Gopher Football recruiting refresher

If you have noticed that we have not given very many recruiting updates throughout the fall, that is because there have been very few updates to give.

The Gopher staff locked up the vast majority of their 2019 recruiting class by August and have spent the fall working on solidifying kids for the few remaining slots while trying to hold on to current verbal commits.

But the early singing day is just 2 weeks away and we thought it would be a good idea to give you a recruiting refresher as the final 2 weeks. We will take a look at the 22 currently committed athletes followed by the handful of names the staff is pursuing to round out the class.

KEY DATES

December 8 - huge visit weekend when the staff is bringing in the majority of the 2019 class along with key targets. Currently 15 commits and 2 targets will be here this weekend. This is a big day for the 2019 class. There are also kids planning to come who are currently committed to other programs, these names are not public and it will be exciting to see if we steal any elite names.

December 19 - Signing Day! This is the say players can sign and lock up their recruitment for the 2019 class.

CURRENT COMMITS (22)

Currently sitting with 22 in this class, but that number will change. It is most likely that we will end up with 24 or 25 kids signing in a couple weeks. The primary positions that will be targeted are DL, OL and DB...but I wouldn’t rule out any elite position players. I think about the only positions you could absolutely rule out would be QB and special teams specialists.

Here is the list of currently committed.

• Jacob Clark (QB)

Rockwall, TX
Commit 6/6/2018

The Texas quarterback who Gopher fans should be very excited about. Clark had a fantastic senior season in the largest class of Texas HS football and was recently bumped to a 4-star5. He led his team to the second round of playoffs before falling to Allen, a powerhouse program. Clark threw for over 3,000 yards on the season and over 30 touchdowns.

• Cole Kramer (QB)

Eden Prairie, MN
Commit 12/21/2017

The other quarterback in this class and Kramer is the local product who led his Eden Prairie squad to the state title game where they dropped the game to Lakeville North.

• Cameron Wiley (RB)

Las Vegas, NV
Commit 7/14/2018

Wiley and his Desert Pines team made it to the second round of playoffs before losing to a higher seed. The talented Vegas athlete had a lot of offers, primarily from the Pac 12, he may be an OLB or a RB at Minnesota.

• Jason Williamson (RB / LB)

Owatonna, MN
Commit 12/21/2017

The state’s Gatorade player of the year in back to back seasons, Williamson put up Tecmo Bowl type numbers all throughout. He led the Owatonna Huskies to a state title and finished his senior season with 3,000 yards rushing and 46 touchdowns. Williamson may eventually move to the defensive side of the ball, but he will be given the opportunity to play running back, those kind of numbers are too impressive to ignore.

• Treyson Potts (RB)

Williamsport, PA
Commit 6/20/2018

Injured in the latter part of his senior season. Had a very successful season in 2016, didn’t play in 2017 and missed part of 2018. Potts is more of an unknown, but a solid 3-star who did have other P5 offers.

• Nnamdi Adim-Madumere (WR)

Fort Worth, TX
Commit 6/22/2018

This year’s top receiver recruit, Adim-Madumere had plenty of offers including one from Bama, but has stayed true to Minnesota. Adim-Madumere is a big prospect at 6’3” and 225 lbs out of Fort Worth, TX. His team finished the season 7-3.

• Mike Brown-Stephens (WR)

Springfield (Springfield, OH)
Commit 7/28/2018

Comparing size to Adim-Madumere, Brown-Stephens is the smaller receiver at 5’10” and just 175 lbs, but he clearly will be more inside when he gets himself onto the field for the Gophers. He was all over the field for his high school team playing WR, RB, DB, KR and PR.

• Peter Udoibok (WR)

Cretin Derham Hall (Saint Paul, MN)
Commit 7/30/2018

Another big receiver, Udoibok is a Cretin Derham Hall product. Udoibok did not have an impressive offer list but had a strong senior season and will bring his 6’4” frame to the U.

• JJ Guedet (OT)

Washington, IL
Commit 3/4/2018

Big kid coming to the Gophers from just outside of Peoria, IL. Played both sides of the ball, had a number of very good offers from the likes of Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinois and other P5 programs. Had a dominant senior season and will be a contributor for the Gophers down the road.

• Tyler Cooper (OT)

Saint Croix Falls, WI)
Commit 7/31/2018

Just barely across the border but Cooper is a Wisconsin kid who is coming to the U.

DEFENSE

• Keonte Schad (DT)

Ellsworth C.C. (Iowa Falls, IA)
Commit 5/5/2018

JUCO transfer who will hopefully add some depth and contribution to the defensive line next year while some younger guys continue to develop. One of our more highly rated recruits on the defensive side of the ball. His team was not very successful on the season but Schad put up big numbers and is still getting attention from other programs.

• D’Vion Harris (DE)

Saint Louis, MO
Commit 4/28/2018

Apparently this St. Louis product had 29 TFLs in his senior year and 8 sacks. His Lutheran North team won their first four playoff games by a combined score of 253-8 before losing to the eventual champ in the state semi finals.

• Logan Richter (DT)

Perham, MN
Commit 3/25/2017

If this name looks familiar, well it should. Richter was in last year’s recruiting class, took a grey shirt and will officially be in the 2019 class. The big Perham native has had a year to get stronger and give himself an academic head start.

• DeAngelo Griffin (DT)

Leesburg, GA
Commit 6/10/2018

Griffin’s Lee County team is playing in the Georgia State championship game this weekend. No defensive stats, but Griffin is playing on an undefeated team in Georgia’s largest class.

• Chris Daniels (DT)

Copiah-Lincoln C.C. (Wesson, MS)
Commit 5/5/2018

Another JUCO for the defensive line but Daniels is more of a softer commit. He may be taking other visits as the staff tries to hold on to him.

• Donald Willis (OLB)

Cleveland, OH
Commit 6/10/2018

To Cleveland we go for this class’s highest rated high school defensive player. Willis, according to stats listed on his 247 profile, had 3 defensive touchdowns, 29 TFLs, 8 sacks and 112 tackles.

• James Gordon IV (OLB)

Plant City, FL
Commit 6/10/2018

Very recently was given a Florida State offer to go with a Miami offer. Gordon has had a highly productive senior season and hopefully the Gopher staff gets his signature on the 19th.

• Tyler Nubin (CB)

Saint Charles, IL
Commit 4/12/2018

Nubin is one name among the defensive commits that has been garnering attention from bigger schools throughout his senior season and also was recently bumped to a 4-star. He is having an outstanding senior season as a RB/WR and will be a corner for Minnesota. Nubin carried his team into the Illinois 7A State Title game (the second largest class in Illinois) before they were defeated but earned state runner-up for the first time in school history. Nubin had 12 rushing touchdowns and 9 receiving touchdowns on the season.

• Solomon Brown (CB)

Largo, FL
Commit 6/10/2018

Another Florida native in this defensive class, Brown had a nice year starting at corner for his Largo HS team that went 7-4.

• T.J. Robinson (S)

Riverview, FL
Commit 6/10/2018

6’3” safety, also from Florida. You may notice that this staff heavily recruits the Gulf Coast side of Florida.

• Camden Lewis (K)

Cornelius, NC
Commit 6/17/2018

One of the top kickers in the country, currently ranked 3rd. The kid has a strong leg and it is great to see the staff making special teams a priorty in recruiting.

• Brady Weeks (LS)

O’Fallon, MO
Commit 1/28/2018

At one point Weeks was rated as the top long snapper in the country. Not entirely sure what differentiates one high school long snapper from the next, but apparently he is a good one. Considering the position, the lack of recognition generally associated with it and the need for zero mistakes...let us hope that we never hear Weeks’ name again.

KEY TARGETS

• Isaiah Hookfin (OT)

Dulles (Sugar Land, TX)
OFFERS: Baylor, Texas, Illinois, Duke, Auburn, Arizona St, Mississippi St and others

Later name to the party on Hookfin, but the massive tackle from Texas will be visiting this weekend. There are only a few scholarships remaining but Hookfin would be an immediate take for this staff.

Demariyon Houston (WR)

Millwood (Oklahoma City, OK)
OFFERS: Texas, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Baylor, Auburn, Bama, you get the picture

A recent decommitment from Texas, The 4-star Houston has been getting a LOT of attention. The Gophers are really in the picture here and even though WR is not a huge need in this class, Houston would be massive win for this recruiting class. Getting him on campus for a visit is key.

• Anthony Johnson (DE)

Cleveland Heights (Cleveland, OH)
OFFERS: Georgia Tech, Syracuse, MAC schools

Defensive line is a huge need in this class and Johnson is visiting this weekend. Would not at all be surprised to get a commitment from Johnson this weekend.

• Rashad Cheney (DT)

Ellenwood, GA
OFFERS: Bama, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Georgia

Huge D tackle who decommitted from Bama and then soon after took an unofficial visit to the Gophers. Huge position of need and Cheney would round out the class at DT.

• Damarian Williams (CB)

Highland, KS (Highland CC)
OFFERS: Washington St, Boise St, others

JUCO corner. This goes for Williams and Carriere-Williams below...landing one older corner who can contribute for 2 years would be perfect for this class.

• Dontye Carriere-Williams (CB)

Miami, FL (Independence CC)
OFFERS: Vandy, Louisville

Formerly a Badger commit who transferred to Independence.

There are more kids out there who are considering the U, many of them are unknown as they are currently committed elsewhere. But there are just a few scholarships remaining in this class and this weekend should net a few more verbals to get us to the max class.

More on the visit weekend coming soon...