MIAC – Page 30 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Kill May Land Best Recruiting Class Yet

Posted on September 12, 2014September 12, 2014 by David Shama

National Signing Day for college football programs isn’t until next February but Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners he will be surprised if the Gophers’ 2015 class of recruits isn’t the best of the Jerry Kill era. Burns manages the GopherIllustrated.com website that tracks Gophers recruiting.

Burns is optimistic because he believes multiple members of the 2015 class will be talented enough to play as true freshmen, and also the Rivals.com star rating system values these recruits more than past Gophers groups.

And there are other reasons for his optimism about Minnesota signing a lot of quality players to National Letters of Intent on Signing Day.

Burns, who played high school football at Tartan and then at St. Olaf, is impressed that the Gophers staff is chasing what he calls “plan A” recruits—and more so than in the past. “They’re not going to be going down the list to the B’s and C’s, I don’t think, in this class. They’re just in on too many of the plan A guys,” he said.

The 2015 recruiting class, which eventually could total about 25 scholarship players, will be Kill’s fifth at Minnesota. Expecting it will be the best isn’t downgrading the 2014 group that is already contributing to the Gophers including when as many as six true defensive freshmen have been on the field together. “I wouldn’t say by far (the best group in 2015) because the 2014 class is very good, but I think they’re going to take another step up in this class for sure,” Burns said.

Burns pointed out that prep players sometimes use schools as safety nets by verbally committing to programs before Signing Day but knowing if more desirable scholarship offers come along they will switch loyalties. With players who have already verbally committed to the Gophers for 2015, Burns sees a group that wants to be in Minneapolis.

“They’re not using Minnesota as a reservation place, or they’re looking around for bigger offers,” Burns said. “They’ve come to (Minnesota’s) campus. They’ve seen it. They’ve talked to the coaching staff. They really like them and they stick. That’s why you’re only probably going to see one or two kids compared to…six or seven (flip commitments) come Signing Day.”

GopherIllustrated.com lists 13 players who have verbally committed to Minnesota’s 2015 class. They are Almonzo Brown, wide receiver from Suwanee, Georgia; Shannon Brooks, running back, Jasper, Georgia; Ray Buford, athlete, Southfield, Michigan; Nick Connelly, offensive line, Red Wing; Demry Croft, quarterback, Rockford, Illinois; Bronson Dovich, offensive line, Chaska; Jonathan Femi-Cole, running back, Aurora, Ontario; Jacob Huff, defensive back, Bolingbrook, Illinois; Julian Huff, linebacker, Bolingbrook, Illinois; James Johannesson, running back, Fargo; Quinn Oseland, offensive line, Springfield, Illinois; Ted Stieber, offensive line, Akron, Ohio; and Jaylen Waters, linebacker, Copperas Cove, Texas. All are Rivals.com three-star players except for Brooks, Connelly, Johannesson and Julian Huff who are rated two stars.

Speed, length and wingspan are defining characteristics among the potential 2015 class. “That’s what everybody is looking for nowadays,” Burns said. “You look at Eric Murray (the Gophers outstanding junior cornerback). He had no offers coming out of high school. But what did he have? He had great length and he had great speed.

“Look at guys (among the 2015 commits) like Jaylen Waters—his arm’s extremely long and he runs well.”

Major college programs have been chasing Gophers commits like Brown, who has offers from Florida, Kentucky and Missouri. “You see a lot more of that (than other years),” Burns said. “You’re seeing Kill win more battles and it’s just something that hasn’t happened. Usually (in the past) it’s coming against teams like Middle Tennessee State.

“Probably one of the crown jewels of this class so far is Quinn Oseland. He has all the connections in the world to go to Illinois. He had Oklahoma State, he had Michigan State, Oregon (after him). But he came up here on a visit…in July. He really didn’t’ even want to come. His coach kind of like was, ‘Hey, you should take a visit.’ His eyes were opened to it (becoming a Gopher).”

Burns is enthusiastic, too, about Croft, the 6-4 quarterback, and cousin of Minnesota sophomore wide receiver Donovahn Jones. “I think his ceiling may be the highest of (all) the Big Ten quarterbacks so far committed. He has so many physical tools. If he can learn the system, if he can develop, he is an ideal dual-threat quarterback for what Kill wants to do.”

Even two-star recruits like Dovich and Johannesson have Burns curious about what they will be like in college. He said Dovich could have the “highest celing”among the offensive linemen who have committed. “His athleticism is off the charts (and)…I think he will probably be bumped to three stars.”

Burns said Johannseon ran for 40 touchdowns and 2,600 yards as a junior, and he has seen the 6-2, 212-pound North Dakotan run a 4.5 forty. “You don’t have a lot of athletes like that,” Burns said.

Kill and his staff are trying to build a winner at Minnesota by sometimes identifying talent others don’t see. The Gophers aren’t among the glamour programs in college football and that partially explains why the 2015 class is only ranked No. 60 in the nation by Rivals.com. But other Kill classes have been ranked low and probably undervalued so Gophers fans are advised not to worry too much about the players’ real potential.

“I would be shocked if Jerry Kill ever got a top 25 class in Rivals rankings,” Burns said. “I mean he’ll even tell you he doesn’t look at it. Just for the perception of the fans he would love to (have a highly ranked class) but I think if Minnesota gets to the point where they’re signing a class that’s between 30 and 45 in the nation I think they will be extremely happy. Anything above that I think is just gravy.”

Worth Noting

The Gophers had 67 yards passing in last week’s victory against Middle Tennessee State. Can they win tomorrow at TCU with similar production against the Horned Frogs?

“I don’t think so. …I would imagine they will open it up this week and they’ll throw the ball a little bit more,” Gophers radio analyst Darrell Thompson told Sports Headliners.

Minnesota only had 156 yards passing in its opening win against Eastern Illinois. The Gophers rank No. 13 in passing among 14 Big Ten teams, and may not have starting quarterback Mitch Leidner (knee injury) available tomorrow. If backup Chris Streveler takes over, will the Gophers throw frequently despite his limited experience?

“I think they have to,” Thompson said. “I think it’s just at a point now where if we don’t, we’re limiting ourselves, just becoming a little too predictable.”

TCU (1-0) will certainly be the best defense the 2-0 Gophers have seen so far. Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson is on a short list of college football’s best defensive minds. “He’s as good a defensive coach as there is in the country, and I think everybody knows that,” Gophers coach Jerry Kill said.

The temperature for tomorrow’s game in Fort Worth will probably be in the low to mid-70s by kickoff at 3 p.m. The Gophers could have faced a warmer welcome to Texas in September but will still be prepared with liquids—even pickle juice for replenishing sodium.

Gophers’ tight end Maxx Williams talks with former teammate and ex-Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson who is in Mankato awaiting trial for a fight incident earlier this year. The two have known each other since ninth grade and were football rivals in high school, Williams at Waconia and Nelson at Mankato West. “He’s still one of my friends,” Williams said.

Big Ten football hasn’t been impressive in nonconference matchups for years and the conference’s image is ready-made for critics to pile on again. Big Ten teams have lost every major test to nonconference powers during the first two weeks of the season and the highest ranked league team now is Michigan State at No. 13 in the AP poll. Other top 25 Big Ten teams are Wisconsin at No. 18 and Ohio State, No. 22.

Sunday’s Vikings-Patriots game at TCF Bank Stadium will not be the first for New England on the University of Minnesota campus. In 1971 the two teams met in an August preseason game. The Patriots will become the first NFL team to have played the Vikings in four Minnesota stadiums, TCF Bank and Memorial Stadium on the U campus, Met Stadium in Bloomington and the Metrodome downtown.

The Vikings’ Adrian Peterson needs 78 yards to break Cris Carter’s career club record for combined net yards, 12,410. With two more touchdowns Peterson can tie Randy Moss for second place in career TD’s, 93. Carter holds the Vikings record with 110.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson rushed for 102 yards on only three carries in the win over the Rams last Sunday, including a 67-yard touchdown run, but offensive coordinator Norv Turner said it was the other runs that impressed him the most. “The two other runs were more impressive to me because they were challenged runs at the line of scrimmage, they were physical runs. Our guys did a good job up front (blocking).”

No. 7 nationally-ranked Bethel plays at No. 15 Wartburg tomorrow in Waverly, Iowa. Wartburg defeated Augsburg, 40-3, in Minneapolis last week. Tomorrow will be Bethel’s opening game. The rankings are by D3football.com.

The Wild will hold a practice open to the public on Saturday, September 20 at Xcel Energy Center from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fans can enter Gate 1 starting at 8:45 a.m. Admission will be free with concessions for purchase. That morning single game tickets will be on sale.

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If Not U, Jeff Jones Headed to Iowa CC?

Posted on May 30, 2014May 30, 2014 by David Shama

Jeff Jones, the nationally recognized Washburn High School running back who is arguably the prize recruit in the 2014 Gophers football class, could be headed to Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.

Jones needs a higher score on his ACT test to be accepted by the University of Minnesota. He will take the test for a fourth time on June 14. Washburn coach Giovan Jenkins declined to specify what score Jones needs to become eligible to play for Minnesota this year.

“I honestly think he is going to get it (the improved score),” Jenkins told Sports Headliners. “He’s improved each time. He is confident he’s going to get it. He knows junior college is not where he wants to be.”

Jenkins said if Jones doesn’t qualify for admission to Minnesota he will need to spend two years at a community college and earn a degree to then have immediate eligibility at an NCAA program, presumably the Gophers.

Jenkins has spoken with Iowa Western coach Scott Strohmeier and is enthusiastic about the program that is annually a national power. Jenkins described the Reivers, who won the 2012 National Junior College Athletic Association championship, as a “great program” that has sent more than 20 players to Division I schools the last two years. “It’s definitely a program he (Jeff) wants to be part of,” Jenkins said.

But Jones, of course, would rather be a Gopher, fulfilling the commitment he made in February when he signed his national letter of intent binding him to Minnesota. Jones is the only Rivals.com four-star recruit in the Gophers 2014 recruiting class. He turned heads playing in the prestigious Under Armour All-America Game in Florida last January, gaining 72 yards and being named Team Nitro MVP.

In past years the best Minnesota football preps have chosen schools other than the Gophers so Jones’ commitment to play for his hometown team is viewed as a step forward for UM coach Jerry Kill.

In pursuit of a qualifying ACT score, the 6-foot, 200-pound Jones could take encouragement from former Washburn tight end Ra’Shede Hageman who didn’t become eligible to play for the Gophers until June of his senior year. Hageman became an All-Big Ten defensive lineman and was selected in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft by the Falcons.

Worth Noting

Iowa Western Community College’s Strohmeier has been head coach of the Rievers since 2008. He is from Watkins, Minnesota and played quarterback at Fergus Falls Community College and the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Jenkins said Hageman has signed his contract with the Falcons and purchased a Porsche.

The Chanhassen house of former Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is for sale at $1.75 million, according to a Wednesday Bizjournals.com story by Jim Hammerand.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer after being asked yesterday if players attending the organized team activities are buying into a new coach and system: “I don’t worry about if they are buying in. My job is to coach them hard and try to get them to be the best players they can be. …”

Zimmer on what he’s seen from All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson: “Yeah, he looks great. He’s made some tremendous cuts, you’d have to ask him, but he seems excited to be here, about some of the things that we are trying to do with him and I think it’s only going to continue to get better.”

With reported trade rumors involving Kevin Love, it’s fair to wonder if the Timberwolves All-Star forward will participate as scheduled in the July 13 celebrity softball game at Target Field. The game is part of the MLB All-Star Game promotional activities and it seems likely Love, sure to be greeted by boos, will become a cancel if traded to another NBA club between now and July 13.

Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino, who was hired about 14 months ago, will receive a raise and if the increase isn’t agreed to yet it will be soon. Pitino’s initial salary was set at $500,000, plus $700,000 of supplemental compensation.

Randy Wittman, fired as Timberwolves coach in 2008, is close to a contract extension with the Wizards.

The MIAC all-sports standings recognize an overall annual champion for each gender. For the seventh consecutive school year St. Thomas has finished first in both the men’s and women’s all-sports standings. St. Olaf and Saint John’s were second and third in men’s sports while Saint Benedict and Gustavus were runners-up in women’s athletics.

The St. Thomas men have finished first 28 times in 52 years, while the women have done it 23 out of 32 years. The Tommies have finished first in both genders 19 of the past 30 years, an indication of the many winning teams and seasons at the St. Paul school.

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GM on Bridgewater: ‘Baker’s Mitts Okay’

Posted on May 16, 2014May 16, 2014 by David Shama

The Vikings open their rookie minicamp today and it’s expected first round draft choice Teddy Bridgewater will be wearing gloves. He wore gloves while playing quarterback at Louisville and during private workouts before the NFL Draft but didn’t during his disappointing pro day performance in March.

Josh Katzowitz from Cbssports.com wrote this week that Bridgewater didn’t wear gloves at the pro day because the weather was warm. “He learned that if he became one of the best college players in America when he wore gloves, maybe he should wear the gloves when he’s auditioning for the pros,” Katzowitz wrote on Monday.

Bridgewater had a difficult pro day but in a private workout impressed Vikings general manager Rick Spielman who has no problem with gloves, even if many quarterbacks don’t wear them. “I don’t care if you put on baker’s mitts,” Spielman told Sports Headliners. “If you can throw best with baker’s mitts on, then do that. It’s what’s the result? That’s all we’re concerned about.”

There is speculation Bridgewater wears gloves because his hands are small and they help him grip the football better. Spielman said it’s not true, and that Bridgewater’s hands measure an acceptable 9 ¼ or 9 ½ inches in width.

“Everybody is acting like his hands are like tiny,” Spielman said. “They’re not tiny. They’re just a ¼ of an inch below what everybody thinks a quarterback’s hands should be. …

“You see a lot of these quarterbacks now in the NFL, especially on colder days, are wearing those gloves. I think Philip Rivers has done it. I think (Tom) Brady has done it a few times to help with their grip. But we have no concerns about that (Bridgewater wearing gloves).”

Spielman said in the scouting process he became convinced Bridgewater can properly grip the football and throw it. “No question. We spent a lot of time with that and saw it personally.”

At Louisville Bridgewater, who earned his degree in sports administration in three years, had impressive passing stats including with his accuracy. Last season, for example, he threw 31 touchdown passes and was intercepted only four times. In 35 games over three seasons as a starter, he led the Cardinals to a 27-8 record.

Bridgewater made a lot of plays in college from the shotgun formation, instead of taking the ball from under center. At his pro day he took many snaps under center and that impacted his performance too, according to Katzowitz’s story.

Before the pro day there was speculation Bridgewater would be the first quarterback drafted and maybe even the overall No. 1 pick. Katzowitz quotes legendary personnel authority Gil Brandt as saying that didn’t make sense.

“If you asked the coaches or scouts ahead of time just how good he was, nobody would have said he’s the first pick of the draft,” Brandt said. “It was a media creation.”

The Vikings found Bridgewater available at the last slot in the first round. Two other quarterbacks, Blake Bortles at No. 3, and Johnny Manziel at No. 22, went ahead of Bridgewater.

Still, with gloves or baker’s mitts, the Vikings think they may have found their quarterback of the future. They will learn more in the days and weeks ahead.

Worth Noting

The Vikings three day rookie minicamp that starts today will see media attention focused on Bridgewater and the team’s other No. 1 draft choice, linebacker Anthony Barr from UCLA. Spielman has seen so much of Bridgewater and Barr through the scouting process he has more anticipation about watching players selected deeper in the draft and also free agents.

Barr, 6-5 and 255 pounds, has extraordinary speed for a man his size and has reportedly run 4.45 in the 40-yard dash. He was among the elite pass rushing prospects in the draft despite playing linebacker for only two years in college.

New Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive specialist while new offensive coordinator Norv Turner is a quarterback authority so it will be interesting to see the results of their individual instructional work with players between now and the start of the season in September. Look for multiple Vikings to have fundamentals evaluated and improved.

Although the Vikings didn’t draft Brock Vereen, the former Gophers safety made a lasting impression on Spielman during the scouting process. “As first class of a kid as I’ve ever been around and he’s a good football player, too,” said Spielman about Vereen who was selected by the Bears on the fourth round.

The NFL owners vote on Tuesday whether to award the 2018 Super Bowl to Indianapolis, Minneapolis or New Orleans. Dave Mona, the longtime Minneapolis public relations executive who was involved with the successful drive to bring the 1992 Super Bowl to the Metrodome, said Minnesota’s winter weather reputation won’t place fear in the NFL if the city is chosen to host the game.

“The NFL will not let it (Super Bowl game) fail. They will solve all the logistical problems,” Mona told Sports Headliners while noting this area knows how to successfully deal with winter storms.

Carlos Gomez, who couldn’t win the full-time center field job with the Twins, is on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated. A story on the Brewers center fielder refers to his impressive start this season and being an early candidate for American League MVP. The article also describes the lack of patience at the plate that has characterized much of his baseball career including with the Twins. The story quotes Twins manager Ron Gardenhire in 2009: “We’ve been trying to get him to calm down and get him to control the situation, and sometimes the situation controls him.”

Hockey authority Lou Nanne will talk to the CORES group on September 11 and Bethel football coach Steve Johnson will speak on November 13. Both luncheon programs will be at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

CORES emcee Dick Jonckowski is the public address announcer for Shakopee High School softball and baseball games, plus Gophers baseball. Jonckowski also is the longtime public address announcer for Gophers basketball.

The MIAC 2014 top baseball award winners are MVP, Tyler Peterson, St. Thomas first baseman; Pitcher of the Year, Justin Thompson, Saint John’s; Rookie of the Year, Ben Buerkle, Saint Mary’s outfielder; and Coach of the Year, Nick Winecke, Saint Mary’s.

The league’s softball award winners are: MVP, Lexi Alm, Saint Benedict outfielder; Pitcher of the Year, Kendra Bowe, St. Thomas; Rookie of the Year, Hannah Heacox, Gustavus Adolphus pitcher; and Coach of the Year, John Tschida, St. Thomas.

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