Recruiting – Page 4 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Advantage & Disadvantages: Vikes Face former QB Darnold

Posted on November 25, 2025November 25, 2025 by David Shama

Enjoy a Tuesday notes column.

The Vikings face their 2024 starting quarterback in Seattle on Sunday. The Seahawks’ Sam Darnold is sixth in the NFL in total passing yards with 2,785 and No.1 among starting quarterbacks at 9.4 yards per attempt.

The 4-7 Vikings, beleaguered by a quarterback merry-go-round, will have better insight into defending Darnold than other rivals because of his year in Minnesota. Darnold is one of the few NFL quarterbacks with double figure interceptions this season. His 10 are part of a career pattern of interceptions and fumbles (five this year).

If the blitz-happy Vikings defense can have one of its best days, they can make Darnold feel uncomfortable and prompt mistakes. That will be a challenge because Darnold’s play for the 8-3 Seahawks has been mostly outstanding.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was asked yesterday about the Vikings having an advantage in knowing so much about Darnold and also the quarterback’s advantage in knowing Minnesota’s defensive schemes and personnel. He acknowledged there will be a “little of that probably on both sides.”

He didn’t reveal any secrets about how Darnold might exploit his defense but did praise his former leader. He said Darnold can make every throw “and if we’re not airtight in our coverages, they’ll be explosive.”

Superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson has been visibly frustrated this fall. An interesting stat is in the last 14 games (11 this season) he has only two receptions for touchdowns.

The Gophers defeated Nebraska 24-6 on October 17 at Huntington Bank Stadium. It was a crisp performance and widely regarded as the best game Minnesota has played this season. Since then, they have defeated 3-8 Michigan State in overtime at home, and lost road games to Iowa, Oregon and Northwestern by a combined score of 121-51.

The fanbase has wondered why Minnesota hasn’t been able to build off that Nebraska performance. “…I thought we played tremendous against Nebraska,” head coach P.J. Fleck said Monday. “But if everybody just played their absolute best and played like that every week, everybody would be 10-11 wins. That’s not realistic.”

Fleck referred to some quality opponents since the Nebraska showcase and said injuries, inexperienced players and coaching go into the explanation of how the Gophers have performed more recently.

Minnesota lost last Saturday 38-35 to Northwestern. Trailing late in the game by three points, the Gophers had an opportunity to score the winning touchdown. Two passes that debatably could have been called pass interference didn’t draw penalties. Fleck was asked if he believes coaches in the Big Ten have a clear criterion as to what constitutes pass interference.

“…I think that’s the element of the game that will never be perfect. Just like coaching will never be perfect, and the players will never be perfect, but it’s part of the game and you’ve got to overcome. Whether you agree or disagree, whether it is or it isn’t (pass interference), you have to overcome those things, and you can’t rely on that to be the reason you win or lose.”

Malachi Coleman, the 6-5 and 200-pound wide receiver transfer from Nebraska, played sparingly early in the season but is seeing the field more now including at Northwestern where the redshirt sophomore was targeted twice and had a 52-yard reception. Fleck referred to him as a young and inexperienced talent who is a “very big receiver who can run, who can stretch the field vertically.”

Fleck, who was hired when he was 36, turns 45 next Saturday—the same day his team plays Wisconsin at Huntington Bank Stadium.

With the early signing period for high school and juco football players starting on December 3, the Gophers could be positioned to have their highest rated recruiting class of the Fleck era. Minnesota is No. 24 in the 247Sports national team composite recruiting rankings.

A recruiting insider said Triton High School tight end Pierce Petersohn, one of this state’s most coveted senior players, will sign with Virginia Tech and its new coach James Franklin. Petersohn was committed to Penn State before Franklin was fired as Nittany Lions head coach.

Quarterback Troy Huhn from San Marcos, California, who ESPN reported was interested in the Gophers, will also go to Virginia Tech, per the insider.

Good news for Minnesota snowbirds in southwest Florida who head for home by the end of February. MLB teams, including the Twins, are starting spring training games earlier than in the past. The Twins open with a February 20 exhibition against the Gophers at the Lee Health Complex and have a total of five home games in February.

Prices haven’t been announced but it’s likely a ticket will cost four-figures to watch the Twins host the Phillies on August 13 for the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa.

The Twins ownership and management could boost their image and the club’s offense by signing free agent first baseman Luis Arraez, the former Twin and three-time batting champion. Would the 28-year-old think about a one-year deal at $18 million?

Starting pitcher Joe Ryan was a steal for the Twins last season at a reported $3 million. He will be a bargain, too, in 2026. Following arbitration, he could be awarded about $6 million for the season.

Gophers public address announcer Dick Jonckowski was told by his doctor earlier this month he is cancer free and doesn’t need to be checked again for 12 months.

When Minneota won the Class 1A state football championship last week, it was the school’s 11th title. Coach Chad Johnston has won the last eight state championships. Gary Meidt won the three earlier titles.

Owen Konrad, who led Eden Prairie in rushing this fall as a sophomore, should be one of the better running backs in the state next season.

The 5-3 St. Thomas men’s basketball team has been mostly on the road to start the season, having played only two home games at the new Lee and Penny Anderson Arena, drawing announced attendances of 5,325 (capacity crowd) for the opener and 2,658 for the second game.

Ken Patera, who was a prominent wrestler years ago in the Minneapolis-based American Wrestling Association, turned 82 earlier this month

Among the Minnesota teams and athletes doing good work in the community this week is the Wild’s celebration of Native American Heritage Day on Friday when the club hosts the Colorado Avalanche at 2:30 p.m. at Grand Casino Arena. New or gently used winter coats will be collected at Gates 1-5 from 11:30 a.m. until the game starts. The Roseville-based American Indian Family Center will distribute coats to the families they serve in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

1 comment

Vikings & Rodgers Meet Sunday After Off-Season Flirtation

Posted on September 22, 2025September 23, 2025 by David Shama

Enjoy a Monday notes column.

It looks like a soap opera season regarding the Vikings quarterback position after journeyman Carson Wentz was more than serviceable yesterday in subbing for injured first-year QB J.J. McCarthy. Wentz, starting for his sixth NFL team in six consecutive years, looked settled in the pocket and threw two touchdown passes while completing 14 of 20 throws in Minnesota’s 48-10 win.

Wentz’s poise, decision making and performance contrasted to the mostly skittish play of the 22-year-old McCarthy in the team’s first two games. His high ankle sprain perhaps will keep him sidelined until after the team’s next two games in Europe and bye week of October 12.

Since the 2-1 Vikings passed on veteran options during the past offseason to anoint McCarthy with the job, it will be interesting to see if head coach Kevin O’Connell puts Wentz back on the bench upon McCarthy’s return to the active roster. Does that happen even if the Vikings defeat the Steelers in Dublin next Sunday and take down the Browns the following Sunday in London?

Ironically, the Vikings face future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Dublin. The not so well known truth is there was considerable mutual interest between the Vikings and Rodgers during the offseason about having him play for Minnesota in 2025.

It’s believed Rodgers would have preferred Minneapolis to Pittsburgh. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, ownership and O’Connell looked at the possibility but in the end the coach apparently decided McCarthy was his first choice.

That decision could end up being highly supported or criticized. Same with an October decision to either continue on with Wentz or bench him upon McCarthy’s return. Remember, too, the Vikings had off-season options to retain 2024 star Sam Darnold or even turn to 2024 late season acquisition Daniel Jones, another veteran with a career of mixed results.

“As the World Turns on the Purple Quarterback Stage.”

Rodgers, 41, had two touchdown passes in the (2-1) Steelers’ 21-14 win at New England yesterday. He has 510 career regular-season touchdown passes and has surpassed Brett Favre (508 touchdown passes) for the fourth-most in NFL history.

O’Connell said after the thorough beat down of the Bengals he was pleased with the response of his team after losing the previous game to the Falcons. He’s impressed with the leadership on the team.

“…It’s not just our eight captains. We’ve got nearly 30 players (who) received votes to be captains this year, and I can name player after player that showed up today and were phenomenal for their team, and just so proud of those guys.”

Credit Minneapolis attorney and sports historian Marshall Tanick with asking the question about who was the last University of Minnesota former quarterback to play in a regular season NFL game prior to yesterday. On Sunday Max Brosmer entered the Viking game in the fourth quarter and became the first former Gopher to do that since Cory Sauter. Playing for the Bears in the 2002 regular season finale, the Hutchinson native completed 6 of 9 passes for 59 yards in the game.

Star wide receiver Jordan Addison returns for the Steeler game after serving a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He had 885 receiving yards last season, second on the team to superstar WR Justin Jefferson.

Yesterday showed how topsy-turvy the NFL can be. The Bengals, now 2-1, lost their first game of the season while the Vikings made up for a poor performance in Week Two against the Falcons who struggled so much yesterday against the Panthers that starter Michael Penix, Jr. was benched and Atlanta fell to Carolina, 30-0. The Packers, after two games almost coronated as Super Bowl champs, were upset by the lowly 1-2 Browns in Cleveland.

The Gophers, 2-1, have almost a must win on Saturday at home against 3-1 Rutgers. Minnesota needs a win to keep hopes in place of having an above .500 season and quality bowl invitation.

Athan Kaliakmanis, the former Gopher starting quarterback, looks much improved in his second season leading Rutgers. He is second in Big Ten passing yards with 1,150 (USC’s Jayden Maiava is first with 1,223). Kaliakmanis was on target throwing the ball for a while in a 38-28 loss to Iowa last week, but his production fell off in the second half as the Hawkeyes defended him with more pressure.

Kaliakmanis departed the Gophers after a so-so 2023 season. Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck was asked today about his emotions regarding his former starter going into this week.

“Listen, this is Rutgers versus Minnesota. I got a lot of respect for what they do and how they do it. He’s playing really well in his fifth year in that type of same system. You’d expect to see that type of growth that he has shown, and has played in. He’s playing at a high level.”

The Gophers men’s basketball team opened fall practice today at Williams Arena where coach Niko Medved expects his team will hold workouts a couple times per week. Cal transfer B.J. Omot, a Mankato native, will be available for practice after late spring surgery for a leg issue. Omot, a 6-8 redshirt junior forward, figures into what Medved predicts will be a nine-man rotation in games for the Gophers.

Redshirt 6-3 junior guard Chance Stephens, the transfer from Maryland, has been dealing with an illness and Medved said today “he has not been able to do anything yet.” The coach said Stephens’ return plan is uncertain.

Max Gizzi, the fifth year transfer 6-1 guard from NAIA Huntington University, impressed Medved during the summer but then broke his foot. The coach estimated another six weeks or so before he returns to practice.

Guard Isaac Asuma, from Cherry, Minnesota, had extensive playing experience last season and Medved gushed about him. Not only is the 6-3 guard talented but is “just an exceptional dude” with his personality and attitude.

The Gophers have an exhibition opener at home October 16 against North Dakota State. The first game is also at home, November 3 against Gardner-Webb.

Medved’s 2026 high school recruiting class of verbal recruits is ranked No. 6 in the nation by 247Sports. He is “pretty happy” with the three-player class but said “potentially one more” recruit could be added.

Tim Connelly, president of basketball operations for the Timberwolves, speaks to the Capital Club on October 4 at Mendakota Country Club. More information about the club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

Publicity ramps up on the Timberwolves next week with the team holding Media Day next Monday.

The Wild is making a number of training camp practices at TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center in St. Paul open to the public. Fans need to register at http://wild.com/openpractices to attend an open practice.

Comments Welcome

Vikings Grind But Show They’re Who We Thought They Were

Posted on September 9, 2025September 9, 2025 by David Shama

Enjoy a Tuesday notes column.

The Vikings substantiated their preseason label as an NFL playoff contender last night in a come from behind 27-24 season opening win over the Bears in Chicago. This looks like a top 12 team that will challenge the Packers and Lions for the NFC North Division title.

It could have been a different outlook today if first-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy and the offense hadn’t rallied in the fourth quarter after trailing 17-6 following three periods. McCarthy produced three final quarter scores with two touchdown passes and a TD run.

After the game head coach Kevin O’Connell, speaking to ESPN, said that at halftime he told his 22-year-old quarterback the Vikings were going to win. Minnesota was trailing 10-6 at the half having endured too many three and outs and failed plays.

McCarthy, though, was a leader even when things weren’t going well. On the sidelines he was interacting with his offensive teammates. Asked after the game by ESPN what he told his teammates, he said the message was “we gotta believe.”

While McCarthy received the headlines last night, the offensive line, providing protection and opening holes for the running game, was vital to the comeback. The rebuilt line with newcomers Will Fries, Donovan Jackson and Ryan Kelly gave notice they can be an upgrade from last season and a strength of this year’s team. And they played last night without standout left tackle Christian Darrisaw, with sub Justin Skule struggling at times.

The Vikings offense looked rusty for much of the game, including McCarthy. The unit hardly played in preseason games and left O’Connell open to second guessing if last night had been a disaster.

But the offense sharpened, the defense was mostly its stingy self with impact plays by such performers as newcomers Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave who caused problems for the Bears on the line of scrimmage. And place kicker Will Reichard was money as usual, making two field goals including one from 59 yards out.

With the offense coming around to meld with other strengths of the team, and winnable games at home coming up against the Falcons and Bengals, the Vikings look like who we thought they are (to paraphrase the late Denny Green.)

BTW: McCarthy became the first starting quarterback to overcome a 10-point fourth deficit to win in his NFL debut since Steve Young (1985). On Sunday night against the Falcons, he can become the first QB since 1970 to have his first two career starts be primetime games (7 p.m. EDT or later) and win both.

Among Vikings fans at the game was Minneapolis attorney Marshall Tanick. He attended the franchise’s first game ever, in 1961, also against the Bears. He might be the only person who can lay claim to being at both the 1961 and 2025 games.

There’s a rumor that the Wilfs are interested in becoming minority owners of the Twins. The family already holds ownership in the Vikings and the Orlando men’s and women’s pro soccer teams.

Sports Headliners is told Minnesota businessman and Twins fan Marty Davis is definitely not interested in being a minority owner.

The Golden Gophers, about a two-point favorite to defeat the California Golden Bears in Berkeley Saturday night, face their first game of the season against a Power Four opponent, and also first road test.

Of interest, too, is the 9:30 p.m. West Coast kickoff time. Sports Headliners is told the Gophers will fly to California on Friday, rather than earlier in the week, to allow more days to address the time change. Apparently, coach P.J. Fleck’s experience is that the best approach is to get in and get out quickly including departure for Minneapolis after the game.

It looks like status on whether star running back Darius Taylor (injured in last Saturday’s game) will play at Cal won’t be known until Minnesota’s availability report comes out Saturday night. Taylor has a history of hamstring trouble.

Two of the Gophers’ most highly ranked verbal commits for the recruiting class of 2026, Howie Johnson and Andrew Trout, attended last Saturday’s 66-0 win over Northwestern State. In 247 Sports rankings of recruits, Johnson, a defensive lineman from Forest Lake, and Trout, an offensive lineman from Rocori, are second and third only to Roman Voss from Jackson County Central.

Eli Diane, the defensive lineman from Wayzata High School, is a verbal commitment for the class of 2027 and also attended the game. 247 ranks Johnson, Trout, Voss and Diane as four-star recruits.

247 ranks the 2026 Gopher class, with 23 verbal commitments, No. 29 in the nation. Local recruiting authority Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners he believes the class is pretty much set as the early National Signing Day awaits in December. He added that “while they’re pretty good where they’re at right now,” watching senior season tape on prep players could prompt additions to the class.

Burns also said he knows the Gophers would “love” to get a verbal commit from class of 2027 Shakopee linebacker Blake Betton who has offers from Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin. Betton grew up a Gopher but wants to “go through the recruiting process,” per Burns.

The quality of the 2026 class is evident, and a factor Burns believes is impacting recruiting success is Minnesota’s placement of NFL players. Six players, three drafted and three free agents from last year’s team, are in the NFL. “Not many (college) teams can say that,” Burns said.

Many additional former Gophers players from the Fleck era are in the NFL, too. That, plus winning seasons in four of the last six years, helps attract high school talent, Burns added.

Annika Sorenstam, the women’s golf legend who spoke to the Twin Cities Dunkers yesterday at Interlachen Country Club, is part of a legacy of women who have spoken to the club during its storied history. The first female speaker was Minneapolis golf trailblazer Patty Berg who addressed the then Minneapolis Dunkers in 1951.

Sorenstam played at Interlachen in the 2008 U.S. Open. It was her final major tournament before retirement. On the last hole she recorded an eagle on the 18^th hole par five with a 199-yard six iron shot fueling the signature finish to her famous career.

The ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M is being played this week at the Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo. The tournament was founded by the ANNIKA Foundation in 2014. The 54-hole stroke play event is held each year at the Royal Golf Club and the tourney features 12 of the top Division I women’s programs in the country.

Former Gophers basketball player Jamal Abu-Shamala, now a first vice president at UBS, has been recognized by Forbes on its Best in State Wealth Advisors List of the top financial advisors across America.

Comments Welcome