Recruiting – Page 7 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Indiana Hoosier Envy? Go Ahead Big Ten Football Fans

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

The Indiana football team has cast a shadow over much of the Big Ten this fall. The Hoosiers are historically among the most putrid of college football programs but not in 2024 with their 10-0 record, shot at a Big Ten championship and in solid contention for a spot in the 12-team college football playoffs.

Their success stands in contrast to not only the school’s bottom-feeding past but many other Big Ten programs who seldom deliver elite results including top 10 national rankings. Among those programs are the Golden Gophers who ironically won their last conference championship in 1967 when they finished in a three-way tie for the title with the Hoosiers and Purdue. That was Indiana’s last league title, too.

What’s happened at Indiana? The Hoosiers’ surreal success has been fueled by coaching, player transfers, health and scheduling. Those are the reasons the Hoosiers are a lofty No. 5 in the Associated Press national college football rankings.

First-year head coach Curt Cignetti, 63, is extraordinary. The college football world is seeing what others observed when Cignetti was on a smaller stage at places like James Madison. He is a football savvy, confident, demanding, ambitious and determined leader who refuses to accept the expected and knows how to deliver the results he wants.

Cignetti and his staff have taught their players to execute assignments with consistency and at a high level. Mistakes, including turnovers, are minimum. The Hoosiers also play with purpose and robust energy. They sometimes also play with an edge in strategy provided by their coaches, including when they successfully disguise the pre-snap intentions of their defensive linemen.

Coaches, of course, no matter how gifted, can’t win without talent. The Hoosiers, although not loaded with four and five-star recruits, have players who are physically and mentally able to perform at a high level in their systems. Offense, defense and special teams, it’s evident that the Indiana coaching staff found players who fit what they demand.

Indiana has 28 players who transferred into the program for the 2024 season, per 247Sports last week. Many of them are key contributors and came from a lower level of college football including James Madison where the Cignetti-led Dukes of 2023 went 11-2. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who was at Ohio U, is the marquee transfer name and is even a dark horse candidate to win the Heisman Trophy.

Rourke, who is one of the few Hoosiers likely to be drafted by an NFL team next spring, hurt his right thumb in the October 19 Nebraska game. He missed the second half of the game, and the following week was out against Washington. In Rourke’s absences the do no wrong Hoosiers didn’t flinch behind the play of backup quarterback Tayven Jackson.

After surgery, Rourke came back to help keep the Hoosiers’ Hollywood story rolling. His injury is one of the few significant ones sustained by the Hoosiers. The team lost left guard Drew Evans last week for the season due to an Achilles injury, but the roster has been remarkably healthy. Player availability, or durability as coaching legend Bud Grant used to say, is so significant in determining outcomes of games and Indiana has been fortunate.

Fortunate, too, has been the schedule that included nonconference cream puffs Charlotte, FIU and Western Illinois. The Hoosiers play No. 2 ranked Ohio State in Columbus on November 23 but overall their Big Ten schedule has been friendly. They don’t play the league’s two other top teams, undefeated Oregon, ranked No. 1 in the nation by the A.P., and once beaten Penn State, ranked No. 4.

But give the Hoosiers credit for manhandling most of their opposition. Until last Saturday’s 20-15 win over defending national champion Michigan, Indiana’s narrowest victories were a pair of 14-point triumphs over Maryland and Washington.

Indiana’s record last season under Tom Allen was 3-9 overall, 1-8 in conference games. The Hoosiers’ success is the best story in college football this fall but it’s not the only one of “Davids” rising up against “Goliaths.”

Vanderbilt is a graveyard for college football but has commanded respect this fall with its 6-4 record including an upset of then No. 1 ranked Alabama on October 10. The Vandy revival is led by quarterback Diego Pavia, a transfer from New Mexico State who happened to land in Nashville along with Jerry Kill who is a senior advisor and chief consultant to head coach Clark Lea.

Colorado, nationally ranked and 7-2 on the season, has been transformed from one of the nation’s worst programs by coach Deion Sanders’ obsession with the transfer portal. The 2024 Buffs have a nation-leading 49 transfers, per On3.com.

The transfer portal has brought more parity to college football. Immediate eligibility at a new school is appealing to players who might be sitting on the bench at a traditional powerhouse school, or players who want to try competing at the Power Four level.

The portal brought Max Brosmer to Minnesota after his All-American quarterback career at New Hampshire. Brosmer’s performance this fall has him in the discussion of the better quarterbacks in Gopher history. And he’s not alone on the list of Minnesota transfer contributors including defensive back Jack Henderson, cornerback Ethan Robinson, running back Marcus Major and wide receiver Elijah Spencer.

Revenue sharing with players is on the horizon, likely to come next year. Speculation is Power Four schools will have budgets to pay players in the range of $20 million. A chance to play right away via the portal and make more money will give the Indianas and Minnesotas an opportunity to acquire talent that was unlikely years ago. (And traditional have nots who can provide significant Name, Image and Likeness rewards for players will only strengthen their ability to recruit personnel.)

A jump in collegiate football parity has arrived and should continue indefinitely. The Big Ten football standings show that. The Gophers, 4-3 in league games, sit in a traffic jam with 10 other teams that have three or four losses.

Minnesota, winners of four straight before a disappointing loss at Rutgers last Saturday, has two games remaining and a muddled outlook regarding a bowl destination. Fans cringe at the thought of returning to Detroit but in the unpredictable world of college football something better may await including Charlotte, Nashville or Florida.

Indiana has certainly proven how wacky things are. Upon arrival in Bloomington after being hired, Cignetti boldly listed a few programs that suck, including Michigan. The Wolverines may have used that as motivational bulletin board material last week but once again the clock didn’t strike midnight for the “Cinderella Hoosiers.”

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Koi Perich ‘Big Fan of NIL,’ Will be Endorsing Gushers

Posted on October 29, 2024October 29, 2024 by David Shama

Koi Perich, the Gophers freshman phenom, is going to be working with General Mills and promoting Gushers as part of his Name, Image and Likeness activities that include clothing. https://athletesthread.com/collections/koi-perich

Blake Baratz, the Minneapolis-based sports agent, told KFAN’s Paul Allen yesterday morning that Perich has “something coming up with General Mills and Gushers.” He didn’t provide details about Perich’s endorsement of the fruit-flavored snack.

Perich, whose football success as a true freshman has drawn national attention, was also on Allen’s program and talked about multiple subjects including NIL that allows college athletes to be compensated for various roles including endorsing products and personal appearances. “I am a big fan of NIL,” Perich said. “I don’t have a lot to say on it, but, yeah, anything that can help me, and I’ll use anything I can…to help other people. That’s a big thing and awesome what they’re doing with it.”

NIL played a role in the 19-year-old Perich wanting to become a Gopher. He and those around him know that with his performance on the field, likeable personality and Esko, Minnesota roots, the opportunities with NIL can keep growing.

With his generational talent, Perich could enrich himself more at some other schools, but he expressed his confidence in head coach P.J. Fleck and the Gopher program yesterday. “I feel like in the next couple of years we’re just going to keep improving and improving, and it’s going to be really fun,” he said.

Before Perich left the KFAN studios Fleck joined Allen as he normally does on Monday mornings. The host teased that it was “student show” day and someone with the initials “K.P.” had a question for the coach.

The student asked: “Why don’t you blitz your safeties more?”

Not sure if the ultra-competitive Perich, who is confident he can do a lot of things on the football field, was serious or teasing, but Fleck kind of poked back with this answer:

“If you don’t like catching interceptions, I can blitz you a little bit more. You’re not going to be on KFAN as much (without those interceptions).”

At that point, Perich was like, Row the Boat. Whatever for the team.

Perich has been impressive returning punts for the Gophers but it’s been his interceptions from the safety position that have led to honors. He leads the Big Ten with five interceptions including two that closed out wins over USC and UCLA. He has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week and the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Week.

Koi Perich photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Before Perich’s career is over at Minnesota, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him have a role on offense, perhaps as a receiver with limited snaps. “I can play a lot of positions,” Perich said on KFAN. “That’s what I’ve done my whole life. I feel any time, any position they put me there I can play it. It will just take me a little time and I can master it.”

Fleck admires the focus and commitment of how Perich lives his life. …”You’re talking about a kid, whatever he does, he is fully committed. He’s no nonsense. He just wants to compete and be fully committed and help make teams better. …

“He’s only been on campus for about five months, so he’s got a long career ahead of him. And a lot of work to do and he’ll just keep doing it better.”

Baratz’s company, IFA, represents other Gophers, too, including sophomore running back Darius Taylor. He burst on the scene last year as one of the nation’s premier runners. His emergence also prompted Fleck to say about 12 months ago the Gophers could lose players to other schools without NIL support from the public and the program would deteriorate.

Asked about where NIL is now, Fleck said this at his news conference yesterday: “It’s always a work in progress. It always will be. Always has been.

“We’ve had some very generous donors step up big time for us, and continue to do and work with Dinkytown Athletes and the collective. It’s really special to see what these people are doing for our student-athletes. I think everybody sees the importance of it. …That goes a long, long way in building football programs in 2024 and beyond.

“I’m really excited about where we are and the progress we continue to make every single day. The job of the head football coach is even more important now in fundraising. Not just for facilities and stuff, but for your student-athletes and getting out there and making sure people are really, really aware of what’s going on in college football. …So, I think people are really becoming more aware of it, especially our fans, our donors, our boosters, our supporters. And I can’t thank them enough. …”

NIL isn’t going away, even as revenue sharing with college athletes waits in the wings. It’s believed the Gophers football team has at least two players earning six-figures in NIL income. That number will increase and will be made possible by more individuals and businesses in the state supporting NIL for football and the other 21 sports at the University of Minnesota.

Dinkytown Athletes, the official NIL collective of Gopher athletics, recently announced a “million-dollar match campaign.” Mark Pearson’s Twin Cities-based financial services company, Nepsis, is matching dollar for dollar donations, new memberships or upgraded memberships to DA through November 10. The proceeds will go to Gopher football and volleyball.

Worth Noting

The Gophers have answered critics of their game management this fall. In the UCLA game Minnesota was trailing 17-14 with 2:20 remaining. The Gophers went on a scoring drive that ended with 27 seconds left in the game for a 21-17 win.

Against Maryland the Gophers got the ball on their 35-yard line with 28 seconds remaining in the first half. In six plays they moved down the field to kick a field goal with two seconds left in the second quarter boosting Minnesota’s lead to 34-13.

Gopher quarterback Max Brosmer was named the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Week yesterday for his performance against Maryland, a 48-23 win. Brosmer completed 26-of-33 passes (78.8 percent) for season-highs of 320 yards and four touchdowns.

The Gophers are surprisingly about 3-point favorites to win at Illinois Saturday. That would not only make Minnesota 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten games, but also end a 0-10 record against head coach Bret Bielema (3-0 as with the Illini,, before that 7-0 at Wisconsin). The Illini are No. 24 in the AP national rankings, and are 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten games.

Fleck wasn’t biting yesterday when asked what a win over Bielema and a bowl eligibility sixth win would mean for his team.

“This is going to bore you—1-0 (winning the game). It’s all we’re worried about. I have a lot of respect for coach Bielema and what he does. He always has a hard, smashed mouth, tough football team. No matter where he was, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Illinois. It’s his DNA. We gotta play our best football, playing a ranked opponent on the road. We gotta DIB, man. Do it better.”

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Don’t Bet on Long Term Sam Darnold Run with Vikings

Posted on October 15, 2024October 15, 2024 by David Shama

What’s that phrase, Vikings fans?

“Here today, gone tomorrow.”

Does that fit the future for quarterback Sam Darnold?

Darnold, on a one-year deal reportedly paying him up to about $10 million, is a golden boy in this town for his role in helping the Vikings to a stunning 5-0 start to the season. Although he didn’t dazzle in his last start (October 6 against the Jets before the team’s bye week), the 27-year-old journeyman has pumped new life into his career and a Vikings team that was expected to struggle and not make the playoffs.

Darnold’s early season production led to being named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. He led the Vikings to their first 4-0 start since 2016. On the morning of October 3, he had completed 73-of-106 for 932 passing yards and 11 touchdowns in four games in September. He led the NFL in touchdown passes, percentage of touchdowns thrown per attempt (10.4%) and passer rating (118.9).

However, it’s questionable the Vikings, who have an NFC North Division showdown against the 4-1 Lions in Minneapolis Sunday, are interested in Darnold beyond this year. On the extreme of developments, that interest likely changes if Minnesota goes to and wins the Super Bowl in February in New Orleans.

J.J. McCarthy, injured and out for the season, will be ready in 2025. The Vikings’ No. 1 draft pick last April has yet to play in a regular season game but during the spring and summer he did a lot to impress head coach Kevin O’Connell.

O’Connell is a gifted quarterback developer who has had plenty to do with Darnold’s emergence. It was no accident how he referred to McCarthy around the time of the rookie’s right knee meniscus surgery:

“As our fans either have already come to find out or will in the future, this guy is so motivated and so dialed in. As excited as I was to draft him, he’s confirmed everything that I hope to see not only early on through training camp, but through his performance last Saturday (August 10 preseason opening game). Our fan base and everyone should just be excited about the fact that we’ve got our young franchise quarterback, I believe, in the building.”

“Franchise quarterback” says a lot.

Sam Darnold image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

Not only do the Vikings believe in McCarthy’s talent but they know he is six years younger than Darnold and much less expensive. McCarthy, per Spotrac.com, will earn a base salary of $960,000 in 2025. If the Vikings have a big season in 2024 (they can even go 7-5 in their remaining games for a final record of 12-5), Darnold will play a significant role in their success and be positioned to command a huge pay raise from some team as a 2025 free agent.

The 15 top paid NFL quarterbacks this fall, according to Front Office Sports and USA Today, all earn $40 million or more. It could be a lock that Darnold, who at this stage of his career must capitalize on a first-ever breakout season, can demand and secure at least $30 million to $40 million for multiple years.

The Vikings will have significant salary cap space in 2025, but do they want to commit a large portion to Darnold, given his age, lack of success with other teams and McCarthy waiting on the bench? Probably not, with the front office wanting to use money in 2025 and beyond to strengthen other positions while knowing they already have some of the NFL’s more expensive talent including wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

Darnold and his representatives, if not wanted here, will no doubt prefer a new team with similar resources to those in Minneapolis. That includes a coaching staff of exceptional teachers and play callers, and a group of talented receivers.

Hard to say where Darnold might land but the Rams could be ideal if 36-year-old QB Matthew Stafford decides to retire. He has made a lot of money, taken a lot of hits and has a Super Bowl ring. Head coach and QB whisperer Sean McVay, only 38, coached that Super Bowl team in 2022 with O’Connell as his offensive coordinator. If Darnold couldn’t play for the Vikings, McVay and the Rams with their gifted receivers, would be choice 1B.

U Football Recruiting Home Base Ranks Low in Big Ten

In the 247Sports composite college football recruiting rankings for the class of 2025, the Golden Gophers are in familiar territory. Minnesota, with 23 verbal commitments, is ranked No. 45, with 11 other Big Ten programs listed ahead of Minnesota including five in the top 15.

Having recruiting classes ranked in the upper 30s or in the 40s is common for the Gophers. College football recruiting authority Ryan Burns, who is based in Minnesota, was asked how fans should feel about the reality of University of Minnesota recruiting.

“I am not going to tell anybody how to feel. I just think it’s the reality of your recruiting base (state of Minnesota)…which in this in-state class doesn’t have a single four-star in it.

“You look at the state of New Jersey, for example. New Jersey has 20-plus kids that are higher rated than Minnesota’s top rated kid in the state. This recruiting base is not good. I continue to say they and Oregon are the two worst in the Big Ten and Oregon can buy whoever they want because they have Phil Knight’s money.

“So it’s kind of the reality of where they’re at, especially when you’re not winning consistently like they haven’t been here now for a couple of years. You kind of reap what you sew at that point.”

With the 2024 expansion of the Big Ten Conference, the league now has 18 schools. The arrival of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington means more programs to recruit against but also opens up recruiting opportunities in the talent rich state of California.

The golden state has been more on Minnesota’s recruiting radar of late, in part because the Gophers are expected to play one game on the West Coast in coming seasons. “You can sell them (recruits on) once a year we’re going to go back to where you’re from,” Burns told Sports Headliners.

It doesn’t go unnoticed that on the last two football Saturdays the Gophers have defeated USC and UCLA. The most recent victory was in Pasadena and Fleck, with his team having a bye on the schedule this week, is spending time recruiting in California this week.

Minnesota currently has three Californians among their verbal commits. “Without the Big Ten expansion, I don’t think Minnesota has anywhere near as close to as many commits as they have from the Pacific time zone,” Burns said.

The headliner of the recruiting class is quarterback Jackson Kollock from Laguna Beach who is a near four-star composite prospect. “His team in Laguna Beach is undefeated but a lot of it is because of Jackson Kollock,” Burns said. “Doesn’t have the greatest offensive line or pass catchers.

“I think he’s the most athletic quarterback you’ve seen (offensive coordinator Greg) Harbaugh recruit. He’s certainly more athletic than (present Gophers) Max Brosmer or Drake Lindsey. I don’t know if they will do too much with him in the run game, but he certainly has the athleticism to move.”

Kollock was committed to Washington until after last season’s playoffs when head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb left the Huskies. DeBoer is now head coach at Alabama and Grubb is the NFL Seahawks offensive coordinator. It’s a tribute to Kollock’s talent and potential those offensive gurus pursued him.

Daniel Shipp is a three-star recruit from Corona, California. “I am really a big fan of Daniel Shipp, who is their offensive line commit from Centennial High School out there in California,” Burns said.

“They took a chance on him as someone who tore his knee and missed most of his junior season. His early senior film has been pretty good, and they need tackle bodies in this program.”

The third California recruit is an exceptional wide receiver and another three-star player. “Someone from the all-name team, Legend Lyons, has been very prolific out there at Charter Oaks (Covina),” Burns said. He describes Lyons as ”a receiver who can really catch the football, which is something that this program needs.”

Verbal pledges can change but Burns believes their commitments are “solid” to Minnesota. “I am a big fan of those three guys out there.”

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