Walk-ons

btowngopher · #1 (**permalink**) 01-28-2009, 04:28 PM

Ok i don't have a subscription to rivals or scout and have no real inside info, but will do my best to rep the gophers as basically the only active gopher fan on here.

Offers:
Derrick Engel
Sahr Ngeckia

YouTube - Academy of Holy Angels #84 Sahr Ngekia

btowngopher · #2 (**permalink**) 01-31-2009, 01:48 PM

Accepted:

Zach Mottla-6-2 278 center from CDH, had an offer from Air Force according to rivals. Nice to see another CDH kid on the roster, one of the few schools in the state that puts out D1 talent every year.

Engel is going to Winona unfortunately.

btowngopher · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:57 AM

outside linebacker Joey Balthazor of Hartland (WI) Arrowhead, cornerback Lucas Duppler from Appleton (WI) North, defensive end Kyle Dykstra of Princeton (MN) High, center Zach Mottla, strong safety John Onwualu and fullback Willie Schneider from St. Paul (MN) Cretin-Derham Hall, wide receiver Sahr Ngekia of Richfield (MN) Academy of Holy Angels and guard Bennett Rustad from Plymouth (MN) Wayzata.

Potential walk-ons also include safety Kyle Risinger of Minnetonka (MN) High, offensive tackle Phil Norman from Duluth (MN) East and linebacker Mike Henry of Mahtomedi (MN) High

on a side note espn ranked Mottla as one of the top 10 centers in the nation, which is kind of odd considering he only had a air force offer and isn't highly rated by scout or rivals. I like seeing Brewster add kids from CDH, Holy Angels, and Wayzata. CDH obviously puts out top talent, but the other two consistently put out some D1 prospects. Larry Fitzgerald was from HA and Laurenitais was from Wayzata as two examples.

TroyD92 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 12:23 PM

Cant hurt landing Seantrel Henderson either.

countypress · #5 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroyD92

Cant hurt landing Seantrel Henderson either.

No it can't. We have a good amount of CDH guys on the roster.

Royston, Salaman, Nance, Tavale, Carufel, Moore all are CDH alums.

Maybe the biggest one being Carufel. Although Floyd is down at ND and Henderson no doubt has a closer relationship with Floyd, Carufel could sway Henderson with reasons why not to go to Notre Dame.

countypress · #6 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by btowngopher

outside linebacker Joey Balthazor of Hartland (WI) Arrowhead, cornerback Lucas Duppler from Appleton (WI) North, defensive end Kyle Dykstra of Princeton (MN) High, center Zach Mottla, strong safety John Onwualu and fullback Willie Schneider from St. Paul (MN) Cretin-Derham Hall, wide receiver Sahr Ngekia of Richfield (MN) Academy of Holy Angels and guard Bennett Rustad from Plymouth (MN) Wayzata.

Potential walk-ons also include safety Kyle Risinger of Minnetonka (MN) High, offensive tackle Phil Norman from Duluth (MN) East and linebacker Mike Henry of Mahtomedi (MN) High

on a side note espn ranked Mottla as one of the top 10 centers in the nation, which is kind of odd considering he only had a air force offer and isn't highly rated by scout or rivals. I like seeing Brewster add kids from CDH, Holy Angels, and Wayzata. CDH obviously puts out top talent, but the other two consistently put out some D1 prospects. Larry Fitzgerald was from HA and Laurenitais was from Wayzata as two examples.

Speaking of Wayzata, any word on Fritz Rock yet? I wouldn't mind seeing him make some plays for the Gophs.

And I saw both Henry and Dykstra this season in person, and while I can say Henry was pretty impressive for a walk-on, Dykstra showed me nothing that would indicate he could play at a D1 level.

I was mostly focused on Phil Klaphake, the QB from Princeton during the game, but what I did see of Dykstra (against a terrible team no less) wasn't much to write to Gopher Nation about.

countypress · #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:34 PM

And I'd like to see the Gopher hockey team offer Anders Lee, and then have him walk-on to the football team as a Tebow-esque HBack/Rushing QB.

The kid had 1,100 yards and 32 touchdowns from the quarterback position against the best competition in Minnesota. (Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Stillwater, Wayzata and Mahtomedi were all on his schedule)

Granted his arm isn't the best -- although he did still throw for 2,000 yards -- but I'm not saying bring him in to be the next Tebow, but he can be Tebow-esque

TroyD92 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 08:16 PM

Fritz didnt sign a LOI so that probably means he didnt qualify, and will have to go the Juco route.

btowngopher · #9 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 08:32 PM

Fritz apparently is still looking around. Wyoming and Western Michigan are a couple of teams that are really high on him.

btowngopher · #10 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 03:53 PM

Phil Norman has accepted, sounds like a great kid.

Scout.com: Phil Norman To Be A Gopher Preferred Walk-on