Recruiting – Page 13 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

J.J. McCarthy Might Give Vikes Second Best QB in Draft

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

Daniel House studies more film of prospective NFL quarterbacks than any media person I know. He analyzes game films of college quarterbacks not just from 2023 but dating back in some cases to before the pandemic.

And guess what? In this 2024 quarterback rich NFL Draft he agrees USC’s Caleb Williams has the most upside, but his No. 2 may surprise you. Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye often receive more praise as prospects, but based on what House refers to as “projection” he thinks J.J. McCarthy is No. 2.

“Soley based on the fact that his ceiling is the highest of these quarterbacks. …He really wasn’t able to showcase everything that he could do because of Michigan’s style of play and how they completely dominated teams up front,” said House who offers his football insights on Mnvikingscorner.com and Gophersguru.com.

“When he was asked to do things within the system, to showcase his strengths, he executed those things. And when he gets in an NFL system that builds around what he does best—you put him in a good situation—I think he’s really going to forge and take off based on his talent.

“I don’t think people give him enough credit for his athleticism. This guy is very, very athletic. He’s slippery. He can extend plays but he’s not one of those guys that is going to hold onto the ball too long and back himself into some poor decisions.”

McCarthy has been linked to the Vikings since last fall, with the notion GM Kwesi-Adofo Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell were focusing on the former five-star recruit who helped Michigan to the 2023 national championship. Back then and for a while this winter speculation was McCarthy could be available in the middle of the first round or later.

That seems to have changed, with talk now McCarthy might be selected among the first six picks in the April 25-27 NFL Draft. Four quarterbacks going in the first five or six selections? It’s possible and that scenario would mean the Vikings trading up to be positioned for McCarthy or another high QB prospect.

Trade capital could mean the Vikings offering their No. 11 and No. 23 first round picks, and more, to be in a prime draft spot. McCarthy could be the target because of his skills and how those physical and mental attributes fit the Viking offense that favors play-action and passes over the middle of the field.

Daniel House

“I think he fits Kevin O’Connell’s offense the best (compared to Daniels and Maye) and he’s got the highest ceiling overall when he gets into an offense that fits his strengths—the play fake, the ability to suck defenders up, doesn’t get frustrated when things aren’t available. He’s a great improv, off-schedule quarterback when he needs to be,” House said about the 21-year-old who is the youngest among the four quarterbacks ballyhooed in the draft.

“The thing I notice is how he loves to give receivers hand signals, and then just redirects them and knows where to put the ball to give them a chance or draw a flag. Flashes the ability to move defenders with his eyes, and pump fakes, and really shines throwing over the middle of the field which I think is something Kevin O’Connell really is looking for in his next quarterback. …”

If the Vikings stay at No. 11 in the first round, McCarthy is unlikely to be available, but Bo Nix from Oregon and Michael Penix Jr. of Washington could be. In a league where successful quarterbacks have been found not only in the first round but even as free agents, the Vikings might find their man at No. 11 or later.

House refers to Nix as “a great athlete,” praises him for his throwing accuracy and pump fake that fools defenders, and for having a high football IQ. He said Nix’s pro success will depend on the system he plays in. “If he ends up with someone like Kevin O’Connell, I think he could do quite well.”

House praises Penix’s improvement during his college career and likes the quarterback’s ability to find openings in the secondary. “He’s more of a gunslinging type of quarterback where he’ll drive it into the tight window because he’s got such a strong arm and the ball really jumps out of his hands differently.”

House said Penix can make all the throws, his processing is better than he is given credit for and he thinks “someone is going to really fall in love with him as their quarterback.”

Of course, every prospect has elements like processing that evaluators are uncertain about. For a detailed look at the top quarterbacks in this month’s draft google their name and the NFL.com/prospects.

Worth Noting

Good guy Dalton Risner, the Vikings left guard who signed a one-year deal with the club last year but now is a free agent, switched agents recently in what seems to be a slow-moving contract process. Could Blake Brandel, who the Vikings re-signed last month, change from a utility backup role to a starter at left guard?

A controversial call in the closing seconds of Friday night’s Women’s Final Four cost UConn an opportunity to tie or win their semifinal game against Iowa but afterward former Hopkins superstar Paige Bueckers said one play doesn’t determine the outcome and she could have played better. Her former high school coach, Brian Cosgriff, texted this last night:

”No excuses. Even after one of the toughest losses ever. It’s what makes Paige special off the court, too!”

Quote on X last week from Robbinsdale Cooper LB Emmanuel Karmo —the top-rated class of 2025 state of Minnesota prep football prospect by 247Sports —after visiting Ohio State: “Had a great time in Columbus yesterday (April 1). Love the facility and the people and can’t wait to get back down on campus.”

A timely program on NIL’s impact on college sports featuring Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle will be the topic for the Capital Club’s April 24 breakfast at Mendakota Country Club. More information about the club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com

With the Timberwolves facing salary cap challenges in the next offseason, forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns could be traded. If so, his absence may create a bigger role for center Luka Garza who recently saw his two-way contract converted into a standard NBA contract. Now in his third NBA season, Garza scored a season-high 16 points last week against the Raptors in just under 10 minutes. A skilled offensive player, Garza averaged 36.7 points in three G League games this season with the Iowa Wolves.

Anthony Edwards has at least one steal in 17 consecutive road games and can continue the streak in Los Angeles tonight against the Lakers. The club record is 24 set by Terrell Brandon in 2000.

That was Nebraska head basketball coach Fred Hoiberg, presumably in town for recruiting last week, seen at the Original Pancake House in Eden Prairie.

7 Vines Vineyard and Winery in Dellwood will be the site on Monday, June 10 for a tribute by friends and former teammates of the late Jim Carter who passed away in California last November. The celebration of life for the former Gopher football captain (1969) is being organized by former teammate Jim Brunzell.

The Wild, looking at missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019, seem likely to use minimal time in deciding whether to bring back 39-year-old goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

The Twin Cities chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association is nominating Wild center Marco Rossi for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy presented annually to the player best exemplifying perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

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Wolves Comeback Kids in 2023-2024

Posted on April 3, 2024April 4, 2024 by David Shama

Enjoy a Wednesday notes column.

The Timberwolves trailed the Rockets by 11 points early in the second quarter last night but came back to win 113-106 at Target Center. It was the 15th double-digit comeback win of the season, further establishing a franchise record (previous best 12 in 2017-2018).

The Wolves are tied with the Bulls for the second-most such wins in the NBA this season (Thunder 16 wins). The comeback victories are a key reason Minnesota is in position to finish first in the Western Conference for only the second time in franchise history.

It could be a nod of things to come when Chris Paddack makes his first pitching start today since the spring of 2022 for the Twins, who have at least two uncertain spots in their starting rotation. Paddack, who had Tommy John arm surgery in 2022 and 2016, will pitch against the Brewers in Milwaukee when the Twins try to end a two-game losing streak where they have produced just seven total hits in 11-0 and 3-2 losses to the Royals Sunday and Brewers yesterday.

Paddack was tagged “The Sheriff” because of his Austin, Texas roots when he pitched for the Padres. Fans attended games wearing cowboy boots and badges with “Paddack’s Posse” inscribed on them while cheering for the right hander. He was acquired by the Twins in 2022 and made five starts before needing Tommy John surgery.

The Vikings have scheduled voluntary Organized Team Activity (OTA) practices on these dates at Twin Cities Orthopedic Performance Center: May 20, 21, 23, 28, 29 and 31, June 10, 11, 12 and 13. The mandatory minicamp at their Eagan training center will be June 4, 5 and 6.

Word is Ari Peterson, the daughter of former Vikings great Adrian Peterson, will transfer from Providence Academy to Minnetonka for the next school year. Ari, probably the best eighth grader in the state last season, already has a college offer from the Gophers and would join a Skippers team that is expecting three returning starters and is the 2024 Class 4A champions.

Former Viking Chad Greenway’s daughter Maddyn plays at Providence and will be one of the best players in the state next season as a junior. Don’t be surprised if all four of Greenway’s athletic daughters go to Iowa where Chad and his wife Jenni went to school.

Sources speculate former Gophers center Pharrel Payne, now in the transfer portal, will receive Name, Image and Likeness compensation well into six-figures at his next stop.

MLB.com recently asked 88 baseball authorities to vote for their choices for 2024 division champs and the World Series winner. The Twins, the popular choice to win the AL Central, host the Dodgers next week in a three-game series and Los Angeles was voted to lose in the World Series to the Orioles.

Twins’ front office executives Derek Falvey and Thad Levine make their annual speaking appearances before the Twin Cities Dunkers April 10. St. Paul native and retired MLB umpire Tim Tschida speaks to the group April 24.

Twins president Dave St. Peter found it “refreshing” how the national media regarded Joe Mauer’s career as a catcher and how that view helped him to be voted into the Hall of Fame in the St. Paul native’s first year of eligibility. “I was pleasantly surprised (at his election),” St. Peter told Sports Headliners.

St. Peter said Mauer was “underappreciated” in Minnesota because of his mega contract, team performance in his later years, injuries and switching positions from catcher to first base. “Those 10 years (catching) really stack up against any catcher that’s ever played the game. I think Joe is getting his due because of that. And that’s really special and I am so excited for him, and I am excited for the Twins. It’s a big deal for our franchise.”

Joe, along with brothers Jake and Billy, will be inducted into the Mancini’s Sports Hall of Fame May 13 at Mancini’s Char House. Others being inducted are Bart and Brad Buetow, Bob Hill, Jerry Kline and Bob Nicosia posthumously. Tony Ruiz will be recognized with a special award for his community work. Charley Walters will emcee with Dick Jonckowski also speaking.

The Gophers’ Mark Crawford, participating in spring practice as he prepares for his final season as the team’s No. 1 punter, is seven years older than Viking punter Ryan Wright. The 30-year-old Australian has lettered four years with the Gophers and was All-Big Honorable Mention last year as selected by the media.

There will be a benefit from 6 to 8 p.m. April 14 at the Cottage Grove Ice Arena in Cottage Grove raising funds to help offset medical costs and living expenses for Cole Basset, a 41-year-old hockey coach and skills instructor for Park High School who is battling a rare form of cancer. Attendees can enjoy skating, a silent auction, food and beverage offerings and more at the event for Basset whose playing career included four years at Minnesota State. His GoFundMe site is https://gofund.me/73da1f8e

The Wild plays a rare pair of matinees Saturday and Sunday, hosting the Jets for a 3 p.m. home game and then playing the Blackhawks in Chicago in a 2:30 p.m. start. The Jets are 3-0 this season against Minnesota, with the Wild dominating the Blackhawks in recent seasons winning 11 consecutive times dating back to 2020.

The Wild stopped a five-game Senators win streak last night with a 3-2 victory behind goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. He is one of two active NHL goalies (Frederik Andersen is the other) to have at least 50 wins while playing for three or more franchises.

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Caitlin Clark Stayed Home, Paige Bueckers Did Not

Posted on March 5, 2024March 5, 2024 by David Shama

Caitlin Clark is playing basketball in Minneapolis in consecutive weeks. How lucky can we be that the phenom who has become an American household name is back in town for the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament after playing last Wednesday night at a sold-out Williams Arena against the Golden Gophers?

Well, darn lucky if you care about seeing the player recognized by many as the GOAT in the women’s college game and recognize the legacy of the Iowa native whose popularity transcends her sport. The Iowa Hawkeyes’ scoring machine is a record setter and trailblazer whose status and achievements enhance Women’s History Month which just happens to be in March.

Iowa is the No. 2 seed in the tournament and will play at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Target Center against the winner of Thursday’s Penn State and Wisconsin game. Clark has led the Hawkeyes to the last two Big Ten Tournament titles.

Over 109,000 fans are expected to watch the five-day tournament that for the first time in 31 years is sold out. The demand for tickets is no coincidence with Clark making her final tournament appearance before turning pro later in the year.

Clark’s appearances in Minneapolis are a reminder this town and state could have lined up in adoration at Williams Arena for our own phenom, Paige Bueckers. Clark, a Des Moines area native, came out of high school at Dowling Catholic in 2020 and headed for the University of Iowa. A five-star prospect, she said no to Notre Dame and other out of state schools.

Bueckers was the No. 1 national recruit in the high school class of 2020, ranked ahead of Clark and everyone else. She came out of Hopkins High School and said no to the hometown Gophers and seemingly never looked back in choosing the blue-blood Connecticut Huskies whose 11 national championships are the most ever in women’s hoops. In Bueckers’ freshman season of 2020-2021 she was the most honored female college basketball player in the country, winning five national Player of the Year awards including the Wooden and Naismith.

The purpose in this space isn’t to criticize Bueckers for not choosing her home state school as Clark did. But she is part of a long line of superb basketball and football players whose college destinations were elsewhere Basketball’s Khalid El-Amin, Cole Aldrich, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Suggs, Matthew Hurt, Gary Trent and the Jones brothers turned down Minnesota. Football can count prep superstars who left the state, too, including Joe Alt, Michael Floyd, Seantrel Henderson, Frank Ragnow, Jaxon Howard, James Laurinaitis, Larry Fitzgerald Jr., Steve Walsh and others.

Talent born, raised and nurtured in the state has too often moved on. A number of factors figure into decision making, but how refreshing if a Minnesota prep phenom said something like this while committing to the Gophers: “You know what? I owe the people in this state something. Think about the support I received that made me who I am.

“That support goes beyond my parents and coaches. I am thankful that communities in the state, including mine, invest in the facilities and programs to help young people reach their potential. I know it takes a lot of time, perseverance, and money to build and maintain the kind of culture we have in our state. I am choosing to be a Gopher because I can grow my career and education at the U, and say thank you Minnesota for making me who I am.”

Kids and their parents are going to make decisions based on what they think is best. This happens all over the country, of course, not just with uber talented Minnesota preps being wooed by a who’s who of college programs. But it’s admirable when home state loyalty plays a prominent role in making a college choice. (See last fall’s decision by Esko’s Koi Perich to play football for the Gophers and the buzz it has created).

Loyalty was important to Clark who also counted Iowa State among her final college choices. At Iowa her dynamic skills have brought national attention unlike any other player in the history of the women’s college game. Is there anyone on American soil who doesn’t know that Sunday she surpassed Pistol Pete Maravich as college basketball’s all-time leading scorer? “She is a pistol in pigtails,” Fox’s Gus Johnson raved on national TV Sunday.

Iowans would have loved Clark even if she chose Notre Dame, UConn or some other destination away from the cornfields. Be assured, though, there is more affection in their hearts because Caitlin stayed home. In an August 2019 story in the Des Moines Register Clark was still undecided about her college choice but said, “…Just staying home and playing in your home state would be a big deal.”

Bueckers grew up a Lindsay Whalen fan, knowing about the former point guard’s accomplishments lifting both the hometown Gophers and Lynx to national glory. Bueckers had a Whalen poster in her bedroom growing up but said no to Whalen after she became the Gophers head coach in 2018.

Who knows what kind of impact Bueckers in a Gopher uniform might have had on the program? She had a pop culture following even in high school, with fans coming to watch her play from not just Minnesota but elsewhere.

Almost assuredly her commitment and presence with the Gophers would have attracted talented teammates. Whalen, who was fired after the 2022-23 season, would likely still be leading the program.

Both Bueckers and Clark are 22-year-old guards who can carry their teams. Clark has shooting range and accuracy never seen before by a woman in the college game. Bueckers can score but throughout her career at Hopkins and UConn she has often preferred to set up others with timely playmaking.

Bueckers once told Sports Headliners that she has a “God-given ability that I know what I am doing, and I see…plays two steps ahead.”

The two superstars have played collegiately in different conferences but met in 2021 in a Sweet 16 tournament game. The Huskies defeated the Hawkeyes, 92-72, as Clark was held to 21 points, about six points below her average. Bueckers had 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for UConn.

Their basketball journeys over the years, including being teammates on the US Under-19 national team, have allowed them to become friends. Despite their extraordinary skills and similarities, neither Clark nor Bueckers has won a NCAA championship yet but their teams have been and remain contenders as top 10 teams in March of 2024.

Bueckers was in Minneapolis two years ago this month playing for the NCAA Tournament title. The Huskies lost the title game to South Carolina, 64-49, after a stellar performance by Bueckers led UConn to a double overtime semifinal win over North Carolina State. In a game for the ages, she scored 27 points including 15 in overtime.

Brian Cosgriff, her high school coach, offered this praise after the semifinal classic: “You could see how Paige was like we’re not going to lose this game. Get on my back. I am going to do what I’ve always done. I am going to carry this team to victory. And that’s what she does.”

Playing in her hometown, Bueckers reminded us how special she could have been for the Gophers. As if we didn’t know.

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