Redshirt freshman tight end Maxx Williams impressed with his blocking and also making a difficult touchdown catch in last week’s Gophers win over UNLV. He hopes the win and his four seasons of eligibility is the beginning of a new era for Minnesota football.
“I want to know I was part of something that became great,” Williams told Sports Headliners. “I think that would be one of the best things that I can do. I helped build that program.”
The 6-4, 254-pound Williams from Waconia High was recruited by other schools including Gophers’ rivals Wisconsin and Iowa but he was never serious about any college but Minnesota. He realized he wanted to help turn around a program that has struggled for decades trying to win Big Ten games.
He also has affection for his home state. “I love it here,” Williams said. “It’s where I always wanted to be.”
Williams’ dad, Brian, played football for the Gophers and so did his uncle, Ron Goetz. His mom, Rochele, was a volleyball player at the U. Those “bloodlines,” as Jerry Kill described them, had the Gophers coach almost gushing about Williams the other day, talking about “great instincts” and the running ability of his 19-year-old tight end.
Williams impressed Gophers quarterback Philip Nelson a few years ago. Nelson’s Mankato West team beat Waconia three consecutive seasons. “He was the whole offense,” Nelson said. “When Waconia was running the ball he was the running back. When they were throwing it he was either the tight end or the quarterback. I’ve known since day one that guy can make plays. I think he’s going to be a big role in this offense.”
Nelson said injuries held Williams back last season but now there is an opportunity for the two to help improve a Gophers offense that often struggled last season and at times against UNLV. Test No. 2 comes tomorrow night in Las Cruces when Minnesota plays at New Mexico State.
Worth Noting
The Aggies better not conclude from scouting the Gophers in the UNLV game that they have seen all of Minnesota’s offense. Nelson said his team “probably showed about 50 percent of the offense” in last week’s opener. “We’re always kind of switching things up running our offense,” he said.
The Gophers may use some no-huddle offense during the season, according to Nelson.
Sophomore Rodrick Williams, who may start tomorrow night at running back in place of the injured Donnell Kirkwood, is nicknamed “Nugget” because he ate so many chicken nuggets on his recruiting trip to Minnesota while in high school. Linebacker James Manuel is nicknamed “Mule” because of his physique.
With Kill declaring Andre McDonald off the team indefinitely, the Gophers are now without three wide receivers who a year ago looked like major contributors for a few seasons. McDonald, A.J. Barker and Devin Crawford–Tufts are no longer with the team.
It’s for certain the Lions will try to exploit the inexperienced Vikings cornerback group including Josh Robinson (two years experience) and Xavier Rhodes (rookie) on Sunday in Detroit. “This is going to be a big week for them (the cornerbacks) but they’ll do a good job,” said Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier. “They’ll be ready.”
Former Vikings offensive coordinator Brian Billick said yesterday morning on ESPN Radio with hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic that Adrian Peterson had a “stunning” total of 33 runs of 20 yards or more last season. “At best, a team will average 11 or 12 a year,” said Billick, who will provide commentary on the FOX telecast of Sunday’s game.
Peterson, who was NFL MVP for the first time after last season, said yesterday he deserved to win the award earlier in his career.
Former Gopher Keith Ballard believes controversial and aggressive forward Matt Cooke will play a major part in the Wild’s success next season. Ballard told Sports Headliners any grievances Wild players had with Cook in the past will be forgotten in the locker room. Both Cooke and Ballard, a defenseman who contributed to national titles with the Gophers, are off-season acquisitions. The Wild open training camp next Thursday.
St. Thomas, hoping to compete again for a Division III national football championship, opens its season tomorrow with a 1:10 p.m. home game against UW-Eau Claire. The Tommies home and away games will be broadcast on WCCO Radio.
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