard hitting and very athletic.
As far as cornerbacks, I'm 99% certain that Minnesota will sign two of these five corners on the wish list. The Gophers will only take two corners as well. Mims visited back in December with his father and the visit went very well. He wants to take a visit to WKU first to compare Minnesota to another college and a decision could come soon after. Mims will be a lot like Eric Murray in length and will be an inch or two taller, exactly what Sawvel loves. James told GI this afternoon that he wants some more time to make a decision as it's the biggest one of his life thus far. That being said, I think Minnesota is the front runner, followed by Indiana. James doesn't have any more official visits set up. If Minnesota were to land James, he'd be a cross of Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Marcus Jones. I've heard the staff wants to use James in the return game and Sawvel loves his quickness as it's as good as Boddy's.
It needs to be said that Porter, Campbell and Cook don't have Minnesota offers at this point, but if James or Mims goes elsewhere or the staff gets impatient, look for an offer to go out. Campbell is new to the Gopher radar after Minnesota saw him at the Alabama - Mississippi All-Star game and it'll be between Minnesota, Vanderbilt and Arkansas from the sounds of it.
Preferred Walk-ons
1. Lisle (Ill.) Benet Academy safety Senior Highlights @porterontko25
Athletes
1. Perham (Minn.) long snapper Highlights @paydayy25
Jordahl is the prime candidate to secure the long snapper PWO or offer from this staff. He performed very well at the special teams camp this summer and he's set to visit on the 17th of January.
Other notes:
I know people get frustrated on how there are around 6-10 spots open come January, but that's what this staff loves to do. They love to find these diamonds in the rough after evaluating their senior film as that's what they think is the most important thing they could see in the recruiting cycle. It's their method and I don't see it changing.
The two for sure early enrollee's for this class are QB commit Dimonic McKinzy and JUCO LB Cody Poock.
TE commit Gaelin Elmore will be graduating early, but will be participating on his high school basketball team until their season is over in March. He and the staff aren't sure if he'll be able to participate in Spring ball then as they'll be far into the semester.
If there are anymore questions you guys have, please post below.
Quarterbacks
Minnesota quarterback 5.6 three-star commitment Highlights @D_McKinzy1
I think Minnesota has been and will continue to be set with McKinzy at quarterback. McKinzy will enroll early and will move in on January 17th.
Preferred Walk-ons
1. Pioneer Press, Star Tribune, Gatorade Player of the year and Roseville (Minn.) quarterback Senior Highlights @JPerra16
2. St. Louis Park (Minn.) Benilde St. Margaret's quarterback Senior Highlights @KjStudsrud
I don't see anything more than a preferred walk-on offer coming from Minnesota as they don't have the scholarships to give out in this class. They'd both be great gets as walk-ons to build depth at the position.
Running Backs
Commitments
1. Rivals 92nd overall player and four star Minnesota running back commit Senior Highlights @WaveyJJ_10
Jones took two official visits in December, one to Minnesota and Iowa State. I've heard that the visit to Minnesota went very well and Jones' got all of his questions answered. His visit to Iowa State went well, but I've also heard that there is little to no chance he goes there. So I still feel very good about Minnesota's chances.
No other visits are set with Jones right now, but two schools that you'll hear Jones say he wants to visit in January are Michigan State and Mizzou. If you look at Michigan State's commitments, they already have two backs committed and I don't see them taking another. Yes Jones is an elite talent, but from what I've heard, they're set with those two. Mizzou on the other hand is interesting, but again their class is close to full and they have two backs committed already.
I think Minnesota's biggest competition for Jones hasn't even surfaced yet. I think an SEC team will offer in January and the Gophers will be in another battle with the SEC.
Wish list order:
1. Jonesburo (Ga.) Mundy's Mill running back Highlights @_Numero_Uno_1
2. Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb running back Highlights @bigdaddyvonte_
3. Wichita (Kan.) 5.6 three-star running back Highlights @deronthetruth20
4. Coral Gables (Fla.) running back Highlights @GregoryCG8
Things have been changing in the running back wish list for Minnesota and I firmly believe that Smith is on top now. He's vastly under-recruited right now as he tore his ACL during his junior season and didn't go to any camps last summer as he was recovering from injury, but he's put on a show this year rushing for 1709 yards on 206 carries for an average of 8.3 yards per carry, averaging 155 yards a game and also rushed for 20 touchdowns. Anderson went down twice in December to Georgia to spend time with Smith and he's developed a great relationship with Smith and his parents. Kill and Anderson will do an in-home visit with Smith in January and Smith plans to decide shortly after his ECU visit. I think Smith is a Gopher all the way.
Herrod has to be one of the oddest recruiting stories I've covered here at GI. He told me back before he visited that there was a great chance he committed shortly after his visit, but now it's almost January and he's said recently that Minnesota isn't among his top schools anymore. So what happened? I think some of it is academic issues, which are there, but I think that Herrod doesn't have anyone to help him through the recruiting process as he asked me recently if Minnesota and Southern Miss have the same academics. Minnesota didn't end up seeing Herrod in December, so things may be growing apart between the two parties.
Thompson and Howell haven't done anything wrong as they put up great senior seasons, I just think that there are better prospects on the board than them now. Thompson has great speed that this staff really values and Howell is a load and putting up great numbers in the Miami-Dade county right now. Thompson recently took the ACT again and is hoping for a better score. It'll be interesting to see what happens between Minnesota and Thompson if that happens as Thompson has spoke with Coach Miller weekly since he visited, so the interest in still there.
Preferred Walk-ons
1. Chisago Lakes (Minn.) running back Senior Highlights @KidBrookSweeps
2. Eden Prairie (Minn.) running back Senior Highlights @HeyImAnt
Wide Receivers
1. Ashburn (Va.) Briar Woods wide receiver Highlights @MelloYllw21
2. Demopolis (Ala.) wide receiver Highlights @DemetriusKemp
3. Demopolis (Ala.) wide receiver Highlights @CortezLewis1
4. Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller wide receiver Highlights @IsaiahGentryWr7
5. Mentor (Ohio) wide receiver Highlights @CjKrizancic_5
I'd be shocked if Minnesota didn't sign at least two of the guys of this list. You could arguably interchange any of the 1 - 5 on the Wish List as I think they're all takes for the staff at this time. Melvin Holland to me, is probably one of the most under-recruited recruits in the nation at this point and that's very good for Minnesota. This is Holland's first year playing receiver as he's flat out dominated. Coach Anderson saw he and his father twice in December and have developed a great relationship with the family thus far. Holland has connections to Gopher commit Khari Blasingame as they played 7 on 7 together last summer and Gopher RB target Rodney Smith through I believe Smith's Coach is Holland's godfather. Holland told GI that Wisconsin and Georgia Tech have both said they'll be visiting him early on after the dead period is over on the 15th and will offer.
The good news for Minnesota is his visit is set in stone on the 17th. The weekend of the 24th, Holland has a class ski trip to Canada and doesn't want to miss it. That leaves only the weekend of the 31st, and will these schools have filled up by then? Time will tell. But I feel good about Minnesota's chances right now.
Kemp and Lewis both have visited and I know Coach Sawvel is working them hard. The staff views Kemp as a wide receiver a lot more than a defensive back at this point, and I love the way he plays. If you watch his highlights, he LOVES contact and runs through tackles left and right. Kemp looks for contact and is the one delivering the hit, not taking it. Lewis on the other hand is flat out an athletic freak. You don't see many 6'2" 200+ lbs kids run a legit 4.5 and be able to dunk a basketball with ease. He already blocks very well and I think either of these two would be great gets. Both will be visiting Purdue on the 17th and have nothing set after that. I think a late SEC offer is very possible for either of these kids.
I like Minnesota's chances with Lewis better than Kemp at this point as Kemp didn't take well to the weather. The Gophers Ace in the hole is Coach Kill though as both Kemp and Lewis love Kill and respect him very much. Kill and Sawvel will have their chance to seal the deal in January when they do their in-home visits.
Gentry and Krizancic both received multiple visits from Coach Zebrowski in January with Gentry's visit set for the 24th and Krizancic still figuring out which weekend works best. Vanderbilt has stepped up their interest in Gentry and will be a factor as with potentially Kentucky. It'll go Kent State on the 17th, Minnesota on the 24th and an open date on the 31st for Gentry, and again, you wonder if other teams will have filled up by then. Coach Z has made a great impression on Gentry's family and if Gentry receives a qualifying score, he instantly receives a Gopher offer. Krizancic has had a Gopher offer for some time and Coach Z again has made good progress with his family and Krizancic will set an official visit in the next few weeks to Minnesota.
I think Minnesota takes at least two, maybe three receivers this class.
Preferred Walk-ons
1. Highlands Ranch (Colo.) Mountain Vista wide receiver Senior Highlights @RoccoPalumbo7
2. Sioux City (Iowa) East wide receiver Senior Highlights @Ronnie_Nashh
Tight ends
1. Minnesota tight end commit Highlights @Elmore2014
2. Minnesota tight end commit Highlights @Brandon_Lingen
3. Theodore (Ala.) athlete Highlights @TheNew_JG3
All three are very solid to Minnesota and Elmore and Lingen will be great blocking tight end adds to the class, while Gibson will start out as an H-back, with the option to move to OLB if it doesn't work out.
Offensive line
Commitments:
1. Van Alstyne (Texas) offensive lineman Highlights @PuppyloveMayes
2. Brookfield (Wis.) Central offensive tackle Highlights @Rasquatch75
Wish List
1. Victoria (Minn.) Chanhassen offensive tackle Highlights @KNARFWONGAR
It's been clear for many months that Ragnow is on the top of Limegrover's wishlist and Ragnow has taken an official visit to Minnesota and Florida State thus far. Florida State could be close to filling up at the OL position, so that may eliminate them. Will Ohio State start making push? Will Wisconsin secure a late official visit in January? Those are the two schools I'm most worried about now. It'll be between those four schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Florida State for Ragnow. Kill will be the last coach that Ragnow will see before making a decision and that will be huge because Ragnow has the best relationship of all coaches with Coach Kill and I'm not sure he can say no to him. If Minnesota misses on Ragnow, look for this class to be done scholarship wise for offensive line.
Preferred Walk-ons
1. Eden Prairie (Minn.) offensive lineman Senior Highlights
2. Hartland (Wis.) Arrowhead offensive lineman Senior Highlights @Bigman5576
Defensive line
Commitments
1. Owatonna (Minn.) defensive tackle commit Highlights @Steltz_78
2. Chicago (Ill.) Mt. Carmel defensive tackle commit Senior Highlights @mteam_srich
3. Canadian defensive end Highlights @JPKafo44
Wish List:
1. Pensacola (Fla.) West Florida Tech defensive end Highlights @RMcwilliams_98
2. Florence (Ala.) defensive end Highlights @GrindFor10
Stelter and Richardson will both be defensive tackles in my eyes when things are said in done. Richardson is Roland Johnson 2.0 for 4 years and I can't wait to see what he can do. I think Stelter has an outstanding frame to put on weight and I think he could play next year at defensive tackle with the depth we'll need there. Kafo is a 20 year old Canadian defensive end that has great athleticism and is a big build guy.
I use the word Wish List very carefully on the DL as the Gopher staff hasn't decided if they're going to take another DL this class or not. If they do, expect these names to surface as they'd visit in the last weekend of Janaury.
Linebackers
Commitments:
1. Mansfield (Texas) Legacy linebacker Highlights @Everett2Dreaded
2. Council Bluffs (Iowa) Iowa Western community college linebacker Highlights @codyallenpoock
Wish List:
1. Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain linebacker Highlights @Tegray_Scales8
2. Tampa (Fla.) Sickles linebacker Highlights @darkassassin_12
Poock has already signed and will be here in January for Spring Ball and Williams is very solid as well. It'll be between Minnesota, Indiana and Illinois for Scales, with Ohio State as a Dark horse to some degree. It needs to be said that if they do, Scales will be a Buckeye. With Scales wrestling schedule, it'll be tough to get Scales on a visit, but he wants to take an official visit to the Twin Cities. He's be the top guy on the board since the summer and could play right away next year at outside linebacker. Coach Z and Coach Miller have made in-home visits with Scales in December, so Minnesota is right in the thick of it. Black was offered back in the spring, but things have picked up again recently as he's set to visit Minnesota on the 24th of January. He had multiple tackles for loss in 8 games this year and for the season, Black totaled 103 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 20 sacks and 3 caused fumbles. I think Minnesota would take him as they've set an official visit with him, but crazier things have happened.
Defensive backs
Commitments:
1. New Market (Ala.) Buckhorn safety Highlights @kb_bucks1
Wish List:
1. Muscle Shoals (Ala.) cornerback Highlights @Mims_NotHot
2. Edwardsville (Ill.) cornerback Highlights @1ofGodsoldiers
3. Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Paul Bryant cornerback Highlights @Pat_Porter11
4. Phenix City (Ala.) Central cornerback Highlights @9ChrisRock
5. Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain cornerback Highlights @Kelv_10
Blasingame will be the only safety in this class I think he's a lot like current Gopher Damarius Travis as a safety. Hard hitting and very athletic.
As far as cornerbacks, I'm 99% certain that Minnesota will sign two of these five corners on the wish list. The Gophers will only take two corners as well. Mims visited back in December with his father and the visit went very well. He wants to take a visit to WKU first to compare Minnesota to another college and a decision could come soon after. Mims will be a lot like Eric Murray in length and will be an inch or two taller, exactly what Sawvel loves. James told GI this afternoon that he wants some more time to make a decision as it's the biggest one of his life thus far. That being said, I think Minnesota is the front runner, followed by Indiana. James doesn't have any more official visits set up. If Minnesota were to land James, he'd be a cross of Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Marcus Jones. I've heard the staff wants to use James in the return game and Sawvel loves his quickness as it's as good as Boddy's.
It needs to be said that Porter, Campbell and Cook don't have Minnesota offers at this point, but if James or Mims goes elsewhere or the staff gets impatient, look for an offer to go out. Campbell is new to the Gopher radar after Minnesota saw him at the Alabama - Mississippi All-Star game and it'll be between Minnesota, Vanderbilt and Arkansas from the sounds of it.
Preferred Walk-ons
1. Lisle (Ill.) Benet Academy safety Senior Highlights @porterontko25
Athletes
1. Perham (Minn.) long snapper Highlights @paydayy25
Jordahl is the prime candidate to secure the long snapper PWO or offer from this staff. He performed very well at the special teams camp this summer and he's set to visit on the 17th of January.
Other notes:
I've heard he's solid with Kentucky after he visited there the weekend after he was at Minnesota. There's about a 1% chance he's a Gopher and that's probably too large.
In terms of class rank, Minnesota won't be on the bottom of the Big Ten when things wrap up. I think they'll be around 8-9, which will be a jump from Kill's prior two classes.
I know people get frustrated on how there are around 6-10 spots open come January, but that's what this staff loves to do. They love to find these diamonds in the rough after evaluating their senior film as that's what they think is the most important thing they could see in the recruiting cycle. It's their method and I don't see it changing.
Yes and Yes.
The two for sure early enrollee's for this class are QB commit Dimonic McKinzy and JUCO LB Cody Poock.
TE commit Gaelin Elmore will be graduating early, but will be participating on his high school basketball team until their season is over in March. He and the staff aren't sure if he'll be able to participate in Spring ball then as they'll be far into the semester.
If there are anymore questions you guys have, please post below.
