Minnesota was 3-9 last season and 2-6 so far in 2011. Kill frequently reminds the fan base it’s going to take a few years to make the program a winner and that has fans looking at recruits including Nelson who has emerged as the poster boy of the 2012 class.
Johnson said Nelson is on pace to graduate from high school early and join some other 2012 recruits in spring practice with the Gophers. “I know Phil Nelson, they (the U coaches) love him,” Johnson said. “I think they think he can come in here and be a three or four year starter at quarterback.”
Johnson “wouldn’t be shocked” if Nelson was the Gophers’ No. 1 quarterback next season. That’s predicated not only on Nelson’s development but also junior starter MarQueis Gray’s faltering in Minnesota’s last four games this fall. The preferred option, Johnson said, is for Gray to be successful and Nelson to use 2012 as a redshirt season.
Blue Earth offensive tackle Jonah Pirsig is another publicized Gophers recruit from Minnesota. Johnson considers him “more of a project that you take time to develop on the offensive line.” Mississippi junior college running back James Gillum is the most recent commitment listed by Rivals. Johnson sees him as a complement to the power running of Gophers freshmen David Cobb and Donnell Kirkwood.
“I think Gillum will be a back they (the coaches) try to use to get into space,” Johnson said. “Be more of that third down back, but also bring some speed to the position. One thing the Gophers haven’t had in a long time is an explosive running back with that extra gear and I think they hope Gillum’s that guy.”
Among other recruits listed by Rivals, Johnson believes the Gophers coaches are high on North Carolina wide receiver Jamel Harbison. He also thinks Florida defensive back Dinero Moss might be able to “play right away.”