MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota will remain rooted in the running game for a while, staying true to the preferred strategy of coach Jerry Kill and his staff.
The Gophers included three running backs in their 24-player recruiting class that became official Wednesday on national signing day, with Canadian Jonathan Femi-Cole leading the list of incoming freshmen who will join standouts from each of the last two recruiting classes in a crowded competition for departing senior David Cobb’s spot. Berkley Edwards will be a redshirt sophomore and Jeff Jones will be a redshirt freshman on the 2015 team, with Rodrick Williams and Rodney Smith also returning from last year’s roster.
Just as important as the running backs, though, are the blockers in front of them.
The Gophers signed five offensive linemen, including two tackles from Minnesota: Nick Connelly of Red Wing and Bronson Dovich of Chaska. The average size of this incoming scholarship quintet is 6-foot-6 and 293 pounds. It also features Ted Stieber of Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio, Quinn Oseland of Sacred Heart Griffin High School in Springfield, Illinois, and Tyler Moore, a center from North Shore High School outside of Houston.
“It’s as big of a group as we’ve recruited and as athletic a group as we’ve recruited,” Kill said, adding: “They’ll pass the look test, I can tell you that, when they come to camp.”
The other position group the Gophers honed in on with this class was defensive backs, with safety Dior Johnson highlighting the seven signees. The Michigan native initially picked Wake Forest before changing his mind last week and joining Southfield High School teammate and cornerback Ray Buford at Minnesota.
Kill actually took the call from Johnson with his commitment while he was on the runway in a private plane after visiting Johnson’s home.
“I had to tell the guy, ’Keep ’er down right now. Don’t get in the air,” Kill said.
Without any consensus five or four-star players, the Gophers were ranked anywhere from ninth to 13th in the Big Ten by the major recruiting services. The only other Minnesota recruits who signed with power-conference teams, though, went with national championship game participants Ohio State (Jashon Cornell of St. Paul Cretin-Derham Hall) and Oregon (Drayton Carlberg of Minneapolis DeLaSalle), both defensive linemen.
ESPN analyst Tom Luginbill called Kill’s approach to building the program more of a “slow burn.” His staff has a track record of raw prospects into productive players down the road.
“He’s doing it through evaluation of not just the immediate guy but what a guy might be like two or three years down the road,” Luginbill said, “which is one of the hardest things to do.”
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