Recruiting – Page 80 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U Coordinator Raves about WR Recruits

Posted on April 14, 2014April 14, 2014 by David Shama

The statistics make a point.

Last season the Gophers had only 12 touchdown receptions in 13 games. Five were caught by redshirt freshman tight end Maxx Williams, and five more came from senior wide receiver Derrick Engel. Freshman wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky and junior tight end Drew Goodger each caught a touchdown pass.

The 2013 Gophers were last in the Big Ten Conference in touchdown passes. Not only that but Engel has used up his eligibility, leaving Minnesota with one wide receiver, Wolitarsky, who caught a touchdown pass last season. As the Gophers went through their spring practices, offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover watched the returning wide receivers and saw improvement—although none of them caught more than two passes or had long gains in the annual spring game on Saturday.

Competition makes players better and not only do the Gophers returnees have each other to face but they’re aware of three freshman wide receivers who will join the team next season—Melvin Holland, Isaiah Gentry and Conner Krizancic.

“I think our receivers know we recruited three phenomenal freshmen,” Limegrover told Sports Headliners in late March. “Those kids are going to be able to come in and compete right away.

“Those guys who are here understand they have an advantage because they’re here and they’re getting those reps and doing those things. …I’ve seen them take a step up as far as how they’re trying to approach things and what they’re (supposed) to do now because they know some young guys are gonna come and be pushing them.”

Holland is from Ashburn, Virginia, Gentry from Cincinnati and Krizancic is from Mentor, Ohio. Limegrover believes their commitment to attend Minnesota represents a recruiting milestone for the Gophers.

“We’re really, really fortunate,” Limegrover said. “Those are guys that in the past wouldn’t have made their way to Minnesota—that (would) have gotten gobbled up by somebody else and we would have been left trying to find the scraps at the bottom of the heap. The stars aligned for us recruiting those three kids and we’re pretty excited about them.”

Limegrover has been an assistant coach for Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill for 15 years. He admits being as excited about Holland, Gentry and Krizancic as any recruits he’s been involved with.

“Yeah, you know why? Because they were all three kids that when we looked at them we said, ‘These are legit guys that can come in and they can make us a different offense as soon as we can get them up to speed. As soon as they can get themselves on the field.’ …”

The Gophers want to improve their 2013 scoring offense of 25.7 points per game, second to last in the Big Ten. Minnesota’s total offense of 343.3 yards per game also ranked 11^th in the 12 team Big Ten. Whether it’s the quarterback position, wide receivers, tight ends, or running backs, the offense is being targeted for improvement in 2014.

“We need more playmakers,” Limegrover said. “We need more guys that can threaten opponents in a lot of ways.”

Any offense starts with the quarterback. Philip Nelson, who threw nine of the 12 touchdown passes last season, has transferred to Rutgers leaving Mitch Leidner as the No. 1 QB.

Leidner, a redshirt sophomore next fall, threw three touchdown passes last season. He was a part-time starter but that experience is valuable while none of the quarterbacks behind him has ever played in a game for the Gophers. Limegrover feels “good about the group of guys” he has but admits not having the experience of Nelson, who was a starter for two seasons, presents a challenge.

“It would be great (to have him) but nobody on our staff begrudges Philip because he had to make a decision that was best for him,” Limegrover said. “We all understand that and we wish him all the best. Of course you feel a little better having more experienced guys at every position, but at the same time you also want guys that want to be there. …”

Worth Noting

Ra’Shede Hageman’s Washburn High School football coach, Giovan Jenkins, will be among his guests at the NFL Draft in New York on May 8. Hageman, the former Gopher defensive lineman, could be selected in the first round. The NFL covers expenses for up to five guests of a high potential draft choice, Jenkins told Sports Headliners.

Expect an announcement today or later this week that Adam Weber will be joining a Canadian Football League team. The former Gophers quarterback has been unable to receive a commitment from the NFL including this spring with the Bears and he told Sports Headliners he’s headed to Canada but wouldn’t identify the team yet. “I just want to play,” he said.

Ex-Gopher tight end Matt Spaeth, now with the Steelers, was in Minneapolis the last few days. Gophers coach Jerry Kill invited Spaeth to attend team meetings. “He’s awesome,” Spaeth said of Kill.

During Saturday’s Gophers spring intrasquad game 6-foot-9 tight end Nate Wozniak lined up next to 6-foot-9 offensive right tackle Jonah Pirsig. The Gophers may not play a team next fall that positions two players almost 7-feet tall next to one another.

Former 1965 Gophers All-American forward Lou Hudson died last week but will be remembered forever by those who saw him play. The 6-foot-5 Hudson, who averaged 24.8 points per game as a junior, had athleticism and basketball skills that exceeded perhaps anyone who ever played for Minnesota. He just teased defenders with his smooth movement and ability to score, both away from and near the basket. He had the skill to play defense, too, but it was on offense that he stirred Gophers fans including after a broken right wrist forced him to play with a cast. He lit up opponents with his left hand and brought down the “Barn.”

Ryan James from GopherIllustrated.com wrote Friday that new Gophers basketball commit Gaston Diedhiou, 6-9, 225, is an inside player offensively but has the ability to defend on the perimeter. He also reported Diedhiou, who is from the Canary Islands by way of Senegal, will be 21 when he plays his first game as a freshman next fall.

New Gophers women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings has been an assistant or head coach at seven schools since 2000. Minnesota senior associate athletic director Beth Goetz, who oversees women’s basketball, told Sports Headliners she isn’t worried about Stollings having a brief tenure with the Gophers.

“Honestly, I don’t have any concern at all,” Goetz said. “If you look at her track record, every move she’s made has been up the ladder. She’s put herself in a position to coach at the highest level and the best institutions. Personally, I am not sure I think there’s a better place to be than the Big Ten and at the University of Minnesota.”

Goetz is impressed with Stollings in multiple ways including recruiting. Stollings has put together top-45 national recruiting classes in the past and attracted two top-100 recruits. “Her history shows she’s been great at recruiting,” Goetz said.

The WNBA Draft is tonight but Lynx owner Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners he expects his franchise will obtain players who will develop later rather than contribute next season. The Lynx have the No. 12 and 15 draft choices.

Media and sports executives applauded the recent announcement that Saint Paul native Bill Robertson will be the new WCHA commissioner succeeding Bruce McLeod who called the hire a “home run.” Look for Robertson, a former executive with the Wild, to relocate the league offices from Denver to downtown Saint Paul.

Robertson graduated from Cretin High School in 1979 with Saint Paul mayor Chris Coleman who attended last week’s news conference announcing the new commissioner. Robertson, who begins his position in mid-May, referred to Coleman as one of the school’s great soccer players. The mayor interrupted and quipped, “I am beginning to question the (commissioner selection) decision.”

The Wild sold out its 25^th consecutive game last night at Xcel Energy Center. The local NHL team has sold out 34 of 41 regular season home games. The Wild lost to the Predators in Minnesota’s final regular season game of the year last night and opens its playoff series with the Avalanche in Denver on Thursday evening.

Wild single game playoff tickets went on sale Saturday and the club is expected to play in front of sellout home crowds during the postseason including for next Monday night’s home opener. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase this week. Check the team’s website, Wild.com, for more information early in the week.

The Twins swept their three-game series with the Royals by winning 4-3 yesterday despite having only five hits. Twins first baseman Joe Mauer, who had two hits in four at bats, stole his first base since August 26, 2012. Mauer’s 31^st birthday is Saturday.

The A’s team that swept the Twins last week at Target Field is predicted by Sports Illustrated to play in the World Series representing the American League. In the magazine’s March 31 baseball issue S.I. projected the A’s will lose to the Nationals in the World Series. The A’s are 9-1 against the Twins since the start of the 2013 season.

Comments Welcome

U RB Goal to Become Big Ten’s Best

Posted on April 7, 2014April 7, 2014 by David Shama

A year ago in spring practice running back David Cobb didn’t know how much he would contribute to the Gophers’ success. Now he wants to be the best runner in the Big Ten Conference.

Cobb was one of the team’s surprises last fall, becoming the No. 1 running back and rushing for a Gophers’ best 1,202 yards. Among Minnesota’s roster of running backs, he offered the best combination of speed, elusiveness and power as the Gophers did some surprise work achieving a 4-4 record in the Big Ten, the program’s best since 2005.

That breakout season for the then junior from Killeen, Texas boosted his confidence. “I definitely think I am a lot better than what I was at this time last year,” Cobb told Sports Headliners in late March. He and teammates are going through practices leading up to the annual spring game this Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.

The success of 2013 came about because Cobb was physically stronger, understood his assignments better and played with confidence. It was a transition no one was certain would happen.

When a player isn’t even included on the travel roster for a game, doubt can develop. Thoughts occur about whether the program is the right fit. Cobb played minimally as a freshman in 2011 with 10 carries and 57 yards rushing. The numbers as a sophomore declined to one rushing attempt and eight yards.

“You question yourself and you question the coaches whether they want you here,” Cobb said. “This is where you want to be. The hardest thing for me was knowing what I could do but just not having the opportunity.”

Cobb learned the coaches did want him. Among those who have helped is Nate Griffin who has the title of offensive quality control coach but has a background working with running backs. “I can’t thank him enough,” Cobb said.

Early last season the Gophers were searching for a No. 1 runner. Some observers thought that runner might be Donnell Kirkwood but he missed games because of injury. The chance to play more became available to Cobb.

He seized that opportunity to get on the field and become a starter. Now he has a more ambitious goal. “I want to be the best back in the Big Ten. If I am the best back in the Big Ten that does our team a whole lot of favor. As a team we want to win the Big Ten and we feel like we will win the Big Ten.”

Worth Noting

Running back is a position to watch with the Gophers. Kirkwood led Minnesota in rushing during 2012 with 926 yards. The senior is the team’s most experienced back. Junior Rodrick Williams is Minnesota’s most powerful runner and has caught Cobb’s attention. “That’s a load to bring down at 5-10, 250,” Cobb said earlier this spring.

Cobb has seen Williams benefit from increased confidence. “When you know the offense, you play with a lot more confidence,” Cobb said. “He’s playing faster and he’s looking great. Picking up blocks, running people over…making moves. So he’s looking good. I definitely see the change.”

Redshirt freshman Berkley Edwards will be among the fastest backs in the Big Ten. The Gophers will use him on more than plunges into the line. Play calls for Edwards could include reverses and pass receptions—opportunities to put his speed and elusiveness out in the open field.

“I definitely know that we’ll both be on the field at the same time,” Cobb said. “He’ll help complement me and I’ll complement him as well.”

Former Gophers defensive lineman Ra’Shede Hageman said he won’t be disappointed if he isn’t chosen during the first round of the May 8 NFL Draft. “Not really. There’s a lot of great players that have went second round that were able to do well so that doesn’t really concern me at all.”

The 6-6 Hageman weighs over 300 pounds and is viewed as someone who could play multiple positions on the defensive line. He said that versatility and his explosiveness after the ball is snapped are attributes pro scouts like.

What do scouts doubt about the Minneapolis native? “Just my motor. Just my consistency. …But that’s something I can easily change,” Hageman answered.

Rick Pitino, the legendary Louisville basketball coach and father of Gophers head men’s coach Richard Pitino, admires Minnesota athletic director Norwood Teague. “He is regarded as one of the top five AD’s in the business,” Pitino said last Thursday on 1500 ESPN following the Gophers NIT championship. “…He’s an awesome AD. He is going to bring them to heights they’ve never seen before.”

Verbalcommits.com is reporting Djuan Piper, the Seattle small forward who is targeted by the Gophers, will make a college commitment this week.

Although there has been no official announcement and update, Saint John’s in Collegeville, not St. Cloud State, will host the Tackle Cancer All-Star game on June 28 starting at 1 p.m. The North versus South game showcasing outstanding senior players from the 2013 Minnesota high school football season can’t be held in St. Cloud because the artificial field is being replaced at Husky Stadium.

Players and coaches representing 85 schools and 30 conferences will participate in the game, and they were selected by members of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association. College-bound players include Columbia’s Lord Hyeamang (Apple Valley); Penn’s Drew Trabing (Prior Lake); Eastern Michigan’s Tim Gordon (Cretin-Derham Hall); Montana State’s Joey Marinello (Eastview); Northern Iowa’s Ezra Szczyrbak (Moose Lake/Willow River); North Dakota recruits Keaton Studsrud (Benilde-St. Margaret’s), Grant Aplin (Chanhassen), Reid Taubenheim (Farmington), Deion Harris (Hibbing) and Connor Bolduc (Mahtomedi); and North Dakota State’s Aaron Steidl (Alexandria) and Christian Triplett (Delano).

Head coaches for the game are Bill Weiss of Chisago Lakes Area (North) and Mike Grant of Eden Prairie (South).

The Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association honored Grant last month with the Tom Mahoney Man of the Year Award. Grant has won nine state titles including three in a row.

Former Vikings center Matt Birk spoke at the recent MFCA Clinic and talked about the importance of making the right choices and decisions. He has authored a book titled Pro Wisdom: The 7 Choices That Lead to Greatness.

Birk is an appeals judge for the NFL, deciding whether players will be disciplined by the league.

The Twins lost 99 games in 2011, and 96 each of the last two seasons. They will lose 100 this year if Sports Illustrated is correct. In the magazine’s baseball preview issue last month the Twins’ record was forecast at 62 wins, 100 losses. The Twins were ranked No. 14 in the 15-team American League.

The magazine quoted an anonymous and rival scout on the Twins. Among the more interesting comments was that pitchers “Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco will be a tremendous upgrade to their staff,” plus this evaluation of center fielder Aaron Hicks:

“I always had high hopes for Aaron Hicks, but he can’t keep it together. Too many hitters think they’re supposed to be power guys instead of learning how to handle the bat.”

Hicks, who is outstanding in the field, is hitting .190 in six games so far this season after batting .192 as a rookie in 2013. Nolasco has started two games and is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. Hughes has one start, 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA.

The Twins, 3-3 so far this season, have their home opener this afternoon against the A’s. The prediction here is the Twins will win 70 or more games and easily avoid a 100 loss season.

Comments Welcome

Vikings Need to Draft QB for System

Posted on March 7, 2014March 7, 2014 by David Shama

Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema remains close to the team and has advice regarding the upcoming NFL Draft.

“With Norv Turner (offensive coordinator) you have got to draft a quarterback that fits his system. …Don’t draft the best available quarterback.”

Many college quarterback prospects are scramblers but taking one with the Vikings’ No. 8 pick in the first round of the May 8 draft might be a mistake. “That’s not what Turner wants,” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “Turner wants a guy who reads (situations) quick. Throws the ball like a bullet. There are certain things he wants because of the way he coaches.”

Lurtsema said it’s crucial for a franchise’s draft success to have the general manager, head coach and offensive coordinator on the “same page.” Will that be true of the Vikings on draft day with general manager Rick Spielman, new head coach Mike Zimmer and new offensive boss Turner?

“No idea,” Lurtsema said. “I sure hope so.”

The Vikings have devoted much of this century searching for a franchise quarterback. Daunte Culpepper’s success ended in 2004. Except for a couple of seasons with Brett Favre, it’s been pretty much trial and error with the Vikings while clubs like the Seahawks and 49ers found quick fixes when they changed head coaches.

Lurtsema said Turner, who has the reputation of being among the NFL’s best offensive minds, has to decide if he wants to make a commitment to Christian Ponder, currently the only quarterback signed for 2014, or to find another QB already in the league. If he does want to make such a commitment, the Vikings could draft a player other than a quarterback with their first choice on draft day.

Whatever the decision, Lurtsema is optimistic about Zimmer and Turner. He is convinced the club has upgraded its coaching talent. “Coaching is 60 to 65 percent (of success),” Lurtsema said. “I’ve told you that. I say it on TV. I say it to everybody.”

Lurtsema is excited about the offensive potential of next year’s team even without knowing the quarterback situation. Turner’s NFL experience includes head coaching and his resume documents high production offenses in previous employment. His mantra is a balanced offense and commitment to keeping defenses guessing. “He really mixes it up very well,” Lurtsema said.

Lurtsema was impressed with Zimmer soon after he was hired earlier this winter. “He (Zimmer) said he wants to give some guys a big, swift kick in the butt. …There wasn’t a lot of second effort a lot of the time (last season). You can tell second effort when they’re hauling their fanny.”

Coach Bud Grant won 11 championships with the Vikings. Lurtsema played for Grant and reveres him. “He (Zimmer) has a lot of Bud Grant in him,” Lurtsema said. “You know he’s the boss. If I was to deal with Zimmer (play for him) and make a couple of mistakes, he wouldn’t tell me about it. He’d cut me (from the team). That’s the part that sticks out. You don’t have to go up and cradle a lot of these spoiled athletes. They make the dumb mistakes—adios amigo.”

Worth Noting

Lurtsema likes the competitive attitude of Central Florida’s Blake Bortles and predicts he will be the first quarterback selected in the draft.

Derek Carr is a pocket passer and there’s been speculation the Fresno State quarterback could be available to the Vikings at No. 8. He fits the non-scrambler style Lurtsema said Turner wants to avoid for his system.

Joe Schmit will autograph copies of his new book, Silent Impact, a week from today starting at noon at Barnes & Noble downtown. The next day, March 15, the KSTP TV sportscaster will be at the Mall of America Sears Court starting at 1 p.m.

Schmit has written a lively, easy to read self-help book about how we impact others including non-verbal communication. The book’s cover jacket makes this point: “The words we say or don’t say, the things we do or don’t do, and the ways we react or don’t react can have a tremendous influence on those around us.”

Schmit has won 15 Emmys in his broadcast career but has faced challenges including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The disease is in remission and Schmit credits his attitude in battling the cancer.

Minnetonka High School alum Will Leer is competing in the 1500 meters for the U.S. track team at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland. Leer, who excelled in track and cross country at Pomona College in California, is among the world’s elite runners in the mile, 1500 meters, and has advanced to the finals in Poland.

Leer is the nephew of former KSTP-TV reporter Robb Leer who is in the public relations business with Minneapolis-based Leer Communications & Consultants.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams is recruiting Hopkins sophomore guard Amir Coffey and attended the Royals-Eden Prairie section title game on Wednesday night.

Today 1980 Olympic hockey gold medalists Bill Baker, Steve Christoff, Dave Christian and Rob McClanahan will be at the Herb Brooks Foundation booth at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo in St. Paul’s RiverCentre. Baker, Christoff, Christian and McClanahan will be autographing commemorative hockey pucks that have inspirational Herb Brooks quotations. Baker is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Christoff 11 a.m. to noon, Christian 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and McClanahan 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

This weekend eight wrestlers who won titles last year will try to repeat as Big Ten champions including Minnesota’s Tony Nelson, Dylan Ness and Kevin Steinhaus. The Big Ten Wrestling Championships are tomorrow and Sunday at Wisconsin. Penn State has won four consecutive team titles but the Gophers are ranked No. 1 nationally in the USA Today/NWCA/AWN Division I Coaches Poll. Penn State is ranked No. 2, Iowa No. 3.

Hammond Stadium, the Twins spring training home in Fort Myers, is being renovated and changes include a walkway around the field providing fans with various views of the gameday action while enjoying more concession options. Minnesotan Rolf Bjelland praised the walkway in an e-mail and offered other comments after attending a recent game:

“Our arrival was effortless with good parking direction and very friendly parking attendants. There is ample parking and an oversupply of handicap parking. Walking from the parking lot to the stadium, one has the feeling of a county fair with wonderful colors, crowds of people and various outside vendors. …

“They now have two grass slopes for spectators—great for sunbathing and child play. The field looks like a carpeted checkerboard in green and the infield like a well-manicured golf bunker.”

Comments Welcome