Recruiting – Page 11 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Collective Makes Significant Impact on Gopher Football

Posted on August 11, 2024August 11, 2024 by David Shama

Dinkytown Athletes, the official Golden Gophers collective involved with Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for University of Minnesota athletes, launched in July of 2022 and sold its first memberships to the public in September of that year. DA, led by Derek Burns and Robert Gag, faced a skeptical Minnesota sports public but interest in boosting the coffers of the collective is documented in a report shared recently with Sports Headliners.

Active paying members were up 156 percent year-over-year in the spring of 2023 and 180 percent in the fall of last year, per “The Dinkytown Difference Football Case Study.” The document doesn’t specify dollar amounts, but the opinion here is DA has become competitive with other collectives supporting major college football programs including many in the Big Ten. (Editor’s note: DA is a Sports Headliners advertiser.)

Darius Taylor photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Without the growth in financial support for DA from contributors, the Gophers wouldn’t be returning 16 starters from last season’s team. Among returnees are standouts including sophomore running back Darius Taylor whose 799 yards rushing last season was fifth best in school history for a true freshman despite missed playing time when he was injured. Taylor’s NIL earnings are estimated at six-figures. For sure being rewarded, too, with NIL earnings are other Gophers including Aireontae Ersery, rated the best returning offensive tackle in college football by Pro Football Focus.

In a new era where players on the existing rosters of college football teams have to be re-recruited, the transfer portal window is an anxiety producing time as programs look to both retain and add personnel. For the 2023-2024 portal period the Gophers coaching staff led by P.J. Fleck lost three transfers to Power Five programs including starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. Minnesota gained eight transfers, giving the Gophers a net gain of 94 games in playing experience, according to the Dinkytown difference document.

Rivals.com gave Minnesota the second highest grade among Big Ten teams last spring for its work in acquiring talent in the transfer portal. Minnesota’s B grade was surpassed only by Washington’s B+.

Minnesota’s eight transfers include promising running back Marcus Major from Oklahoma, former state No. 1 recruit and edge rusher Jaxon Howard from LSU, plus needed help at wide receiver where Cristian Driver from Penn State and Tyler Williams from Georgia. The biggest transfer prize looks like FCS transfer Max Brosmer from New Hampshire.

As a startup, founders Burns and Gag learned money needs to be in place before the transfer portal opens. In the 2022-2023 portal the Gophers lost 10 transfers to Power Five programs. Minnesota gained two transfers during that period resulting in a net loss of 115 games in Power Five playing experience, according to the document.

Among the players leaving the Gophers was cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr., who became a 2023 All-American at West Virginia. Austin Booker made all-Big 12 as a defensive lineman for Kansas. Defensive lineman Trill Carter was the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year playing for Texas.

Worth Noting

Steve Erban said his company will be taking about 600 Gopher football fans to Minnesota’s October 12 UCLA game at the Rose Bowl. Creative Charters has almost sold out its availability.

Just added to the football fan travel lineup is a trip to the November 9 Rutgers game. Erban said the trip experience will include a visit to the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey.

Speculation is Viking safety Lewis Cine, the team’s top draft choice in 2022, will not be a member of the team when roster cuts are made later this summer. Cine, selected last in the first round with the No. 32 pick, has been a disappointment during his career and appears to be way down on the safety roster in training camp.

In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Cine played in three and seven games respectively, and started in none. It now appears that Cine, and cornerback Andrew Booth Jr., who was the team’s second player taken in the 2022 draft, will be draft busts. Booth Jr. was traded last week to the Cowboys for cornerback Nashon Wright.

The most important performance yesterday in the Vikings’ 24-23 closing seconds victory over the Raiders may have been the winning field goal by rookie kicker Will Reichard. In the opening preseason game for both teams the Vikings got a clutch 38-yard boot by Reichard who is trying to win the kicking job after Minnesota released veteran Greg Joseph in the offseason.

Adding to the drama at U.S. Bank Stadium yesterday, Reichard had his first field goal attempt as a pro blocked, and Raider kicker Daniel Carlson kicked three field goals including a 56-yarder. Carlson was released by the Vikings after his first two games as a rookie in 2018. He’s been with the Raiders ever since where he’s become one of the NFL’s best, and the hasty decision by the Vikings to cut ties remains among the worst in recent years for the franchise.

An interesting individual matchup in Viking training camp is rookie edge rusher Dallas Turner going against stud offensive left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Turner, a first-round selection, had a sack yesterday and looks like a game-changer.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game his top two quarterbacks, newcomers Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy, are “ahead of where I thought they would be at this point.” It’s believed that Darnold, an NFL vet going into his seventh season, is almost certainly the starter for the regular season opener at the Giants September 8.

Rookie McCarthy made a couple of underwhelming throws in the first half, including an interception. In the second half, he threw two touchdown passes with velocity and touch on the football. Darnold played only one series, the opening drive of the game.

The Twins finish their four-game series today against the Guardians who have lost two of the first three games against Minnesota at Target Field. Cleveland holds a 2.5 games lead in the AL Central Division but has lost seven of its last eight games and is 17-23 since June 26.

The Guardians are the smart choice to win today with ace starter Tanner Bibee going against Minnesota rookie David Festa. Last Monday, though, Festa impressed in a win over the Cubs, giving up two hits and no runs in five innings.

Twins president Dave St. Peter is a college football fan and will attend his first game at Michigan Stadium when Texas plays Michigan September 7. “Excited about it,” St. Peter said. “Never been to the ‘Big House’ so it will be a fun experience. I am certain of that.”

This will be the 14^th trip he and friends have made to well-known college football venues.

Target Field has a history of hosting college football games with regional teams and interest remains in future bookings, but St. Peter told Sports Headliners nothing is on the “calendar for the next few years.”

Look for Twins games to be on cable/satellite next season, plus directly to the consumer via streaming. Comcast viewers who finally have the Twins back on cable this summer by paying a higher monthly fee may have to pay more of the same for Timberwolves and Wild telecasts.

Owen Presthus, grandson of former Golden Gophers basketball captain Paul Presthus, is an outstanding soccer player and a few days ago was signed by Columbus Crew 2 to an MLS Next Pro contract.

Comments Welcome

Could Twins-White Sox Series Provide Trade Preview?

Posted on July 7, 2024July 7, 2024 by David Shama

The Twins’ three-game series starting tomorrow night in Chicago against the White Sox might be an opportunity to set in motion a trade to improve Minnesota’s chances of advancing to the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

The Twins, who finish a three-game home series against the Astros today, are six games behind the Guardians in the race to win the AL Central Division. Perhaps more likely than overtaking Cleveland to earn a playoff spot, is entry as a wild card team. FanGraphs.com gives the Twins a 32.9 percent chance of winning the division, but 50.2 percent likelihood of being one of three wild card clubs in the AL playoffs.

Minnesota could boost its playoff prospects with a trade or two prior to the July 30 MLB trade deadline. Priorities include starting pitching and bullpen help. This week’s trip to the Windy City is perhaps timely with the lowly White Sox, 26-65, considered among the most likely of MLB teams to be sellers prior to the deadline.

As has been true all season, the Twins need a couple more solid starters in their rotation. White Sox emerging star Garrett Crochet is rumored to be available because Chicago needs prospects as it rebuilds the franchise.

Crochet was the AL Pitcher of the Month in June, leading MLB in strikeouts. The 26-year-old would add a left-hander to the starting rotation. He comes with a club-friendly contract at a reported $800,000, unless an extension is negotiated this month.

The Twins’ bullpen hasn’t been elite in 2024 like it was at the close of 2023. Help is needed for performance, consistency and depth. White Sox closer Michael Kopech could be available. Although Kopech has struggled of late, he and Crochet fit the Minnesota front office’s liking for strikeout pitchers.

Chicago outfielder Tommy Pham, rumored in past years as perhaps bound for the Twins, could be a right-handed bat that would help Minnesota in the second half of the season, particularly if injuries hit the roster. The 36-year-old veteran is having a mediocre season but has hit in the clutch and wouldn’t command a lot in trade return.

Twins president Derek Falvey, GM Thad Levine and other club leaders could be looking for some help in Chicago with Minnesota having night games Monday and Tuesday, before the series finale Wednesday afternoon.

The Twins, BTW, are TBA on Monday night’s starting pitcher, with Bailey Ober and struggling Pablo Lopez, 5.18 ERA, set for games two and three.

Worth Noting

Wow! Twins third baseman and DH Jose Miranda, who yesterday tied an MLB record with hits in 12 consecutive at bats, is hitting .376 with 13 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 31 RBI, a .419 on-base percentage, a .602 slugging percentage and a 1.020 OPS in his last 38 games dating back to May 24.

Among Gopher football players topping the curiosity list in 2024 is defensive end Jaxon Howard, the former four-star recruit from Robbinsdale Cooper who played briefly last season at SEC power LSU but transferred to Minnesota in June. Ryan Burns, the recruiting authority from GopherIllustrated, told Sports Headliners earlier this year he will consider it a “win” if Howard, hyped for his pass rushing potential, becomes the No. 2 defensive end behind senior Danny Striggow, the veteran standout.

“…Now, I know the fan base and maybe members of the media want to see a bigger impact from a kid like that, but I think people have to remember he’s only going to be a redshirt freshman this fall,” Burns said about the state’s No. 1 recruit in the class of 2023. “It’s very rare to see a redshirt freshman come in and just have a monster impact in year one unless they’re just incredibly talented.

“I am not saying Jaxon is not, but I am saying for a kid who didn’t play very many snaps at LSU last fall as a true freshman (that’s challenging). If he can come in and go from very little snaps to over 200, maybe 300 snaps at Minnesota for his first experience in the Big Ten, I think that would be a very impactful role for him. But he’s going to have to come in and win that number two job behind Danny Striggow this fall and then once Danny graduates in January and moves on it will be up for grabs for him to potentially grab a much larger role in 2025.”

Lindy’s Sports Big Ten football magazine ranks Howard No. 71 on a list of top 75 transfer portal players in the nation. Koi Perich, the safety from Esko, Minnesota who headlines the Gophers’ 2024 freshmen class, is ranked the No. 70 on the incoming freshmen list.

The Gopher receiving the most praise by the magazine (recently hit newsstands) is senior left tackle Aireontae Ersery, named to the offensive first team preseason All-American unit. Lindy’s made Ersery an All-Big Ten first team selection, too, and said Pro Football Focus rates the 6-6, 325 pound star the best returning run blocker in the country.

Gopher senior Dragan Kesich, the 2023 Big Ten Kicker of the Year, is the No. 3 kicker in the nation, per Lindy’s. Kesich is a Lindy’s All-Big Ten first team selection and the magazine said along with senior punter Mark Crawford, named to the third team, Minnesota has the two best specialists at those positions in the 18-member Big Ten.

Lindy’s predicts the Gophers will excel running the football but questions the improvement of the passing game and defense from last season—projecting a No. 15 finish in the standings and possibly no bowl game.

Forward Joe Ingles, a summer free agent addition by the Timberwolves, looks like a savvy move by front office leader Tim Connelly. Ingles, 36, brings outside shooting, playmaking and leadership off the bench, plus years of experience with Wolves starters Mike Conley Jr. and Rudy Gobert when all three were with the Jazz. He is a “glue man” replacement for versatile veteran sub Kyle Anderson who signed a free agent deal recently with the Warriors.

The Clippers, who drafted former Gopher Cam Christie last month in the second round, play the Nuggets in a Las Vegas Summer League game Friday night starting at 9 p.m. Minneapolis time and telecast on NBA TV.

Hazeltine National Golf Course’s 16^th hole checks in at No. 47 on Golf Digest’s list of America’s top 100 golf holes.

Former Vikings wide receiver Leo Lewis leads The Lewis Sports Foundation celebrating its 25^th year with the organization’s annual Awards Dinner August 4, and the 22^nd annual Leo Lewis Celebrity Golf Classic the next day, with both events at Minnesota Valley Country Club in Bloomington. The dinner recognizes metro area community leaders for their efforts impacting the lives of youth. More at http://Lewissportsfoundation.com

Comments Welcome

Timberwolves Will Create High Drama in Coming Offseason

Posted on May 31, 2024 by David Shama

The Timberwolves are finished in the playoffs after losing last night to the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals. The Mavs won the series 4-1 and embarrassed Minnesota on its home court, jumping off to a big lead in the game and winning 124-103.

That thud last night and losing the series in five games doesn’t tarnish a special year. As time expired Thursday evening, fans chanted: “Let’s go Wolves!” The shout out was in appreciation for a 56-26 regular season, No. 3 seeding in the postseason and deep playoff run.

This team produced one of the best years in franchise history dating back to 1989-1990. That success has also set up an intriguing offseason. Among the drama will be the following:

Who is going to have majority ownership of the Wolves and WNBA Lynx? Arbitration and later a vote by the NBA’s owners will settle the issue. That vote will be very interesting not only because Glen Taylor has a long time relationships with the league’s other 29 owners that could favor him in the outcome. Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are trying to close on a sales price of $1.5 billion for the Wolves and Lynx that was agreed to in 2021. With NBA franchises now valued at $3 billion and more, do the owners want to see a club sold for $1.5 billion? Prediction here: Taylor will emerge from the legal dispute with Lore and Rodriguez as the controlling owner.

President of basketball operations Tim Connelly, who took over as the front office basketball boss in 2022, reportedly has an opt out now in his contract. Will the architect who put the pieces together elevating the team from mediocre to championship contender want to leave? The push to bring Connelly to Minneapolis from Denver was led by Lore and Rodriquez but the opinion here is the valued decision maker will stay on working for Taylor and wanting to further build on his work.

How will ownership and Connelly approach an expensive player payroll that as constructed now will put them way over the NBA salary cap? Speculation is ownership will have to pay over $25 million in luxury tax to keep an expensive core together led by Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and others. Spotrac.com projects the payroll at over $190 million for next season, one of the highest figures in the league.

But if all the key players return the Wolves will be sitting on a box office and marketing bonanza with fans. Presumably they could generate revenues from varied sources to cover the luxury tax expense while driving up the value of the franchise if success duplicates or exceeds last season. Taylor, 83, has never seen his team win an NBA title and might have a “let’s go for the ring” approach this offseason.

How does this team get better? Significant improvement will come organically from a roster mostly of young players led by Anthony Edwards, 22, Jaden McDaniels, 23, and Naz Reid, 24. It requires experience to win championships and these players have big upsides on a roster that potentially has its top six guys returning.

New pieces? The Wolves need a plan that sooner or later will replace valued 36-year-old veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. Other wants should be to add more consistent and clutching scoring, ideally from a big-time veteran or prospect (possible Towns trade?), and develop a deeper bench to go along with NBA Sixth Man of the Year Reid.

Those needs will go through Connelly’s mind in a rare NBA Draft where the Wolves haven’t mortgaged away their selections. Minnesota has the No. 27 and 37 picks in next month’s draft.

In some towns just the approaching draft, free agent signings and trades would provide the offseason focus but not here there is even more anticipation about what’s next.

Roles for U Frosh Koi Perich in 2024 Might Be Multiple

Koi Perich is the face of the 2024 Golden Gophers football recruiting class. Expectations by fans are considerable for the former Esko star and consensus four-star recruit ranked as the No. 1 prospect in Minnesota by On3, 247Sports and ESPN last year. On3 ranked him as the No. 3 safety in the nation and the No. 53 overall recruit in the country.

As a senior last fall Perich played defense, offense and special teams while leading Esko to a 10-1 record. He accounted for 27 touchdowns, including five on defense.

Perich showed he could perform not only against small town Minnesota competition but also on the national stage. Playing in the All-American Bowl against some of the better prep talent in the country last January, Perich was named MVP. He had an interception, broke up two passes, made a tackle for a loss, and blocked and recovered a punt.

Perich tantalizes fan enthusiasm beyond his talent because of his loyalty to the home state school. Ohio State, a favorite to win the 2024 national championship, put a December recruiting rush on the teenager with head coach Ryan Day visiting him. He could have not only become a Buckeye but chosen to any number of other marquee programs.

That kind of “he’s one of us” feeling fuels curiosity about Perich who also excelled in basketball at Esko and won the 2022 Class A state long jump championship. Among the questions is how soon will he play for the Gophers and where?

Ryan Burns, the recruiting authority from GopherIllustrated, predicts Perich isn’t likely to start right away. “It’s not a knock on Koi’s talent. It’s a knock on him getting here in June (summer school starts Monday). If he would have been here in January, I think the likelihood of him having a much bigger role this fall would have been exponentially higher.

“It’s just so tough for—in my eyes at least—for a true freshman that comes in in the summer to really make a giant impact in the fall. It’s not unheard of to see it happen. We’ve seen guys where it happened like Antoine Winfield Jr. . …”

As of late, there’s a developing tradition of great safeties at Minnesota. Winfield was named a unanimous All-American in 2019. Tyler Nubin was honored as a first and second team All-American in 2023.

Perich has a legacy to follow and although he may not be a starting safety in 2024, Burns sees potential roles on the field including the possibility of playing nickel on passing downs. That could have the hyped freshman on the field for 200 to 300 snaps next season.

Koi Perich photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

At Esko Perich returned three punts for touchdowns and one kickoff for a score last season. Given how prolific Perich was at returning punts and kickoffs in high school, Burns would “love to see” the fan favorite have a chance at those roles with the Gophers.

“As you know, my bar for (head coach) P.J. Fleck’s return game is incredibly low,” said Burns who noted the Gophers haven’t returned a kickoff for a TD since 2017, nor taken a punt back for a score since 2018. A poor kickoff return game last year, he said, resulted in consistent bad field position and added to problems for aa challenged offense.

So, nickel back, returning punts and kickoffs, and even time at safety could be on the table for Perich. The Gophers do have to replace their starting safeties from 2023 and sooner or later that could create an opening for you-know-who.

The conclusion? No one should be shocked if Perich contributes to Minnesota’s success in 2024 with probably bigger things coming in 2025.

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