THE LAND FROM WHICH THEY COME
The University of Minnesota is located in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. I've been to Minneapolis. It's a nice place, but I'd rather go to Hawai'i.
TEN FACTS ABOUT MINNESOTA
- The original name of St. Paul was Pig's Eye.
- The Metrodome is the only stadium to host a Super Bowl, World Series and NCAA Final Four.
- The University of Minnesota completed the first open heart surgery and bone marrow transplant in the United States.
- The world's largest twine ball (17,400) can be found in Darwin Minnesota.
- In 1889 the Minnesota Public Library was the first library to have a Children's section.
- Rollerblades were invented by two Minnesotans in 1980. Orthopedic doctors celebrate their invention to this day.
- Minnetonka, Minnesota is home to Tonka Trucks.
- Spam was created in 1926 by Hormel Company which is located in Austin, MN.
- The world's largest Paul Bunyan statue (20 feet tall) can be found in Akeley, MN.
- Two Minnesotan gym owners created Zubaz.
50states.com
5 MINNESOTA STRANGE LAWS
- In Minnesota it is legal to be drunk in public.
- In Minnetonka anyone involved in allowing or being allowed to enter a massage parlor after 11:00 p.m. is guilty of a misdemeanor.
- It is illegal to give or receive oral sex.
- Minnesota nursing homes and senior centers are only allowed to play bingo two days a week.
- Minnesota has a law outlawing silly laws.
minnesotafunfacts.com
dumblaws.com
| LOCATION | Minneapolis, MN |
| YEAR FOUNDED | 1851 |
| ENROLLMENT | 51,853 |
| NICKNAME | Golden Gophers |
| COLORS | Maroon and Gold |
| HEAD COACH | Jerry Kill |
| INTERIM HC | Tracy Claeys |
KNOW MINNESOTA'S RECENT HISTORY
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| MINNESOTA | YEAR | OHIO STATE |
| 8-5 | 2014 | 14-1 |
| 8-5 | 2013 | 12-2 |
| 6-7 | 2012 | 12-0 |
| 22-17 | TOTAL | 38-3 |
| 7-6 | AVERAGE | 13-1 |
KNOW THE MAN WHO LEADS MINNESOTA
Jerry Kill retired last week due to health issues. Coach Kill was hired by Minnesota in December of 2010. He accumulated a record of 29-29 with the Gophers and last year earned Minnesota a berth to a January 1st bowl game for the first time since 1962. Jerry Kill's career record was 156-102. College football will miss Jerry Kill.
Tracy Claeys was named Interim Head Coach on 10-28. In 2013 Claeys stepped in as Interim Head Coach for seven games when Jerry Kill had to take a leave of absence due to health concerns. Claeys was 4-3 with victories over Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern and Penn State. Tracy Claeys has worked with Jerry Kill for 21 seasons and the Gophers should be in good hands.
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| POSITION | PLAYER | COMP. RATING | POSITION | PLAYER | COMP. RATING |
| QB | MITCH LEIDNER | .829 | QB | CARDALE JONES | .870 |
| RB | RODNEY SMITH | .835 | RB | EZEKIEL ELLIOTT | .969 |
| WR | DREW WOLITARSKY | .837 | WR | MICHAEL THOMAS | .870 |
| WR | KJ MAYE | .803 | WR | JALIN MARSHALL | .983 |
| FB | MILES THOMAS | .699 | HY | BRAXTON MILLER | .983 |
| TE | BRANDON LINGEN | .798 | TE | NICK VANNETT | .912 |
| LT | BEN LAUER | .754 | LT | TAYLOR DECKER | .927 |
| LG | JOE BJORKLUND | .838 | LG | BILLY PRICE | .916 |
| C | BRIAN BOBEK | .911 | C | JACOBY BOREN | .870 |
| RG | CONNOR MAYES | .873 | RG | PAT ELFLEIN | .842 |
| RT | JONAH PIRSIG | .872 | RT | CHASE FARRIS | .925 |
| AVERAGE | .823 | AVERAGE | .915 |
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RECRUITING NOTES 2012-2015
Minnesota's highest rated starter is RG Connor Mayes (.873).
The largest gap among the offensive starters is the 180 point gap between Ohio State's WR Jalin Marshall and Minnesota's WR KJ Maye.
The average of Ohio State's starters is 92 points better than Minnesota's.
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| POSITION | NO. OF PLAYERS | POSITION | NO. OF PLAYERS |
| QB | 5 | QB | 4 |
| RB | 9* | RB | 5 |
| WR | 11 | WR | 11 |
| ATH | 7 | ATH | 9 |
| TE | 6 | TE | 3 |
| OT | 9 | OT | 11 |
| OG / C | 4 | OG / C | 7 |
| TOTAL | 51 | TOTAL | 50 |
*1 FB included.
OFFENSIVE RECRUITING COMPARISON
Minnesota's starting QB, Mitch Leidner (.829), was 16/33 for 317 yards and a TD in the loss against That Team.
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| AVERAGE | CATEGORY | AVERAGE |
| 6-3 | HEIGHT | 6-4 |
| 210 | WEIGHT | 208 |
| .841 | COMP. AVERAGE | .890 |
Between 2012-2015 Minnesota signed 5 quarterbacks and Ohio State signed 4. Phillip Nelson (.858) was the Golden Gophers' highest rated QB commit.
Last week RB Rodney Smith rushed for 74 yards. Through 8 weeks Smith has gained 541 yards on the ground.
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| AVERAGE | CATEGORY | AVERAGE |
| 5-11 | HEIGHT | 6-0 |
| 205 | WEIGHT | 207 |
| .847 | COMP. AVERAGE | .953 |
Between 2012 and 2015 Minnesota signed 8 running backs. Jeff Jones (.969) was their highest rated commit. Ohio State's highest rated commit was Ezekiel Elliott (.969). I think the Buckeyes signed the better player.
WR Drew Wolitarksy (.837) had 22 yards receiving and one reception against That Team.
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| AVERAGE | CATEGORY | AVERAGE |
| 6-2 | HEIGHT | 6-1 |
| 195 | WEIGHT | 189 |
| .833 | COMP. AVERAGE | .914 |
Between 2012 and 2015 Minnesota signed 11 wide receivers. Andrew McDonald (.874) was their highest rated commit. Ohio State's highest rated commit was Jalin Marshall (.983).
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| AVERAGE | CATEGORY | AVERAGE |
| 6-2 | HEIGHT | 6-3 |
| 190 | WEIGHT | 198 |
| .805 | COMP. AVERAGE | .915 |
The Golden Gophers signed 7 athletes between 2012-2015. Ray Buford (.846) was their highest rated athlete. Curtis Samuel (.970) was Ohio State's highest rated athlete.
TE Gaelin Elmore (.857) was recruited is Minnesota's highest rated TE commit.
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| AVERAGE | CATEGORY | AVERAGE |
| 6-5 | HEIGHT | 6-4 |
| 240 | WEIGHT | 228 |
| .829 | COMP. AVERAGE | .901 |
Between 2012 and 2015 Minnesota signed six tight ends. Ohio State only signed three. Gaelin Elmore (.857) was Minnesota's highest rated commit. Ohio State's highest rated commit was Marcus Baugh (.960)
Jonah Pirsig (.872) was signed by Minnesota in 2012.
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| AVERAGE | CATEGORY | AVERAGE |
| 6-6 | HEIGHT | 6-8 |
| 283 | WEIGHT | 297 |
| .825 | COMP. AVERAGE | .904 |
Between 2012 and 2015 the Golden Gophers signed 9 offensive tackles. Jonah Pirsig (.872) was Minnesota's highest rated OT commit. Ohio State's highest rated OT commit was Jamarco Jones (.970).
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| AVERAGE | CATEGORY | AVERAGE |
| 6-3 | HEIGHT | 6-4 |
| 297 | WEIGHT | 293 |
| .877 | COMP. AVERAGE | .893 |
Between 2012 and 2015 Minnesota signed three players at offensive guard / center. Brian Bobek (.911) was their highest rated commit. Ohio State's highest rated commit was Demetrius Knox (.952). Bobek originally signed with Ohio State's class of 2011, but transferred after Jim Tressel resigned.
ALL SIGNED PLAYERS 2012-2015
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| PLAYER (YEAR) | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | PLAYER (YEAR) | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | |
| PHILLIP NELSON (2012) | 6-2 | 215 | .858 | J.T. BARRETT (2013) | 6-2 | 205 | .935 | |
| DIMONIC RODEN-McKINZY (2014) | 6-0 | 214 | .855 | JOE BURROW (2015) | 6-4 | 200 | .897 | |
| DEMRY CROFT (2015) | 6-5 | 198 | .853 | CARDALE JONES (2012) | 6-5 | 220 | .870 | |
| MITCH LEIDNER (2012) | 6-4 | 220 | .829 | STEPHEN COLLIER (2014) | 6-4 | 208 | .859 | |
| CHRIS STREVELER (2013) | 6-3 | 205 | .812 | |||||
| AVERAGE | 6-3 | 210 | .841 | AVERAGE | 6-4 | 208 | .890 |
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| PLAYER | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | PLAYER | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | |
| JEFF JONES (2014) | 5-11 | 196 | .969 | EZEKIEL ELLIOTT (2013) | 6-0 | 212 | .969 | |
| BERKLEY EDWARDS (2013) | 5-9 | 185 | .860 | DONTRE WILSON (2013) | 5-10 | 181 | .969 | |
| RODRICK WILLIAMS JR. (2012) | 5-10 | 221 | .841 | MICHAEL WEBER (2015) | 5-9 | 219 | .960 | |
| RODNEY SMITH (2014) | 5-11 | 195 | .835 | BRI'ONTE DUNN (2012) | 6-2 | 218 | .954 | |
| JONATHAN FEMI-COLE | 6-0 | 218 | .827 | WARREN BALL (2012) | 6-2 | 203 | .914 | |
| SHANNON BROOKS (2015) | 6-0 | 205 | .827 | |||||
| JAMES JOHNESSON (2015) | 6-1 | 221 | .816 | |||||
| JAMES GILLUM (2012) | 5-11 | 197 | .800 | |||||
| AVERAGE | 5-11 | 205 | .847 | AVERAGE | 6-0 | 207 | .953 |
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| PLAYER | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | PLAYER | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | |
| ANDRE McDONALD (2012) | 6-3 | 195 | .874 | JALIN MARSHALL (2013) | 5-11 | 196 | .983 | |
| JAMEL HARBISON (2012) | 5-11 | 175 | .872 | JOHNNIE DIXON (2014) | 5-10 | 187 | .964 | |
| MELVIN HOLLAND (2014) | 6-3 | 205 | .860 | PARRIS CAMPBELL (2014) | 6-0 | 184 | .936 | |
| De'NIRO LASTER (2013) | 6-3 | 210 | .849 | K.J. HILL (2015) | 6-0 | 188 | .930 | |
| HUNTER REGISTER (2015) | 6-5 | 200 | .839 | JAMES CLARK (2013) | 5-10 | 170 | .911 | |
| DREW WOLITARSKY (2013) | 6-2 | 190 | .837 | TERRY McLUARIN (2014) | 6-0 | 190 | .905 | |
| ERIC CARTER (2013) | 5-10 | 175 | .815 | COREY SMITH (2013) | 5-11 | 185 | .903 | |
| ISAIAH GENTRY (2014) | 6-4 | 185 | .827 | ALEX STUMP (2015) | 6-3 | 195 | .897 | |
| RASHARD STILL (2015) | 6-5 | 200 | .807 | FRANK EPITROPOULOS (2012) | 6-3 | 195 | .878 | |
| CONNER KRIZACIC (2014) | 6-2 | 190 | .803 | RICQUAN SOUTHWARD (2012) | 6-2 | 185 | .876 | |
| ISAAC FRUECHTE (2012) | 6-3 | 219 | .779 | MICHAEL THOMAS (2012) | 6-4 | 200 | .870 | |
| AVERAGE | 6-2 | 195 | .833 | AVERAGE | 6-1 | 189 | .914 |
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| PLAYER | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | PLAYER | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | |
| RAY BUFORD (2015) | 6-2 | 190 | .846 | CURTIS SAMUEL (2014) | 6-0 | 185 | .970 | |
| Ra'SHAUN CRONEY (2014) | 6-0 | 175 | .810 | JEROME BAKER (2015) | 6-2 | 203 | .969 | |
| DONAVAHN JONES (2013) | 6-2 | 195 | .805 | TORRANCE GIBSON (2015) | 6-4 | 204 | .961 | |
| KJ MAYE (2012) | 5-10 | 190 | .803 | SAM HUBBARD (2014) | 6-6 | 225 | .923 | |
| DUKE ANYANWU (2012) | 6-4 | 220 | .788 | NOAH BROWN (2014) | 6-2 | 212 | .919 | |
| ERIC MURRAY (2012) | 5-11 | 175 | .779 | MALIK HOOKER (2014) | 6-2 | 185 | .886 | |
| DESMOND GANT (2014) | 6-3 | 225 | .699 | TYVIS POWELL (2012) | 6-4 | 180 | .876 | |
| CHRISTOPHER WORLEY (2013) | 6-3 | 190 | .868 | |||||
| DARRON LEE (2013) | 6-2 | 195 | .860 | |||||
| AVERAGE | 6-1 | 196 | .790 | AVERAGE | 6-3 | 198 | .915 |
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| PLAYER | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | PLAYER | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | |
| GAELIN ELMORE (2014) | 6-6 | 247 | .857 | MARCUS BAUGH (2013) | 6-4 | 225 | .960 | |
| NATE WOZNIAK (2013) | 6-10 | 255 | .843 | BLAKE THOMAS (2012) | 6-4 | 240 | .871 | |
| MAXX WILLIAMS (2012) | 6-4 | 220 | .839 | A.J. ALEXANDER (2015) | 6-4 | 220 | .869 | |
| BRYCE WITHAM (2015) | 6-4 | 240 | .822 | |||||
| JERRY GIBSON (2014) | 6-3 | 220 | .815 | |||||
| BRANDON LINGEN (2014) | 6-5 | 255 | .798 | |||||
| AVERAGE | 6-5 | 255 | .798 | AVERAGE | 6-4 | 228 | .901 |
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| PLAYER (YEAR) | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | PLAYER (YEAR) | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | |
| JONAH PIRSIG (2012) | 6-9 | 285 | .872 | JAMARCO JONES (2014) | 6-5 | 290 | .970 | |
| QUINN OSELAND (2015) | 6-6 | 301 | .855 | EVAN LISLE (2013) | 6-5 | 260 | .965 | |
| BRONSON DOVICH (2015) | 6-5 | 295 | .839 | ISAIAH PRINCE (2015) | 6-6 | 272 | .950 | |
| ALEX MAYES (2013) | 6-6 | 275 | .839 | TAYLOR DECKER (2012) | 6-8 | 315 | .927 | |
| TED STIEBER (2015) | 6-6 | 290 | .837 | KYLE DODSON (2012) | 6-6 | 330 | .919 | |
| NICK CONNELY (2015) | 6-7 | 277 | .831 | KYLE TROUT (2014) | 6-6 | 300 | .901 | |
| JARED WEYLER (2014) | 6-4 | 280 | .802 | GRANT SCHMIDT (2015) | 6-6 | 275 | .873 | |
| LUKE RAMSUSSEN (2014) | 6-7 | 275 | .798 | KEVIN FEDER (2015) | 6-9 | 305 | .870 | |
| BEN LAUER (2012) | 6-6 | 270 | .754 | BRANDEN BOWEN (2015) | 6-7 | 330 | .867 | |
| BRADY TAYLOR (2014) | 6-5 | 276 | .862 | |||||
| TIMOTHY GARDNER (2013) | 6-5 | 310 | .842 | |||||
| AVERAGE | 6-6 | 283 | .825 | AVERAGE | 6-8 | 297 | .904 |
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| PLAYER (YEAR) | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | PLAYER (YEAR) | HGHT | WT | COMP. RATING | |
| BRIAN BOBEK (2012 | 6-2 | 302 | .911 | DEMETRIUS KNOX (2014) | 6-4 | 294 | .952 | |
| CONNOR MAYES (2014) | 6-4 | 305 | .873 | MATTHEW BURRELL (2015) | 6-4 | 321 | .949 | |
| ISAAC HAYES (2012) | 6-3 | 270 | .871 | JOEY O'CONNOR (2012) | 6-3 | 280 | .908 | |
| TYLER MOORE (2015) | 6-4 | 310 | .854 | MARCELYS JONES (2014) | 6-5 | 325 | .881 | |
| JACOBY BOREN (2012) | 6-3 | 275 | .870 | |||||
| MIRKO JURKOVIC (2015) | 6-5 | 275 | .852 | |||||
| PAT ELFLEIN (2012) | 6-3 | 280 | .842 | |||||
| AVERAGE | 6-3 | 297 | .877 | AVERAGE | 6-4 | 293 | .893 |
Player rankings from 247sports.com
