Three college football magazines now on the newsstands predict the Gophers will again be Big Ten Conference bottom feeders. The Gophers, who finished in last place in 2007 with a 0-8 record, will stay in the same spot in 2008, according to both Sporting News College Football ’08 and Athlon Sports Big Ten Preview. Lindy’s Big Ten 2008 Preview predicts the Gophers will finish 10th in the standings, ahead of last place Northwestern.
The publications believe the Gophers, 1-11 overall last season, will be improved in 2008 and beyond. Sporting News, for example, suggests the team “will win at least two games it isn’t supposed to.” All three magazines rated Minnesota’s 2008 recruiting class the third best in the Big Ten, an indication better years are ahead for the Gophers.
Lindy’s included Gopher quarterback MarQueis Gray, from Indianapolis, among its “top 20 incoming Big 10 recruits.” In regard to national recruiting, the publication ranked the top 10 schools at each position. The Gophers received a No. 7 ranking in the athlete category and a No. 10 in the defensive back listings.
There isn’t much hype about individual Gophers for the coming season. Senior punter Justin Kucek, who averaged 42.7 yards per punt last season, is on Athlon’s all-Big Ten second team. Kucek is also on the prospective winners’ list for the Ray Guy award as the nation’s best punter. Athlon included Gopher receiver Eric Decker on its all-Big Ten third team.
James Laurinaitis, the former Wayzata star who will be a senior at Ohio State, is Lindy’s pick for Big Ten MVP. The award winning linebacker could go first in next year’s NFL draft, according to the magazine.
The Buckeyes rate at the top among favorites to play in the national championship game. Ohio State, a school that has been to two consecutive national title games, is the dominant team in the Big Ten, according to the publications. Lindy’s ranks Ohio State No. 3 in its pre-season national ratings while Sporting News and Athlon have the Buckeyes at No. 2. Illinois (No. 10 Sporting News) and Wisconsin (No. 11 Lindy’s) are best of the rest in the conference.