Preps – Page 49 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Gophers’ Assistant Coach Star Recruiter

Posted on May 7, 2020May 7, 2020 by David Shama

Joe Harasymiak was hired as a University of Minnesota assistant football coach around Christmas in 2018. Since then he has been a gift to Minnesota’s fast-rising program with both his coaching and recruiting.

Harasymiak and his safeties were major contributors to Minnesota’s 11-2 record in 2019-2020 that ended with an upset win over Auburn in the Outback Bowl on January 1. The bowl victory gave the Gophers two wins against top 10 teams, having also defeated Penn State in Minneapolis. It was the first time since 1904 the program had 11 wins.

Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was a unanimous All-American and Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. Chris Williamson, a safety and transfer from Florida, was selected in the April NFL Draft—one of five Gophers drafted. Another safety Jordan Howden, who struggled as a freshman in 2018, made a game-saving interception in the end zone when Minnesota upset No. 5 ranked Penn State. Minnesota finished second in the Big Ten with 14 interceptions.

Key staffers don’t just coach for head man P.J. Fleck. They’re expected to deliver in recruiting, too. Pursuit of new talent is close to a 24-7 mandate under the hyper-energetic Fleck, and Harasymiak has delivered including with four-star recruits.

Running Back Ky Thomas and wide receiver Daniel Jackson, four-star players from Kansas, are part of Minnesota’s 2020 recruiting class, and Harasymiak was the assistant coach who led the way to their accepting scholarships with the Gophers. Now Minnesota has 15 verbal commitments for the class of 2021 and four of those players are four-star recruits. Two of the four are preps Harasymiak is taking the lead with in making them Gophers.

Both players are cornerbacks and pursued by blueblood programs but as of now are committed to Minnesota. Avante Dickerson from Omaha is the highest ranked of Minnesota’s 14 verbal commits by 247Sports, and if he becomes a Gopher will be among the most hyped recruits in the internet era. Steven Ortiz from Goodyear, Arizona is highly valued, too, and among schools that have chased him is Pac-12 power Washington. Both Dickerson and Ortiz could play as freshmen.

Kansas, Nebraska and Arizona might be surprise talent sources to Gopher fans but that’s changed with the recruiting expertise and energy of the 39-year-old Fleck and 33-year-old Harasymiak. Among those who have noticed is Ryan Burns, the Minneapolis-based recruiting authority and publisher of GopherIllustrated.com.

“I mean these are just areas traditionally Minnesota hasn’t recruited well in, and all he’s done (Harasymiak) is get four four-stars from areas that aren’t very familiar to Minnesota’s recruiting territory,” Burns told Sports Headliners.

Yesterday came news Minnesota received a verbal commitment from three-star Covington, Georgia safety Darius Green. Per 247Sports, Gopher assistant coach Paul Haynes is the primary recruiter on Green with Harasymiak also contributing.

This winter Fleck rewarded Harasymiak by upgrading his title including naming him co-defensive coordinator. Harasymiak’s salary also jumped from a reported $215,000 to $380,000.

Still, Burns has written that Harasymiak is on a one-year contract and is concerned about keeping the talented young assistant at Minnesota. “He needs more money in his pocket if he is going to stick around,” Burns said.

Prior to joining the Minnesota staff, Harasymiak was head coach at Maine for three seasons. His 2018 team advanced to the school’s first ever Football Championship Subdivision national semifinal. He was named the FCS National Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

Vikings Optimistic on Hosting NFL Draft

The NFL Draft continues to grow in popularity and the Vikings are optimistic they and other local groups can host the annual April event within the next few years. Viking executive Lester Bagley, who specializes in public affairs, said it’s possible the league could award this area the draft in 2024, 2025 or 2026.

Bagley’s optimism can start with the Minnesota track record of hosting acclaimed Super Bowls. As recently as 2018, the Vikings and other local organizations have impressed NFL decision makers with their success in carrying out Super Bowl infrastructure, logistics and hospitality.

A draft here would be in downtown Minneapolis, likely using U.S. Bank Stadium and outdoor areas either close to the facility or the nearby Mississippi River. Bagley estimates 80,000 or more visitors will come to town for the three-day draft.

The 2020 NFL Draft was the most watched ever, drawing more than 55 million viewers. Because of the COVID-19 virus, the draft didn’t have a host city. Las Vegas, originally scheduled to host the event, will be the 2022 site. Cleveland will host in 2021 and Kansas City in 2023.

The Vikings and others made their intention known to host a future draft in August of 2019, but Bagley said as of now there is no development from the NFL to report.

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Looking for Twins TV Return in July

Posted on May 5, 2020May 5, 2020 by David Shama

Word is Major League Baseball will start the 2020 season in July. Sports Headliners was told by an authoritative source his understanding is an abbreviated schedule will be played with initially no fans in ballparks. If more control of the COVID-19 epidemic happens, fans could slowly be allowed into stadiums as the season develops.

To deal most effectively with the virus, it’s predicted MLB will be reorganized into three 10-team divisions representing the east, central and west regions of the country. Travel would be minimized with teams playing games only within their division. To start with, and perhaps continuing indefinitely, games could be played only at sites in Florida, Texas and Arizona.

MLB owners and players have yet to agree with a 2020 schedule plan. With the necessity to get a plan in place soon, the pressure is on for an agreement this month. Presuming agreement is reached, that would allow enough time for three or four weeks of training prior to an early July start of the schedule.

It makes sense that one of the details the two sides could agree on is an unprecedented expanded roster size. If illness or injury hit a team particularly hard, where does management source players without a deep roster? Usually when there is a roster need, MLB teams turn to their farm systems for help but at this time it’s uncertain what the status of minor league baseball is for 2020.

With so much pent up enthusiasm for baseball from the fans, TV viewership could be record setting in July both regionally and nationally. In a reorganized geographical central division, Twins fans wouldn’t see baseball’s best player, Mike Trout of the Angels. Nor would they watch the Twins against the Yankees and Red Sox, two blueblood clubs that have been coming to Minneapolis since 1961. But a division home in the midwest would have Minnesota playing American League traditional rivals in the Indians, Royals, Tigers and White Sox. Intriguing opponents from the National League in the Twins’ new division could include the Brewers, Cardinals and Cubs.

The Twins are expected to have one of baseball’s better teams and could be in some sort of revised playoff system that leads to a World Series winner in November. In these weird times, how strange would it be to play the Fall Classic in an empty stadium?

Worth Noting

MLB players are usually paid over a 162-game season, but would earn prorated amounts during the course of an abbreviated 2020 year.

Look for the NFL to announce its 2020 schedule within days. Each team will play the usual 16 regular season games, with no games outside the United States. Four games in London and one in Mexico City had previously been planned.

Among the familiar events of spring in recent years is Bud Grant’s garage sale from his Bloomington home. Well, the legendary former Vikings coach, who turns 93 later this month, is secluded at his Wisconsin cabin, and there won’t be a sale this year. In the past the sales have been promoted as the final one, but son Mike Grant has a wait and see approach. “Never say never on these garage sales,” Mike said.

As head coach of the Eden Prairie football team, Mike will have Justice Sullivan as one of his captains this fall. Sullivan, who projects as a college linebacker, lived in Iowa until a couple of years ago and has verbally committed to the University of Iowa as a four-star recruit. Grant said Sullivan could play inside or outside linebacker like Carter Coughlin, the former Eagle who was one of the Gophers’ best defenders at the end position last season.

“Outstanding young man, and good student, great kid,” Grant said of Sullivan, whose dad Jake Sullivan played collegiate basketball at Iowa State.

During this period of public health uncertainty, NBA owners, including the Timberwolves Glen Taylor, have been told to refer media requests to the league office.

Despite the coronavirus epidemic, metro golf courses are busy. An avid player told Sports Headliners public courses are only taking reservations about a week out.

More outdoor activity starts Saturday with the fishing season opening for a number of popular species including northern pike and trout. To many Minnesotans, though, it’s the “Walleye Opener.” Media reports say license sales are brisk.

It just might be that two of the finalists for commissioner of the new Central Collegiate Hockey Association are names with ties to the University of Minnesota. The new leader of the CCHA is expected to be announced soon and be in place by July 1.

The 2020 Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame honorees in the High School Division are Walter Hunting, Duluth Denfeld; Jeff Mumm, Thief River Falls; Mike Quist, Gaylord; and Karl Urbaniak, Mabel-Canton. Also joining the Hall of Fame from the Citation Division is Mike Turner of Varsity Photos.

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Gophers Picking Up 4-Star Momentum

Posted on April 28, 2020April 28, 2020 by David Shama

The football Gophers are trending toward their best recruiting class in more than a decade and this spring are picking up more four-star preps. Minnesota has four four-star players among 13 preps who have made verbal commitments for the class of 2021 that eventually may have about 20 scholarship freshmen.

In the latest rankings by 247Sports for 2021, Minnesota is No. 5 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten (behind Ohio State). When national Signing Day comes along in December it seems like this class could be as hyped (or more so) by recruiting authorities as coach Tim Brewster’s group in 2008 that 247Sports ranked No. 26 in America. None of Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck’s previous four recruiting classes have made it into the final 247Sports top 30 rankings.

Ryan Burns, the publisher of GopherIllustrated.com affiliated with 247Sports, believes Fleck and his staff could pick up three or four additional four-star players to go with a load of three-star recruits. “That wouldn’t surprise me one bit,” Burns told Sports Headliners.

The Minneapolis-based recruiting authority sees a possibility that two more four-star targets could commit in the next 30 days. Running back Mar’Keise Irving from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills, Illinois and Chicago Simeon offensive lineman Cameron James both have strong interest in Minnesota despite the COVID-19 epidemic preventing them from visiting campus.

Burns said Minnesota also has commitments from players currently ranked with three-stars who could move up to four-star status (next highest from five stars) if a fall high school season is played and they excelled. He mentioned Shakopee defensive end Devin Eastern is on the edge of moving up because of his on the field skills and also his impressive offseason training.

It doesn’t look like Minnesota will land two of the state’s top rated players in the class of 2021, per Burns. Four-stars Justice Sullivan from Eden Prairie and Riley Mahlman of Lakeville South appear headed to Iowa and Wisconsin respectively. Justice is labeled an “athlete” whose college position appears undecided, while Mahlman could add to the Badger legacy of great offensive linemen.

As of today, 247Sports ranks Iowa’s 2021 class No. 6 nationally, with the Hawkeyes having 12 recruits including four four-star players. Wisconsin is No. 13 in the rankings, with 10 commits including three four-star prospects.

The list of Gopher four-star commits so far is comprised of cornerback Avante Dickerson, Omaha; quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, Antioch, Illinois; cornerback Steven Ortiz, Goodyear, Arizona; and “athlete” Sam Jackson, Naperville, Illinois. All but Athan Kaliakmanis verbally committed to Minnesota this spring.

Burns doesn’t foresee any of them dumping Minnesota to attend other schools, although he will remind a listener “18 year olds” are unpredictable.

Dickerson is the highest ranked Gopher recruit since Washburn running back Jeff Jones committed to Minnesota in 2014. “He (Dickerson) is everything athletically you would ever want in a corner,” Burns said.

It’s almost unheard of for the Gophers to receive a pledge from a Nebraska recruit. Not only are the Nebraska Cornhuskers a legendary team in the state, many of college football’s blueblood programs were also in pursuit of the 6-foot, 165-pound Dickerson who many observers think is the best prospect in the state. Burns believes it’s nearly a lock Dickerson comes to Minnesota and doesn’t give in to the pressure of Big Red Nation.

Why?

Because Dickerson highly values his relationships with coaches and the Gophers won him over led by assistant Joe Harasymiak, according to Burns. He said “Nebraska didn’t put in the work that Minnesota did” to land the gifted prep cornerback. While the Husker staff is likely to try “catch up,” Burns believes Minnesota’s investment in time and effort will keep Dickerson committed until he can sign a National Letter of Intent.

“I think his (recruiting) ranking is warranted,” Burns said. “I think the ceiling is incredibly, incredibly high for him.”

Kaliakmanis gave Minnesota a verbal pledge more than a year ago, per 247Sports. Burns said an indication that Kaliakmanis will keep his commitment is the dual-threat quarterback is recruiting others to become Gophers.

Ortiz committed earlier this month and Blair Angulo of 247Sports predicts an 80 percent likelihood he becomes a Gopher. The University of Washington has a 20 percent chance of having the cornerback eventually land in Seattle. Burns said Ortiz intends to enroll at Minnesota in January and could see playing time in 2021 as a nickel coverage man.

Jacknson was offered a scholarship by Notre Dame to become a defensive back, a position he has never played. He was a sophomore wide receiver before switching to quarterback as a junior last year. “All I know is he is truly one of the most dynamic athletes in the Midwest and that’s why he was so highly sought after,” said Burns who expects Jackson to play wide receiver or QB at Minnesota.

Burns believes Jackson’s intentions toward Minnesota are solid. Jackson de-committed from the Gophers awhile back, and Burns said it would be unusual for a recruit to do that twice with the same school.

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