Marcus Sherels will be a junior next season for the Gopher football team.  A walk-on from Rochester John Marshall, he will be given a scholarship as soon as possible, according to Gopher coach Tim Brewster who said Marcus is doing a “magnificent job.”  His brother Mike, who was a starting senior linebacker for the Gophers last season, isn’t surprised.  “Every time he’s given a chance to succeed, he succeeds,” Mike told Sports Headliners.

Marcus played in nine games last season, catching three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown as a wide receiver.  He had his only career start against Wisconsin.  He also averaged 21.4 yards on 17 kickoff returns and returned one punt for seven yards.

During spring practice Marcus was moved to corner back where he was a starter in the annual intra-squad game.  He was impressive as a cornerback and returned two kickoffs for 93 yards and one punt 21 yards.

The spring performance didn’t surprise Mike who said the “sky’s the limit” and his brother can be a “great player in the Big Ten.”  Marcus was an exceptional cornerback in high school, Mike said, but didn’t have the opportunity to play the position with the Gophers until this spring.

Mike’s evaluation is that Marcus needs to work on his back pedaling to become a better cornerback.  At 5-11, 165 can he be an effective tackler?  No problem, according to big brother Mike who said Marcus “packs a punch” and describes physical tackling as a “family trait.”

Certainly Marcus will have an opportunity to be a starter next season since the Gophers are searching for talent and experience in a secondary that was among the worst in the country last season.  “I fully expect him to start,” Mike said.

Mike is hoping to develop from a free agent to a permanent place on the Vikings’ roster as a special teams player and linebacker.  Right now he has no plans to play Canadian football, instead trying to make the home town team.

Cristie Kerr, the defending U.S. Women’s Open champion, is coming to town on May 19 to meet with the media.  The 63^rdOpen will be at Interlachen Country Club in Edina from June 23-29.

One man’s opinion on the Twins’ most valuable players so far: slugger Justin Morneau who has produced over 20 percent of the team’s runs batted in and closer Joe Nathan who has saved 11 of the 16 wins.

Ch. 5 sports reporter Ryan Kibbe will be a candidate to replace Rod Simons as KSTP TV’s No. 1 sports anchor.  Kibbe is an impressive sports journalist.

Canterbury Park will hold its second annual Extreme Race Day on July 20 with camel and ostrich races.

Former Gopher running back Amir Pinnix on Minnesota’s prospects for next season:  “I think they have a very good shot to make a bowl game.  I think they’ll be pretty good.  Coach (Tim) Brewster and his staff, they’re an excellent staff. They really get you prepared. …”

Wide receiver Jaymar Johnson, the Vikings sixth round draft choice from Jackson State, averaged 17.6 yards per reception his junior season and 17.0 his senior year.  He might be used by the Vikings to return punts or kicks.  He said he has run a 4:41 40-yard dash.

Quarterback John David Booty, the Vikings fifth round pick, enrolled early at Southern California, skipping his senior year of football in high school because his dad was fired as the quarterbacks coach.  Drafting Booty gives the Vikings four quarterbacks on the roster and probably means Brooks Bollinger will eventually be let go.  Gus Frerotte, a 14 year veteran, looks like the mentor to young quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Booty.

College Sporting News has named Maria Bye and P.J. Theisen, both from St. Thonmas, as its female and male athlete award winners from the MIAC. A selection committee comprised of coaches, administrators and former MIAC athletes chose them from a group of 24 seniors nominated by the schools. They were honored for excellence on the playing field, coupled with superior academic performance and involvement in community service.  Bye is a softball All-American while Theisen is an All-American in track and honorable mention All-American in football.

High School All-American wide receiver Michael Floyd who said no to the Gophers and will enroll at Notre Dame this summer told Sports Headliners on Sunday that he will recruit his Cretin-Derham Hall teammate Seantrel Henderson for the Irish.

Henderson is an offensive tackle, about 6-7, 300 pounds.  National recruiting guru Tom Lemming has identified Henderson as the No. 1 junior prep prospect in the country for next season.

“He’s just a natural athlete,” Floyd said.  “The more we work with him, the more the coaches work with him, get him more disciplined; he’ll turn into a great player.”

Floyd didn’t hesitate when asked whether he will recruit Henderson to join him at Notre Dame.  “Yes, definitely,” he said. “They’re already starting to recruit him, and they want me to try and talk to him but I…kind of basically made my own decision (choosing a college), and that’s something he will have to do, too. So don’t let anybody else dictate where you go to.”

What will he tell Henderson?  “Notre Dame is a great school,” Floyd answered.  “I would love for him to come there but it’s basically up to him.”

Floyd said Henderson hasn’t visited Notre Dame and doesn’t know as much about the South Bend school as he will.  The recruiting process for highly sought players like Floyd and Henderson is complex.  Floyd said part of what Henderson will need to do is sort out who is “real and fake.”

If Floyd hadn’t chosen Notre Dame, his second choice was Ohio State (the “guys were cool”).  Michigan was his third choice and beyond that Floyd couldn’t specify a fourth or fifth favorite.

Floyd hopes to become a starter at Notre Dame as a freshman.  If his college career is successful, would he leave for the NFL after his junior season?  He said he “didn’t really know” and made the point that his mother has stressed education.  He’s undecided about his major at Notre Dame, although business interests him.