Gopher from Rockford Transferring

ISUBU

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Our interior DL has several experienced seniors, and then a gap to younger players. A guy with 2 seasons of eligibility might be attractive depending on how those underclassmen have developed in practice.

I think we're actively looking for a defensive end type player.
 

MadBird

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Further research shows he was a Western Michigan recruit who followed Fleck to Minn. Also is mentioned as flexible enough to play DE, altho it seems he's put on a few lbs. since HS days.
 
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TIMMY

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Sounds like a fit at Nose or strong side DE DT Eagle inside guy like Lewan or Podkulski. Probably not an outside weakside DE guy like McKnight. You can't have enough big turds who can play!
 

ISUBU

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If he's playing this season, he better accept and arrive asap. I would guess that we're doing the pre-preseason work right now. Anyone know when formal practice kicks off? First game is 6 weeks from today.

I think that midyear enrolled recruits can't play this season. But I don't know if that means only early enrolled high schoolers, or transfer students like this.
 

Total Red

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If he's playing this season, he better accept and arrive asap. I would guess that we're doing the pre-preseason work right now. Anyone know when formal practice kicks off? First game is 6 weeks from today.

I think that midyear enrolled recruits can't play this season. But I don't know if that means only early enrolled high schoolers, or transfer students like this.
OTA's now Formal practice 1/21

 

MadBird

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If he's playing this season, he better accept and arrive asap. I would guess that we're doing the pre-preseason work right now. Anyone know when formal practice kicks off? First game is 6 weeks from today.

I think that midyear enrolled recruits can't play this season. But I don't know if that means only early enrolled high schoolers, or transfer students like this.

Sounds like not eligible to me, he played in the fall.

DI Council adopts midyear enrollee legislation | NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA

The decision applies to midyear enrollees who plan to compete in the Football Championship Subdivision and other fall sports. The legislation supersedes an earlier decision to prohibit participation by midyear enrollees. Football Bowl Subdivision student-athletes are not included because they are not conducting their fall seasons in the spring.

To qualify for spring competition, freshmen who enroll at midyear must have graduated in the spring or summer of 2020 and made a written commitment to a school indicating intent to enroll in the fall 2020 term.

If a transfer engaged in competition in the fall or winter term of 2020, the student-athlete is not eligible to compete at the new school in spring 2021.
 

MadBird

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I'll stick this here - another Gopher DL, this one a smaller DE. Was a 3-star out of HS. Also had an NIU offer and a bunch of other MAC offers. From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

Also Monday, redshirt freshman defensive lineman D'vion Harris entered the NCAA transfer portal, a source confirmed. The 6-2, 245-pound St. Louis native redshirted 2019 and appeared in just the Purdue game this past season, making one tackle against Purdue.
 

fourthandshort

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Listed at 6'4" and 295-300 lbs ... so same size as Podkulski.

Not sure how he has 2 years left ??

But if he is smart, he will not play this spring ... our 2 deep at DT is stacked with 4 starters sharing 2 interior positions, unless we're in short yardage situation, though lose 2 of 4 next fall.

If he gets reps this spring with our current DL, he will have to be a good one. Will certainly help fill a gap next fall .. assuming he does or can NOT play this spring ? Besides, he will see much more time when we lose Podkulski and Powell, though still have Ridgeway and Lewan in Fall 2021.

Side bar ... who is slated to fill Romeo McKnight's big shoes this spring ??

HONORS:
Academic All-Big Ten (2020, 2019)

2020 JUNIOR SEASON: Played in seven games • saw action on special teams and defense • made three tackles. Game-by-Game: Competed against Michigan, at Maryland and at Illinois • saw action on special teams and defense against Iowa • made three tackles on defense against Purdue • played at Nebraska and at Wisconsin.

2019 SOPHOMORE SEASON: Saw action in all 13 games • made one tackle at Rutgers and one against Wisconsin.

2018 FRESHMAN SEASON: Made collegiate debut against New Mexico State • saw action against Miami (OH), Ohio State and Nebraska • notched first collegiate tackle against Purdue • saw action against Northwestern • recorded one tackle in Quick Lane Bowl victory against Georgia Tech.

2017: Redshirted.
 

fourthandshort

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Meant to add, Spack and Fleck couldn't be more different personalities ... except for one thing. They demand and get a lot out of their players. So while Spack's old school approach may not be as "appealing", Spack clearly has much better facial hair.

From the highlights, dude looks like a "mudder". Nothing flashy, but he makes the ugly tackles in trenches and just won't let go.

Still trying to understand how he thinks he has 2 more years ?
 

ISUBU

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The timing of this is pretty good for football. He'll finish up at Minnesota this Spring. He'll then be here in time for preseason practice in the fall.

Depending on how many of this year's seniors on the DL want to play an extra season, we are likely to be hard hit by graduation this May.
 

TIMMY

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Side bar ... who is slated to fill Romeo McKnight's big shoes this spring ??
This is a really good question. Maybe TR has an idea as to who that would be.

Randy Reinhardt made a passing comment about a 4 man front. Maybe that's the answer. I'd like to see this team get away from the 3-4.

4-3, 2 big DT's. As you mention we certainly have those. 2 hand in the dirt DE's. We got guys who fit that bill. And 3 traditional LB's. As Mark mentions in a different post we're deep there. We take a DL out of the game every time we go nickel which puts us in a 4 front anyway. A traditional 4-3 as a base would let us be in our base a bigger percentage of snaps. It would also eliminate the off-tackle mismatch we have fallen into when teams go trips on us. Just a thought.
 

Total Red

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Side bar ... who is slated to fill Romeo McKnight's big shoes this spring ??
That question was already asked and answered but the situation has changed. Fehrmann was on track to replace McKnight at the DE position but he is sitting out the Winter/Spring for personal reasons. The DL is being reshuffled but it will get the best players on the field. That suits me because I was already in favor of getting Jacob Powell more PT. He was playing nose tackle behind Ridgeway but he's too valuable for 2nd string. Right now we're looking at a D-Front of Lewan, Ridgeway, Powell and Simon. Okolo should be a key alternate.
 
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