A Look at Minnesota's 2008 Recruiting

[LordJeffBuck]

Minnesota Golden Gophers

New Gopher head coach Tim Brewster is accomplishing something that former HC Glenn Mason couldn't quite figure out - how to keep the local talent at home. During his last five years at the reins, Mason signed only 19 of the top 50 prospects in the state of Minnesota, and lost some of the state's best talent to rivals such as Notre Dame (Matt Carufel, Joey Hiben, Trevor Laws, John Carlson, Ryan Harris); Wisconsin (Brandon Hoey, Kimuel Royston, Marcus Coleman); Iowa (Rafael Eubanks, Tom Busch); Nebraska (Lydon Murtha, Nathan Swift); Ohio State (James Laurinaitis); and Purdue (Kyle Sheehan). The exodus reached both coasts, as blue chip recruits spurned the home state school for Southern Cal (Walker Ashley) and Boston College (Jordan McMichael, Brandon Robinson). Mason even managed to lose top-10 recruits to Stanford (Jerrod Arlich), Duke (Christopher Moore), and Harvard (Liam O'Hagan). In retrospect, it is amazing that Mason lasted as long as he did with a recruiting track record like that.

Enter Tim Brewster, who despite having no local roots (like Mason) has made in-state recruiting a priority. So far, Brewster has locked up six of the top nine Minnesotans (according to Rivals), with two of the top three recruits (WR Michael Floyd, #1; DT Willie Mobley, #3) still in play. If Brewster can at least split that pair, then his initial recruiting haul will have to be deemed an unqualified success.

The headliner of the Golden Gophers' class of 2008 is undoubtedly linebacker Sam Maresh (Champlin Park; Scout #16 MLB), who is the #2 overall prospect in the state of Minnesota according to Rivals. On the gridiron, Maresh has racked up nearly 200 tackles over the past two seasons and is also a state champion wrestler. More importantly for Gopher fans, however, Sam turned down offers from Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Miami (FL) to stay in Minnesota and play for the home school.

Joining Maresh in the '08 defensive recruiting class are Brendan Kelly (Richfield (MN) Academy of Holy Angels; Rivals #36 SDE), Ryan Grant (Eden Prarie (MN) Senior) and Padric Scott (Tallahassee (FL) Lincoln). Kelly is an imposing force who is listed at nearly 6-foot-7 and 229 lbs. with a sub-4.7 40-yard. He also benches over 300 lbs., cleans over 300 lbs. and squats 470 lbs. Kelly cited the new coaching staff and the excitement surrounding the Gophers program as major factors in his decision to end the process way back in March. Grant, from MN power Eden Prarie (current Gophers Ryan Orton and Walker Ashley are alums), is a QB/S/LB in high school but projects as a LB in Coach Whiters defensive scheme. Scott, a brilliant student from Florida power Lincoln High School, committed to Minnesota over offers from South Florida and Stanford after hitting it off with Coach Brewster and Coach Cross during an unofficial visit with his family in early July. A tad undersized for a typical Big 10 defensive tackle (listed at 6-foot-1 290 lbs.), Scott uses his strength (benches 405 lbs.) to be a disruptive force.

Offensively, Minnesota began its 2008 class with RB Shady Salamon (Rivals #17 APB, Scout #49 RB) from storied Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, who has sent players to the likes of Minnesota (Nedward Tavale), Wisconsin (Joe Schafer), Iowa (Broderick Binns and Rafael Eubanks) and Notre Dame (Matt Carufel) in just the last few years. Citing the pride that comes with representing his home state, Salamon got the Cretin-Derham to Minneapolis train started. An all-purpose back who is equally adept catching balls out of the backfield as he is operating in traffic, Salamon is also a standout on his school's track team. Already pledging to join Shady in Minneapolis is teammate WR John Nance. A two-sport standout who was also named All-Metro in basketball, Nance is expected to also play some QB for Cretin-Derham Hall this upcoming season. While Nance is a large target, burner Kevan Walker (Arcadia (CA) HS; Rivals #52 WR) figures to bring some excitment to the Golden Gopher's offense. Despite an offer from UCLA, where his father is the defensive coordinator, Kevan decided to follow in his father footsteps (of the past) to Minnesota, where his dad was a two-way starter before playing in the CFL and USFL. Along the O-line, Coach Brewster has a verbal pledge from monster offensive tackle Roszell Gayden (New Hope (MN) Robinsdale Cooper; Rivals #65 OT, Scout #46 OT). Already bulking up (now listed at 6-foot-7 260 lbs.), Gayden is focused on getting stronger and quicker. He also has a twin brother that is being looked at by several programs across the country. TE Eric Lair (Houston (TX) Lamar; Rivals #36 TE) is the most recent verbal commitment. Yet another recruit to cite his relationship with Coach Brewster and his position coach (Coach Derek Lewis) as a major factor in his decision, Lair earned all-district honors as a junior.

Rounding out the 2008 class to date is kicking specialist Bradley Nortman (Brookfield (WI) Central; Rivals #13 K). Nortman attended the Minnesota camp and received an offer upon returning home and wasted little time committing (about ten minutes after Brewster offered). An all-state selection in 2006, Nortman is one of the best punters in nation according to Scout's kicking expert, Chris Sailer.

As for Minnesota's remaining targets, the list begins with the aforementioned Michael Floyd (Scout #4 WR) and Willie Mobley (Scout #14 DT). Another two-sport standout, Floyd is an immediate mismatch for almost any DB with his combination of size, strength and speed. Unfortunately for Coach Brewster, several other head coaches have made the Cretin-Derham Hall star a top priority, including Notre Dame's Charlie Weis, Florida's Urban Meyer and Ohio State's Jim Tressel. But Coach Brewster will obviously look for help from Floyd's two high school teammates and current Minnesota verbals, John Nance and Shady Salamon. Another prospect Coach Brewster hopes will follow a teammate to Minneapolis (Ryan Grant) is big Willie Mobley. A first team all-state performer as a junior, Mobley lead Eden Prarie to a 14-0 mark with 74 tackles and 12 sacks last year. He is also entertaining offers from the likes of Iowa, Ohio State and Wisconsin.

One area that is obviously a top priority for the Golden Gophers staff is quarterback. Their desire for a runner/thrower combo, something that is a popular asset to so many staffs these days, is evident by the half dozen offers they have tendered. The player on the top of their board might be Star Jackson (Lake Worth (FL); Rivals #2 dual-threat QB). With offers from most of the Florida schools, Jackson threw for over 1,900 yards and ran for over another 750 yards as a junior. Other QBs with offers include Padric Scott's teammate B.J. Daniels (Tallahassee (FL) Lincoln), Sancho McDonald (Miami (FL) Booker T. Washington), Jerome Tiller (San Antonio (TX) Tyler Lee) and MarQueis Gray (Indianapolis (IN) Ben Davis; Rivals #4 dual-threat QB). Gray, an EA Sports Elite 11 and Army All-American Game invitee, might just be the best of the bunch.

Other top targets include a quartet of highly rated teammates from Texas. Keanon Cooper (Dallas (TX) Skyline; Scout #14 safety) is a smart playmaking DB with a nose for the film room. Teammate Spencer Reeves (Scout #14 WLB) was set to commit to LSU less than a month ago before finding out his offer had been rescinded. Both now have Minnesota firmly planted in their top 3. Minnesota has also offered ATHs DaJon McKnight and Troy Stoudermire, both from Skyline as well. At 6-foot-3 180 lbs., McKnight looks like a future safety while Stoudermire will assume the QB duties at Skyline this Fall.

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