For a young man who could have been in the early months of a medical sales career this fall, Connor Rhoda is sure important to the Gophers.
Rhoda had earned his undergraduate degree in business and marketing education last winter, and planned to give up his last season of eligibility, figuring he didn’t fit into the plans of head coach Tracy Claeys and his assistants. The former walk-on was a “week away” from looking for a job and targeting a career in medical sales and management when P.J. Fleck was hired as head coach and let it be known he wanted to meet with him.
Rhoda’s playing time had been minimal through last season, including just one career start. But Fleck wanted him to compete for the starting job and Rhoda has made good on the opportunity, winning the assignment from redshirt sophomore Demry Croft while helping the Gophers to a 2-0 start.
Fleck demands his quarterbacks be leaders. Rhoda said the leadership role extends to the whole team, not just the offense. He has tried to “immerse” himself with everyone, even support staff in the office, and show the confidence of a leader.
Fleck said Rhoda is an “incredible story” and his leadership has separated him from the other quarterbacks that include Croft who won’t play tomorrow. Croft is facing an off-field issue. “I’ve said this before—year zero—the culture is the first thing in everything we do and if you can’t abide by the culture, then you’re not going to play,” Fleck said.
Croft competed for the starting job last spring and into the season but isn’t the leader and game manager that Rhoda is. Anticipation about Croft has been a focus for Gophers fans since coach Jerry Kill signed him to a Letter of Intent in 2015 and referred to him as a recruiting “steal.”
Kill said he was blessed to sign Croft and Gophers fans hoped he would unseat Mitch Leidner as quarterback in the fall of 2015. Croft, though, was ineffective in three games that season and redshirted last year.
Redshirt freshman Seth Green will play tomorrow if Rhoda is injured in the game. Green might emerge some day as the Minnesota starter but a source close to the program said he wouldn’t be surprised if the athletic 6-4, 229-pound Minnesota native eventually becomes a college tight end.
The quarterback of the future could be true freshman Tanner Morgan who Fleck is planning to redshirt. Another candidate might be left-handed dual-threat quarterback Brennan Armstrong from Shelby, Ohio. The high school senior has verbally committed to the Gophers and could be labeled a four-star recruit by next February when he can sign his Letter of Intent.
Of interest to Fleck tomorrow is Middle Tennessee quarterback Brent Stockstill. He is considered one of the better passing quarterbacks in the country but Fleck was quick to mention something else about him.
“This kid, by far…he’s just one of the toughest quarterbacks I’ve ever played against, I’ve ever coached against,” Fleck said. “I got a chance (at Western Michigan) to coach against him two years ago in the Bahamas Bowl and when you watch that film, that team is extremely tough. Every one of them.
“Why? Because their quarterback is the toughest guy on the field. He’s one of the best passers we’ll face all year, one of the most accurate guys we’ll face all year… and the whole team responds to him.”
The 1-1 Blue Raiders, from Conference USA, are playing their third consecutive Power Five team to begin the season. They lost their opening game at home to Vanderbilt, 28-6, but on the road last Saturday defeated Syracuse 30-23.
Worth Noting
Rhoda stays in communication with Leidner. ”He’s happy for me,” Rhoda said. “Obviously, we’ve had a lot of experiences together and…I respect the hell out of him.”
Former Gopher football player Richard Humleker will receive the Minnetonka Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award tomorrow morning during a program at Minnetonka High School. Humleker is a long-time employee and leader for The Center of Discovery that assists people with disabilities.
The Vikings will deal with future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh on Sunday. What makes the 35-year-old Roethlisberger difficult for a defense? “His ability to extend plays,” said Vikings linebacker Ben Gedeon. “He gets outside of the pocket, he can break tackles and make a potential sack play into a long gain play. So we’re going to have to be cognizant of that, and (be) on our ‘A’ game, no doubt.”
Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford can’t run like Roethlisberger but his throwing accuracy was superb last Monday night in the team’s opening win against the Saints. He completed 27 of 32 passes and threw three touchdown passes, and set a career passer rating record, 143.0.
“The guy the world saw on Monday is the guy we get to see everyday in practice,” said Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph. “He’s as accurate as anyone I’ve ever been around. …”
Vikings rookie running back Dalvin Cook impressed a lot of observers in his regular season debut, rushing for 127 yards against the Saints. “…Made a lot of guys miss some tackles, and then he had the ability to show his speed,” said veteran Vikings running back Latavius Murray. “He’s very special. Really, I think everybody just got a taste of what he’s capable of doing.”
Nate Davis of USA Today ranks the Steelers No. 5 and the Vikings No. 15 in his NFL power rankings. The Star Tribune’s Mark Craig ranks the Vikings No. 7 and Steelers No. 15. Both writers rank the Chiefs No. 1.
To avoid slow commutes on 494 look for Vikings players to relocate closer to Eagan next year when the organization moves its headquarters from Eden Prairie. Players, including former quarterback Brett Favre, have long rented or owned living space in Eden Prairie and other southwest and southern suburbs because of proximity to Winter Park, but that changes in 2018 when the organization moves into a state-of-the-art complex in Eagan.
The Twins, who defeated the Blue Jays last night in 10 innings, have 34 come-from-behind wins this season. Byron Buxton, who won the game with his 15th home run of the year, has 10 home runs in his last 31 games.
The Indians’ win streak of 22 games enhances Derek Falvey’s reputation as a talent evaluator. The Twins chief baseball officer was assistant general manager for the Indians before joining Minnesota last fall.
Mike Max has no plans to bring back “The Sports Show,” the popular local Sunday night program that went off the air in 2016.
Coach Hugh McCutcheon said having his Gophers volleyball team ranked No. 1 in the country is “good for our marketing department” and validates the program’s success. The Gophers play in the Boise State Tournament today.