Author: David Shama

MarQueis Gray has yet to play in a college football game, but he’s already stimulating imaginations.  The 18-year-old quarterback from Indianapolis finished spring practice last weekend with his teammates and he sent observers home raving about his potential.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Gray is a fluid, skilled athlete.  He moves gracefully on the field, even when coming out of the huddle.  He showed a smooth throwing motion in Saturday’s annual spring game, completing eight of 10 passes including two touchdown passes.  One was a beautiful spiral that went 59 yards to wide receiver Brodrick Smith for a touchdown.

Although the spring game rules didn’t allow quarterbacks to be tackled, Gray comes advertised as a runner, too.  Mike Sherels, who played linebacker for the Gophers a couple years back, has seen Gray impressively break tackles.  In high school Gray ran for 302 yards in five games during his senior year when he missed some games because of injury.

The Gophers have one of the Big Ten Conference’s best returning quarterbacks in junior Adam Weber who has set various school records.  Yet Gophers coach Tim Brewster plans to use Gray, his freshman, in each game, giving him a certain number of plays.

Three years ago at the University of Florida, the Gators had an outstanding senior quarterback named Chris Leak and a new recruit on campus, Tim Tebow.  Recognizing the skills of both, the Gators got both players on the field during the fall of 2006 and went on to win the national championship.

“I see a lot of similarities,” Sherels said.  “…They had Chris Leak, and Tim Tebow was the young upstart, future phenom.  Obviously, we saw glimpses of what he (Tebow) was to become, the player that he is today.  Chris Leak was, at that point, a three year starter.  Much like Adam Weber he was very comfortable with the offense, a future pro draft pick. They (the Gators) found a really good balance as far keeping Tim Tebow’s plate small and having him (take) 10, 12, 15 snaps a game.  Just having him be really good at all of those plays.  Chris Leak-Adam Weber is that every down guy and the leader of the team.”

It requires a large imagination to see Gray duplicating what Tebow, who will be a senior at Florida this fall, has already accomplished.  The Gators’ quarterback has won the Heisman Trophy and played on two national championship teams.

Yet it’s tempting to liken Gray’s potential with well-known names.  Minnesota’s quarterback looks like a better passer than Ohio State’s 6-foot-6 Terrelle Pryor, the No. 1 high school recruit in the nation a year ago.  Brewster has likened Gray to another tall quarterback, 6-foot-5 Vince Young who led Texas to the 2005       national title.

And then long ago Sandy Stephens, a powerful 6-foot, 215-pound quarterback who could run better than he passed, helped the Gophers to the 1960 national championship. Stephens may have been the most physically gifted quarterback the Gophers ever had.  Even though Gray has yet to play a game, and will face failure and success as a young quarterback, go ahead and imagine that one day he will be a candidate for the school’s most talented guy ever to play that position.

The 2010 Gopher football schedule still needs two more non-conference teams. The two non-conference teams already booked are home games with South Dakota September 11 and USC September 18.

Seantrel Henderson, the 6-foot-8 Cretin-Derham Hall tackle who is rated the No. 1 prep prospect in the country, is playing AAU basketball this spring.

The Vikings, who upgraded their pass catching by drafting explosive Percy Harvin from Florida last weekend, might have had an extraordinary receiver trio in Bernard Berrian, the team’s leading receiver last season, along with Harvin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, a coveted free agent who left Cincinnati and signed with Seattle rather than coming here.  You wonder whether the opportunity to play with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who has been a high achiever, was a major factor in turning down the Vikings who have two guys with modest resumes, Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. Both are trying to prove they deserve to be the starter.  Figure Houshmandzadeh knows what he’s doing, though.  His last name means “son of wisdom” in Persian, according to Wikipedia.

Harvin has apparently fast tracked his learning curve.  It was just weeks ago that he reportedly tested positive for marijuana but last weekend announced he’s more mature and learned from past mistakes.

Local journalist Larry Fitzgerald Sr. told Sports Headliners via e-mail that his son Marcus, a former wide receiver at Marshall University, will be among the rookies and free agents trying out for the Vikings at the team’s mini-camp tomorrow through Sunday.

Cornerback Asher Allen, the Vikings third round pick, will likely see his former Georgia teammate Matthew Stafford in the second game of the regular season.  Stafford, who was the first overall pick in last weekend’s NFL draft, could be starting at quarterback for Detroit while Allen might have spot assignments for the Vikings, assuming he makes the team.

Allen was asked if going against Stafford in practice, versus a player better than he would see in a game, elevated his skills.  “Picture this for a second: This was my practice; it was Stafford throwing to Mohammed Massoqoui, who is with the Browns now, and Knowshon Moreno (Denver first round pick last week). That was practice. That was for three years. …There were plenty of fights out there between the guys. Just how competitive we are.  By the time you got there you were ready for the game. You were looking around like, ‘Man, this is not the same. This is pretty easy.’ …”

With catcher Joe Mauer set to join the Twins, it won’t be surprising if erratic center fielder Carlos Gomez is optioned to the minors later this week to clear roster space.  Another possibility is to place catcher Mike Redmond, who has had problems with a groin injury and now a sore shoulder, on the disabled list.  Redmond, who turns 38 next week, probably is in his last season with the Twins who have the 26-year-old Mauer and also good catching prospects.

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon talking in the Sporting News about which players he couldn’t make the playoffs without: “If you look at the whole group, quite frankly, it’s hard to replace Navi’s position (catcher Dioner Navarro) and it’s hard to replace J.B. (Jason Bartlett at shortstop). …”   Bartlett, the Twins former shortstop, is solid defensively and hitting .368.

Nick Blackburn, who was the winning pitcher for the Twins last night against Tampa Bay, has gone seven innings in his last two outings and allowed just three extra base hits.  He’s 2-1 on the season.

Twins third baseman Joe Crede has hit safely in six straight games, batting .292 (7-for-24) with two home runs, five runs scored and three RBI.

Minnesota tennis legend David Wheaton will marry Brodie Hackney on June 20.  The two have known each other since they were grade schoolers in suburban Minneapolis.  Wheaton, who will also celebrate his 40^th birthday in June, is recovering from a shoulder strain but plans to play in the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Invitational Doubles June 30-July 5 in London.

It won’t be surprising if former Timberwolves player and ex-Toronto coach Sam Mitchell is a candidate for the vacant Wolves coaching job.

The Wolves will learn on May 19 where they will be positioned in selection order for the June NBA draft.  Results of the NBA draft lottery will be announced at halftime of a televised playoff game. The Wolves have a 7.6% chance of receiving the top overall pick and a 25.5% chance of being among the top three selections.

Hot Rod Hundley, who started his NBA career playing for the Minneapolis Lakers, is retiring as the Utah Jazz radio broadcaster.  He’s been broadcasting Jazz games since the organization was an expansion franchise in New Orleans.

The Thunder opens its USL home schedule on Saturday night at the National Sports Center in Blaine against Vancouver.  New this year is a large beer garden, 64 feet wide by 96 feet long, adjacent to the field.  More at https://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/04/27/thunder-home-opener-at-nsc-will-unveil-new-beer-garden-called-thunder-lounge/.

Lynx star Nicky Anosike will be one of three players featured in a WNBA mini box set of trading cards provided by Rittenhouse Archives.  For the first time, WNBA mini box sets will be available featuring limited-edition autograph cards from the Los Angeles Sparks’ Candace Parker, the Washington Mystics’ Matee Ajavon and Anosike. Beginning June 6 the cards will be available at leading hobby shops and the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York.  The cards retail at $99 per box.

Concordia College senior catcher Kyle Johnson, from Cambridge, Minnesota, hit five home runs in six games recently and is the MIAC Baseball Player of the Week. Johnson batted .563 last week and had an eye-opening 1.500 slugging percentage.  He also had 11 RBI.