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Minnesota Gophers get two 2015 commits in two days

By Andrew Coppens

Oct 20, 2012; Madison, WI, USA; A Minnesota Golden Gophers helmet during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Minnesota 38-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2012; Madison, WI, USA; A Minnesota Golden Gophers helmet during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Minnesota 38-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Last season there wasn’t a more surprising team in the Big Ten than the Minnesota Gophers, who finished with eight wins and won contests with traditional powers Nebraska and Penn State. Yet, that momentum appeared not to be transferring over to the recruiting trail just yet.

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However, over the last two days the Gophers have picked up a little momentum on the recruiting trail with two commitments in as many days.

First up was 3-star wide receiver Almonzo Brown out of Suwanee (North Gwinnett), GA. He’s a 6’2″, 214 pound prospect with a ton of potential and little in the way of national attention. Brown is the No. 127-ranked wide receiver in the country and the No. 99-ranked player in the state of Georgia by the 247Sports composite rankings.

Brown’s overall rankings may not jump off the board, but he was on the radar of some more established programs as well. He had offers from the likes of Georgia Tech, Iowa, Kansas State, Kentucky and others.

A day later, Minnesota received a verbal commitment from 3-star running back James Johannesson. He is a player with very little fanfare, but such is the case for most players coming out of high school football in North Dakota. The Fargo (South), ND prospect is the No. 127-ranked running back in the country, but is the No. 1-ranked player in the state of North Dakota.

Johannesson is a 6’1″, 210-pound back who comes to Minnesota with a lot of potential as well. He picked the Gophers over offers from North Dakota, North Dakota State and Yale.

With the two additions, Minnesota now has 12 members of its 2015 class and is the No. 66-ranked class in the country (up seven spots following the commitments), but remains the No. 14-ranked class in the Big Ten.

Both players sound exactly like the type of player head coach Jerry Kill and the Gophers staff love to find and develop. Both have the frame the Gophers look for at their respective positions, but will either be enough to help this team become a consistent contender in the Big Ten West?

Only time will tell us the answer to that, but both are worth keeping an eye on in the coming years.

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