Preps – Page 20 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Gophers-Badgers Football Recruiting Rivalry Heats Up

Posted on July 9, 2023July 9, 2023 by David Shama

Two coveted high school offensive linemen have changed the recruiting storyline between the Gophers and Badgers. Minnesota’s recruiting class of 2024 has a verbal commitment from Nathan Roy of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, while Irondale High School’s Emerson Mandell has announced he will play for the Badgers.

For the Gophers and Badgers, trading off the No. 1 ranked recruits in their states is uncommon for sure. 247Sports has Roy as No. 1 in the state of Wisconsin in both its composite recruiting rankings and its own rankings. 247 has Mandell No. 3 in Minnesota in its rankings but No. 1 in the composite.

Although the Gophers have commitments from Roy and two other offensive linemen, they wanted Mandell who announced for Wisconsin a few days ago. The Badgers aren’t used to having the top players in Wisconsin say no to them and receiving a commitment from Mandell is something to crow about even though Roy is the more hyped prospect.

New Badgers coach Luke Fickell and his staff have seen their 2024 recruiting raise eyebrows so far. The 247Sports ranking of the state’s top five players show three commitments to Penn State, with one each to Minnesota and UCLA.

For about 30 years the Badgers have pretty much kept the state’s best players at home, but this year has been different with the program holding only two commitments so far among the 247Sports top 10 Wisconsin natives. The change in coaching staff may have had an impact, with relationships in the state starting over at Wisconsin high schools. Another change is the Badgers are abandoning their old-school meat grinder offense for an Air Raid attack.

Maybe this year is just a fluke for Badger recruiting in the state. Roy reportedly considered the Badgers, but he is relatively new to the state having lived elsewhere growing up. The Gophers, including respected offensive line coach Brian Callahan, capitalized on the opportunity to get Roy who 247 ranks as the No. 9 offensive line prospect nationally for the class of 2024. Mandell is No. 24.

The Gophers and Callahan have recent successes to pitch at recruits. John Michael Schmitz, a 2022 All-American center, was drafted in the second round by the Giants in last April’s NFL Draft. Daniel Faalele, a fourth-round pick by the Ravens in 2022, was the first Gopher offensive lineman to be drafted since 2006 when both Greg Eslinger and Mark Setterstrom were selected.

The pledge by Mandell to become a Badger is the third time in the last five classes that Wisconsin has taken the No. 1 player in Minnesota (offensive lineman Riley Mahlman from Lakeville South in 2021, linebacker Kaden Johnson of Minnehaha Academy in 2020). The Gophers haven’t secured the No. 1 player out of Wisconsin in maybe forever. In 2013 tight end Gaelin Elmore, the No. 6 player in Wisconsin per 247, joined the Gophers and had a successful career but usually Minnesota doesn’t even come close to a Roy or even an Elmore.

The Gophers have won three of their last five games against Wisconsin. More success in the rivalry could mean more recruiting “wins” in Dairyland.

Worth Noting

Stewart Mandell recently named his “they’re still playing college football team” for The Athletic. The team has players whose careers started as far back as 2016 and includes Gophers wide-receiver Chris Autman-Bell who has been in Minneapolis since 2017. “He has been at Minnesota for so long that he was part of P.J. Fleck’s first recruiting class.” Mandell wrote.

Fleck, who is taking vacation time this month, speaks July 27 at Big Ten football Media Days in Indianapolis. Watch for coverage of Media Days July 26 and 27 on the Big Ten Network.

Tom Swain (Photo credit University of Minnesota)

Tom Swain, the first academic advisor for athletics with the Gophers, turned 102 on July 4. Happy birthday, my friend.

Sports Headliners has learned that unlike the last two summers The Meadows at Mystic Lake will not host a Legends of the LPGA tournament. The Legends was founded in 2000 and is the official senior tour of the LPGA, showcasing former LPGA Tour players ages 45 and older. LPGA and World Golf Hall of Famer Juli Inkster won the first two tournaments at The Meadows in Prior Lake.

“We really enjoyed hosting the LPGA Legends golf tournament in 2021 and 2022. We decided to pause on hosting any professional tournaments this year but are pursuing potential LPGA opportunities for next year.” Mike Luckcraft, director of The Meadows at Mystic Lake, said in a statement to Sports Headliners.

There are many circle the date prep football games this fall and one is October 18 when Rogers plays at Mankato West. The past two seasons, Rogers has lost to West in the state Class 5A semifinals.

It was only six years ago that Miguel Sano, now 30 and out of baseball, represented the Twins in the MLB All-Star Game. In 2017 he hit .264 with 28 home runs and 77 RBI. Last season in 60 at bats with Minnesota his numbers were .083, 1 HR and 3 RBI.

It’s getting to the point where baseball fans may want to tell their grandchildren they saw Shohei Ohtaini. His Angels will be at Target Field once this season, playing a three-game series against the Twins September 22, 23 and 24. Ohtani’s pitching and designated hitting have prompted comparisons with the great Babe Ruth who not only was a fabled slugger but spent part of his career on the mound.

Twins radio voice Cory Provus said on Friday night’s broadcast that Brandon Hyde, the Orioles manager, was a finalist for the Twins’ managerial job in 2018 before Rocco Baldelli was hired. The Orioles play for a three-game sweep of the Twins today at Target Field.

Long time Twins fans will remember the name Johnny Sain who after his post-pitching career was a MLB pitching coach for multiple teams including the Twins. He was outspoken but is regarded as one of the better pitching coaches of all time. Among his students was Hall of Famer Jim Kaat who learned from Sain with the Twins in 1965 and 1966 (won 25 games) and with the White Sox 1974 and 1975 (21 and 20 wins).

“We just were a good fit,” Kaat told Sports Headliners. “He wasn’t a power pitcher during his career, but he really taught me a lot about pitching. Changing speeds, about control, learning to control your fast ball. He meant a lot to me. He’s the one that when the Twins did let me go he sort of suggested I make a change with my motion and all of a sudden that became very effective and I had a couple 20 game seasons doing that.”

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Gophers Could Land Historic Football Recruiting Class

Posted on June 20, 2023June 20, 2023 by David Shama

The 2024 University of Minnesota football recruiting class already includes verbal commitments from seven of the top nine players in the state, per 247Sports. That’s Minnesota’s best total since the 2012 class that ultimately signed up seven to letters of intent, according to the 247 archives.

The Gophers have a commitment from the 247 No. 2 player in Minnesota, safety Koi Perich from Esko. Coach P.J. Fleck and staff are awaiting decisions from No.1 Wyatt Gilmore and No. 3 Emerson Mandell.

“If you’re able to land just one of those guys, Fleck would be doing something that historically has been very tough to do no matter who the Gopher coach has been,” Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners while referencing Minnesota’s recruiting in the Internet era. (Note: the Gophers apparently aren’t recruiting the state’s No. 10 ranked player, Coon Rapids High School athlete Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman).

Burns is the experienced recruiting authority from GopherIllustrated and 247Sports. In the next “three, four weeks” he expects decisions from Gilmore and Mandell regarding their college choices.

Gilmore, listed by 247 at 6-4, 240-pounds, is a four-star edge rusher from Rogers. Mandell, 6-5, 295-pounds, is a three-star offensive line prospect from St. Paul and Irondale High School. Who is more likely to become a Gopher?

“I think I am more optimistic about Mandell coming to Minnesota,” Burns said last Friday. “I think it will be either them or Iowa State right now. We’ll see how the Iowa State visit goes…(last) weekend.”

Mandell has made many visits to the Minnesota campus, a solid indication of his interest. Burns believes that because Minnesota and Iowa State appear to be his favorites, that shows a preference to stay close to home.

Burns believes the Gophers “still have a shot” at Gilmore who visited Oklahoma last weekend. Best guess by Burns is Gilmore will commit to a “helmet school” like Miami, Oklahoma, or Oregon.

Rogers head coach Marc Franz told Sports Headliners Gilmore has enjoyed the recruiting process but it’s demanding. “It is weighing on him. It’s a lot of time and energy going into the decision,” said Franz about his star player who plans to enroll in college in January.

Mandell and Gilmore have received encouragement to stay home from in-state players who are committed to the Gophers, including Perich. “It’s part of the reason Koi committed is he wanted to be someone who can help get players,” Burns said.

“He knows he’s a four-star. He knows he’s really good. He knows he’s turned down Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin among others. And I can confirm he’s got Wyatt Gilmore’s number; he’s got Emerson Mandell’s number. He’s been texting them for a long time. He’s spent time with both of them. …”

Recruiting is a competitive business in college football, partially because there are schools using the enticement of Name, Image and Likeness money as an inducement. That’s an illegal practice and something Minnesota wants no part of.

“Minnesota will not extend NIL to recruits…so if that’s what it comes down to is guaranteed promises in recruiting, Minnesota is never going to win that battle,” Burns said. He added “God speed” in getting the NCAA, the Division I enforcement agency, to police NIL infractions.

Burns wants to see the Gophers successful in recruiting and on the field but he’s not going to fault either Gilmore or Mandell if they decide on schools other than Minnesota. “They’re both good kids. I think they both have got good support systems around them, and they’ll make the best decisions they feel for them.”

Still, it’s tantalizing to think about signing both Gilmore and Mandell, or at least one. Burns believes the talent in the state’s 2024 recruiting class is above average and having nine of the top 10 rated players committed to the Gophers would be unprecedented this millennium. “…If Fleck really wants to put a stamp on it, he’s got to land at least one of these guys,” Burns said about Gilmore and Mandell.

The Gophers have been impressive, too, in building their 2024 recruiting class with out-of-state players. The class totals 23 verbal commits, per 247Sports, with the highest ranked player offensive lineman Nathan Roy from Mukwonago, Wisconsin. He’s the No. 1 ranked player in his state and the first time in memory the Gophers have a commitment from the best recruit in Badger land.

The 2024 247Sports team recruiting rankings have Minnesota No. 10 in the country. As of today, the Gophers have more total pledges than any Division I school, but eventually others will catch up and Minnesota’s lofty ranking won’t last. But commitments from Gilmore and Mandell will help ensure an impressive spot in the final national rankings for 2024 recruiting.

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Contract Leverage Favors Danielle Hunter, Not Vikings

Posted on June 18, 2023June 18, 2023 by David Shama

If the Vikings intend to be competitive in the coming season, they need to make a new contract deal with star pass rusher Danielle Hunter. Worthy of inclusion among the NFL’s best at pressuring the quarterback, Hunter is in the last year of his contract and is too valuable to an already suspect defense to be without.

“You look at the depth chart right now, you definitely need Danielle’s presence on defense… so we’ll see if they can figure out a way to make it work,” said Daniel House who spends countless hours analyzing the Vikings and NFL, and publishes the Mnvikngscorner.com website.

No doubt the Vikings have tested Hunter’s trade appeal with other teams but unless they could acquire an impressive defensive return, they are better off with Hunter who had a bounce back season in 2022 with 10.5 sacks (14.5 in both 2018 and 2019). The 28-year-old is a valuable piece in a new start under first-year defensive coordinator Brian Flores who is expected to put an emphasis on speed and aggressive play to accomplish his task of improving a weak defense from last season.

House predicts the defense will play with creativity and sometimes implement pass rushing mismatches favoring Hunter. “It’ll just be a way more aggressive defense, which I think helps everybody involved.”

To satisfy Hunter it likely will require a contract in the $16 million to $20 million range annually for three or four years. A sticky point is how much money will be guaranteed. Hunter has a history of injuries, and the Vikings will want to protect themselves, while Hunter’s representatives are expected to pursue guaranteed money.

Hunter’s camp has signaled its displeasure with a 2023 salary believed to be about $5 million, and the lack of progress on a new contract. The message came through with the absence of the veteran from both voluntary and mandatory workouts this spring. Unless the Vikings have reason for serious concern about Hunter’s health or have cooked up an acquisition of equal talent, they need to settle on a contract in the coming weeks.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell expressed admiration for Hunter last week both as a player and person. He added that “we hope to have continued dialogue and have a really positive outcome.”

Worth Noting

Preseason recognition of multiple University of Minnesota football players continues to grow. Last week Phil Steele Publications honored seven Gophers including safety Tyler Nubin who was named a third-team All-American. Nubin and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford also were honored as first-team All-Big Ten.

Wide receiver Daniel Jackson, tackle Aireontae Ersery and punt returner Quentin Redding were named second team All-Big Ten on offense. Redding was also honored on a All-Big Ten fourth team as a kick returner along with long snapper Brady Weeks. Quinn Carroll, Minnesota offensive tackle, was also a fourth team honoree.

Last month Athlon Sports honored nine Gophers including wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell who was named second team All-Big Ten. Because of additional eligibility granted to him, Autman-Bell is approaching his seventh season at Minnesota. The Vikings have only 10 players on their roster who this fall will have played seven or more seasons in the NFL.

Beleaguered former Timberwolves GM David Kahn, now a force in French basketball, is the subject of a feature in the new issue of Sports Illustrated and insists he left the Wolves “in a much, much better place than when I arrived.”

With a 35-year-old starting point guard in Mike Conley, logic suggests the Timberwolves could use their only selection in Thursday’s NBA Draft to take Nadir Hifi at No. 53 in the second round. He plays in France and the 6-3, 20-year-old might be a sleeper in this week’s draft.

Jonathan Mekonnen, the Eastview class of 2024 basketball wing, picked up an offer from Loyola Chicago last week. Power Five offers could be coming soon.

USC, who sources believe was interested in Gophers AD Mark Coyle in 2019, has a vacancy again.

Paul Molitor, who some Twins fans think should still be the club’s manager, was terrific in his analyst role recently on radio broadcasts. His knowledge had listeners aware of what just happened, why it happened and what likely was developing next in the game. He would be a superb addition to the roster of radio and TV analysts.

Jim Kaat, the former Twin who for years set the gold standard for baseball commentary during games here and nationally, isn’t working Twins games this year. Kaat, 84 and inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame last year, pitched for the Twins and tight wad owner Calvin Griffith from 1961-1973. “Calvin threw nickels around like manhole covers,” Kaat said years ago.

Kaat spoke Friday to the popular Twin Cities Dunkers organization that just closed off nominations for review in July, with 40 applicants and five spots open.

Darren Wolfson reported on Skor North that Wild GM Bill Guerin is interested in filling the assistant coaching vacancy with someone having head coach experience. That could set up an interesting dynamic with head coach Dean Evason whose teams haven’t advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs.

Happy Father’s Day! Anyone remember this quote from the late Erma Bombeck? “When I was a little kid, a father was like the light in the refrigerator. Every house had one, but no one really knew what either of them did once the door was shut.”

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