Among the positive developments with the Gopher football program is that coach Tim Brewster and staff are stockpiling players. Through fate and planning, the Gophers probably will have an interesting and somewhat unusual mix next season of transfers, delayed eligible players, and those physically sidelined in 2008.
This group will be added to a roster of returnees and 2009 recruits that is likely to provide the Gophers with the most depth and talent since at least 2005. On the current first team offensive and defensive depth charts, the Gophers have only three seniors so they could have 19 returning starters if all stay eligible and healthy. The 2009 recruiting class, which probably will include immediate help from junior college players, is likely to be better than 2008 and even more attention grabbing because of the addition of transfers, delayed eligibles and personnel physically not able to participate.
Transfers Matt Carufel and Kim Royston, former Cretin-Derham Hall high schoolers, had playing experience at Notre Dame and Wisconsin in 2006 and 2007. Carufel and Royston will at minimum add quality depth to the offensive line and defensive backfield when they become eligible next year.
The Gophers hope to have four-star quarterback MarQueis Gray eligible and in school by next winter. Before he was declared ineligible, Gray was considered the prize of the 2008 recruiting class and he’s been compared to Ohio State’s freshman phenom, quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Another member of the 2008 recruiting class who isn’t eligible now but will be for certain is linebacker Spencer Reeves, a three-star recruit.
Linebacker Sam Maresh was another headliner in the 2008 recruiting class. Maresh had open heart surgery earlier this spring but he may be able to begin his freshman season next year with the Gophers. The team’s best running back, sophomore Duane Bennett, was lost for the season in game two because of a left knee injury. Because he was injured so early this year, he will have three more seasons of eligibility.
The talent pool is growing deeper and it needs to after losing key in-state recruits in recent years including Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitus, Nebraska wide receiver Nathan Swift and Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd. All three on this year’s Gopher team might be the difference between a seven win season and a 10.
The Gophers, 5-1, are likely to win at least a couple more games (assuming no injuries to quarterback Adam Weber or receiver Eric Decker) and that improvement after a 1-11 season last year could be good for more than a bowl game. It wouldn’t be surprising if a winning season influenced the college choices of Washburn tight end Ra’Shede Hageman and Breck wide receiver Bryce McNeal, two of the state’s best preps.