Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Some recruiting numbers...

Understanding that National Signing Day is just under a month away, and some of these number can change, here are some things to get excited about (all numbers according to Rivals as of today)...

* 21st ranked recruiting class in all of Division I football

* 4th ranked recruiting class in the Big10

* Six 4-star recruits

* 5 of the Top-10 prospects in Minnesota staying home (Maresh, Nance, Grant, Salamon, Gayden)

* 13th ranked Inside Linebacker in the nation (Sam Maresh)

* 2nd ranked dual-threat QB in the nation (MarQueis Gray)

* 4th ranked scrambling QB in the nation (MarQueis Gray)

* Two Top-30 JUCO prospects (Traye "Big Play" Simmons #28, David Pittman #25)

* Two Top-40 Wide Receiver prospects (Vincent Hill #16, Brandon Green #38)

* Top-50 Defensive Tackle (Jewhan Edwards #42)

* Top-60 Corner Back (Jonathan Dandridge #54)

* Top-100 Offensive Tackle (Roszell Gayden #72)

* Top-60 Strongside Defensive End (Brandon Kirksey #54)

* Top-40 Tight End (Eric Lair #38)

* Top-40 Outside Linebacker (Spencer Reeves #32)

* Top-40 Inside Linebacker (Gary Tinsley #40)

QB log-jam

On Saturday I turned the channel to NBC just in time to see the newest member of Gopher Nation make a public commitment to the University of Minnesota... MarQueis Gray!!!

Gray is 6'4", 204lbs, runs a 4.6 40, and is listed by Rivals as the second ranked duel-threat QB in the country. He will join David Pittman, who is entering Division I listed at Athlete, but wants to play quarterback, on a team that already has 3 quarterbacks in sophomore Adam Weber, senior Tony Mortensen and redshirt freshman Clint Brewster.

Again, Pittman is listed as Athlete, but apparently has been told he'll get a chance to compete for the starting job. Gray, however, could be the real deal, especially in the spread offense. My guess is that Gray will redshirt, but who knows.

And what does this mean for Weber? Obviously he'll still have the upper-hand in competing for the starting job, but I don't think that a scenario where both Weber and Gray get playing time at QB (think Florida in 2006) isn't out of the question.

At this time last year could you have imagined a scenario in which we would have a quarterback controversy NOT because a QB is playing poorly, but because we have so many potentially good options?

It's an exciting time to be a part of the Gold Country of Gopher Nation!!!

BIG commit... for the middle of the D-line!

I know, I know... I'm a little slow on the take...

We got another HUGE commitment and I was slacking and didn't write about it. When I say we got a huge commitment, I mean so both figuratively AND literally. If you watched our defense last season you know that we need help on the line rushing the passer and stopping the run. In that sense, Edwards is a big catch.

But Edwards is just plain BIG... 6'1", 338lbs to be exact. He is big, and in looking at his highlight video, looks to be fairly quick as well. And this kid just absolutely devours people in the backfield. Clearly he is going to be going against much larger and more talented linemen in the Big10, but as they always say, you can't teach size, and Edwards definitely knows how to play his position.

I am really getting excited to see how our team looks in 2-3 years!!!

SKI-U-MAH!!!