Recruits, Recruits, Recruits

Since the actual gopher football team is not much fun to write about right now (although it is Jug Week), and since the high school season is at or near playoffs I thought it would be fun to see what our recruits (both incoming and yet to commit) are doing at their respective high schools...

COMMITTED

WR - Brandon Green (Chicago-Robeson) - Green's high school team finished the regular season at 8-1. They are the #1 seed in the upper bracket (consists of 16 of the 32 teams) in class 5A (there are 8 classes in Illinois). Although they are the #1 seed, it appears that the team to beat in class 5A is #2 seed Lombard-Montini. Green's team, Chicago-Robeson is a public league team which traditionally struggles in the playoffs (much like Mpls and StP city schools in Minnesota).

Statistically Green has been dominating his senior season. After scoring 21 TDs as a junior, Brandon has already surpassed that a senior.

• 47 receptions for 1,100 yards
• 17 receiving TDs
• 3 rushing TDs
• 3 punt return TDs
• 3 passing TDs
• 3 INTs and 4 fumble recoveries

WR - Vincent Hill - attending Milford Academy Prep School, Hill (#3 on the right) has had a good (though not dominant) season. Through 7 games Hill has 22 receptions, 354 yards and 2 TD. Milford Academy is undefeated and has 4 games remaining. Interesting note about Milford? Mike Tice from Edina, MN is a LB for the Falcons.

Ath - Johnny Johnson - Green's teammate at Robeson is also racking up impressive stats. The 2-star recruit is the Raider's starting QB, CB and KR. 30 passing TDs and 1,700 yards to just 3 interceptions thrown. Also rushed for 5 TDs and defensively has 24 tackles and 3 INTs.

DB - Jonathan Dandridge - The Highland Park Polar Bear's season appears to be over, finishing with a 5-4 record. Dandridge had a solid season leading the team in receiving and finding the endzone 5 times. He is a defensive recruit for the gophers and finished the season with 38 tackles and 1 interception.

DB - Simoni Lawrence - attends Valley Forge Military Academy, which has produced NFL players such as Larry Fitzgerald, Chris Doleman and Julian Peterson. Lawrence's team is currently 6-2 and has won their last 2 games by a combined 124-0. I am unable to find stats for Simoni this season. As a high school senior he started at RB and SS and had over 2,100 yards rushing and 26 TDs. Last season at the JUCO level he had 600 yards rushing, 8 TDs, 107 tackles and 10 interceptions.

LB - Sam Maresh - Champlin Park won their 1st round playoff game last night 41-0. As the #4 seed, they not face #1 seed Osseo. Through the first 8 games, Maresh has been a beast on the field leading the team with 81 tackles (next highest is 47), 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception.

TE - Eric Lair - Houston Lamar, team is currently 6-1. Best stats I could find show 5 receptions, 92 yards and 4 TDs.


UNCOMMITTED

Dallas - Skyline 4 - the team is 6-1 losing only to Arlington Bowie (7-17) who is currently ranked #8 in Texas 5A (highest class). The Raiders will likely win out and finish 9-1 heading into the playoffs. The overall defense has been VERY good.

• Held 5-2 Molina to just 5 first downs and 97 total yards on their way to a 48-0 shutout.
  
• Has not allowed double digit points in their last 4 games.
• Has allowed 1 touchdown in their last 13 quarters.
• Leads the Dallas area allowing just 174.6 yards per game.
• Most recent game held team to 50 yards of total offense en route to a 62-0 win.
• Only 3 teams in Texas class 5A have allowed fewer points than Skyline.
  

Ath - Troy Stoudermire (RB/WR/DB) - this 2-star athlete has...

• 375 rushing yards
• 3 rushing TDs
• 2 punt return TDs
• 1 receiving TD
• 1 INT

Ath - DaJon KcKnight - 7 receptions, 101 yards and 2 TDs

LB - Spencer Reeves - defensive stats are hard to come by, but 1 INT returned for a touchdown is certain.

S - Keanon Cooper -unable to find any stats.

DT - Jewhan Edwards (#68 pictured right)- Philadelphia Roman Catholic is sitting at 7-1. Edwards visited Minnesota in late September but has strong interest in big time schools out east. Unable to find any significant stats on Edwards.

QB - MarQueis Gray - this Indianapolis native (Ben Davis High School) has had a disappointing season. Not statistically, but because he broke his hand early is just now getting back onto the field. You can find his cumulative stats HERE. The team is currently 7-3, which includes winning their first playoff game. This week they play the #1 team in state, Pike so it should be a very good game for Gray and his teammates. Gray has played in only 4 games this season but here are his numbers through 4...

• 240 yds rushing and 4 TDs
• 294 yds passing, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
• 5 receptions, 86 yards and 1 TD

Gray has been down to Minnesota and Oregon, but the Pioneer Press is reporting that we may be close to landing Gray since Oregon recently signed another QB from the state of Texas. Personally, I'm a little skeptical of Gray. As I read HERE, Gray has the tools and ability to be a dominant QB at the D1 level (in the Vince Young mold), but people also question how badly he wants to be good. "Those high school coaches who have seen him play know that he has all the tools to be a great one. But, not sure he wants it bad enough." So I am skeptical but I also appreciate that we are recruiting a very talented, 4-star QB from a program that traditionally wins (17 sectional championships). The gophers need talent and they need winners. We'll find out where Gray falls on that spectrum.

CB - Traye Simmons - College of the Sequoias is sitting at 3-4 with 3 games remaining. We like to call him Big Play Traye, but will BPT be a golden gopher? That remains to be seen. Stats were a little sketchy for Coll of Sequoias. BPT had 7 tackles in 2 games, but I was unable to garner any further stats.


That is the best I can do for now (and I apologize for the messy layout of this post). I hope these are valuable updates on incoming or potential future gophers. I am encouraged that we are targeting kids from winning program. Dallas Skyline, Indianapolis Ben Davis, Chicago Robeson and Philadelphia Roman Catholic are all having great seasons. The gophers need to add winners to change the culture of mediocrity.