If reports are accurate that Seantrel Henderson has eliminated Notre Dame from his list of possible college choices, where does that leave the Gophers? Maybe in better position than you think.
Henderson, the Cretin-Derham Hall offensive tackle, is rated by Rivals.com as the nation’s best schoolboy prospect in the football class of 2009. July postings on the Internet report he’s eliminated tradition rich Notre Dame from his list of prospective schools. A former Minnesota prep coach, who has been close to college recruiting for years and requested anonymity, told Sports Headliners he believes the Irish were dumped when Henderson shortened his list of schools.
Notre Dame is a Catholic school like Cretin-Derham Hall and the Irish roster includes Henderson’s former high school teammate, Michael Floyd. Even more than a year ago Floyd told Sports Headliners he would be talking to Henderson about joining the Fighting Irish. Then, too, the Irish have one of college football’s better recruiters in Rob Ianello.
But perhaps working against the legendary football program in South Bend is the losing trend. The records of the last two seasons were 3-9 and 7-6. Speculation is ongoing that this could be coach Charlie Weis’ last season at Notre Dame.
In an interview with Sports Headliners last winter Henderson talked about the importance of winning. “I won’t really want to go anywhere where the team is not that good,” he said. “As long as the team is up and coming then I am fine. …”
USC, Florida, Ohio State and others that frequently are annual candidates for the national championship are in hot pursuit of Henderson but the Gophers are still believed to be a possibility, according to sources. The Gophers haven’t won a Big Ten title since 1967, and 1962 was the school’s last stop in a New Year’s Day bowl game.
That stuff doesn’t look so hot in a power point presentation when compared with schools like the big three mentioned above who have combined for four of nine national titles this decade. Consider the following, though:
In two years as Minnesota’s head coach, Tim Brewster’s recruiting classes have drawn national attention. The record of 1-11 in 2007 improved to 7-6 last season. A better year in 2009 could make an impression with Henderson.
Brewster is a tireless recruiter and hard work won’t stop the Gophers from going all out for Henderson who would be a signature recruit for his young program. New offensive line coach Tim Davis has an outstanding reputation as a teacher and recruiter. He and Brewster make a formidable recruiting combo.
The Gophers are recruiting J.D. Pride, a former Cretin Derham-Hall quarterback now at Totino Grace. Pride and Henderson are friends. Also, Pride’s father is a former Gopher football player.
The Gophers’ roster has several former Cretin-Derham Hall players including running back Shady Salamon who played with Henderson. Other former Raiders include offensive linemen Matt Carufel and Ned Tavale, and safety Kim Royston.
The lure of staying home in more familiar surroundings could factor in, too. In the interview last winter Henderson said that was a consideration but quickly added he was interested in exploring other places, too.
Floyd was a USA Today All-American. He didn’t choose the Gophers and neither have a long list of the state’s best including three-time All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis from Ohio State by way of Wayzata.
Will Henderson stay or go? If Brewster had already won a Big Ten title it would be easier to say amen. You can bet that a lot of Gophers fans are praying Henderson will say yes.