Minnesota Football Recruiting: Hunter Register Commits

More help for a position group in desperate need of it.

#amen pic.twitter.com/6K5cXE7b4K

— Hunter Register (@ontherise12_) January 22, 2015

A long athletic Golden Ticket added to the mix tonight. Joins an already large athletic position group! #BrickByBrick #Gophers

— William Glasscock (@BillyGlasscock4) January 22, 2015

Lafayette (LA) O. Comeaux HS receiver Hunter Register elected to play college football at Minnesota this evening during an announcement ceremony that took place at his high school. Register is a 3 star prospect according to 247Sports' Industry Composite, choosing Minnesota over offers from Indiana, ULL, ULM, Tulane and Temple. Hunter is the 19th member of the 2015 class, the second Louisiana prospect of the cycle and the first wide receiver.

Quotables

Hunter with Gopher247's Kyle Goblirsch after his official visit against Purdue ($):

While in town, Hunter was able to take in the Gophers game at TCF Bank Stadium and see the Gophers come back from an 11 point deficit at halftime for their third straight victory in the Big Ten. "The game was nice and packed. I really liked the locker room too, it’s huge."

The other schools competing for the WR’s verbal have the luxury of proximity to home, so it was important that Hunter’s parents were able to accompany him over the weekend. "My parents really liked the visit too. The thing that stood out to them most was the coaches."

(Likely Fraudulent) Measurables**

** The section title is a bit. It's intentionally facetious comment on how recruiting sites (and even some college coaches) notoriously exaggerate traditional combine measures -- especially the 40. No offense is meant.

Height: 6'4"-6'5"
Weight: 182-200 lbs.
Fake 40 Time: 4.68s electronic (from 2014 Houston Nike SPARQ combine)

Highlights

Senior Year:

Thoughts

Absurd Comparisons

Register is a tall receiver prospect with a huge catch radius and a smooth running gait despite just average speed. In that regard, he reminds me a bit of Ernie Wheelwright.

Scheme Fit

The staff recognized they needed to improve the talent at the receiver position after the 2013 season, especially after they rushed the ball at a clip more befitting a service academy and the leading wideout was a former walk-on. Attrition and plain old bad luck have sapped much of the talent Kill recruited during his first two seasons plus transition year, so early playing time would be a key selling point for incoming players. Unfortunately for fans of the passing game, every WR from the 2014 class redshirted, so we really don't have any idea how good they actually are despite Jerry's near-constant platitudes.

The staff has also changed their approach to wide receiver recruiting, opting for taller wideouts in recent classes with either great raw athleticism or more natural receiving skills. Indeed, the wideouts Kill has added since 2013 are 6'3" (Drew Wolitarsky), 6'4" (Isaiah Gentry), 6'3" (Melvin Holland), 6'3" (Desmond Gant), 6'3" (Jerry Gibson) and now Register, between 6'4" or 6'5" depending on your ruler. They are clearly targeting a mix of receivers who can leap and make plays in traffic or break through arm tackles on flanker screens, the former of which is more Register's game. He can use his big catching radius to adjust to poorly thrown passes, shield defenders using his frame and make tough catches over multiple DBs.

Impact on Other Prospects?

Coach Anderson will likely nab one additional prospect at the WR spot for this class, and the leader in the clubhouse right now is a sleeper prospect out of El Paso named Rashad Still. The Gophers offered Still this week, and he'll be in Dinkytown this upcoming weekend for an official visit where prevailing wisdom states he'll commit shortly thereafter. Oh, I forgot to mention that Still is 6'5".