Wolfson: Look at 2008 'U' class confirms signing day is one big maybe

Ex-Gophers coach Tim Brewster's best work in recruiting wasn't landing that Rose Bowl turf. It was his 2008 class.

It included 30 players, with the headliners being quarterback MarQueis Gray and linebacker Sam Maresh.

Even though Gray participated in the made-for-TV U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Maresh was the face of the group because: A) He was a metro-area star at Champlin Park High School; B) He said no to offers from Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin; and C) He gave the Gophers his commitment nine months before National Signing Day.

Brewster, not one to shy away from a brash opinion, went as far as to suggest that Maresh would be a "flag-bearer for the University of Minnesota."

He sure was a flag-bearer. One for all that is inexact about projecting what 17-year-old kids will do over a four- or five-year period.

After conquering open-heart surgery, Maresh flamed out at the "U", dismissed for academic reasons in spring 2010. He admitted to the Star Tribune heavy drinking led to the inevitable.

The 2012 class coach Jerry Kill introduced at the 'Sota Social at TCF Bank Stadium on Wednesday night, in many ways, will be no different than that class of four years ago.

There will be big-time contributors like Gray, receiver Da'Jon McKnight, cornerback Troy Stoudermire and linebackers Keanon Cooper, Gary Tinsley and Simoni Lawrence.

There will be part-time players like defensive backs Shady Salamon and Johnny Johnson and linebacker Ryan Grant.

There will be guys who transfer like defensive tackle Jewhan Edwards, defensive end Terrell Combs, and quarterback John Nance.

There will be guys who are asked to leave like defensive back Tim Dandridge and Maresh.

And there will be guys who will be out-of-sight, out-of-mind like athlete David Pittman and linebacker Rex Sharpe.

The bottom line is Kill didn't lose any recruits to main rivals Wisconsin and Iowa. In fact, he beat them on Hopkins wide receiver Andre McDonald and Blue Earth offensive lineman Jonah Pirsig. Some think Iowa badly wanted Mankato West quarterback Philip Nelson, too.

Kill tried hard to convince Osseo tight end Will Johnson to de-commit from West Virginia but failed.

"They were still after me, but I wouldn't call it nagging because they're good guys," Johnson said.

Asked what he had to say to a Gophers fan base upset he was the one realistic Minnesota player who got away, Johnson said, "You guys will have a real good team. I wish Andre (McDonald), Phil (Nelson) and Jonah (Pirsig) lots of luck. Down the road, it was probably something that would've stuck out to me."

But Johnson's road for the foreseeable future will be West Virginia's Country Road.

Maybe it's better that Johnson is going elsewhere.

Maybe it's better for Vanderbilt that McDonald de-committed in the last few weeks.

Maybe Nelson is a four-year starting quarterback starting in 2013 -- Kill's Minnesota version of his Northern Illinois signal-caller, Chandler Harnish, who is expected to end up on some team's NFL roster.

Unless you're Texas, Alabama, Florida or a few other select national powerhouses, National Signing Day is one big maybe.

Observations

• After talking with one team insider, I believe juco defensive tackle Roland Johnson will have every opportunity to win a starting job. If he doesn't, expect him to be on the field plenty. Kill, and his defensive coordinator, Tracy Claeys, like to substitute a lot.

• Semi-bold prediction: juco running back James Gillum will be their leading rusher in 2012.

• Juco cornerback Martez Shabazz, if OK academically, will be a starter.

• St. Thomas Academy's Isaac Hayes, who will be used at center, is capable of being the rare offensive lineman who doesn't redshirt.