Written by
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's 2012 recruiting class has a locally grown flavor. The Gophers have 10 new players for this season from inside the state.
Coach Jerry Kill says he's pleased by the success he and his staff had in keeping the area's top talent from picking rival programs. Only two Minnesota prep stars signed this year with other schools in the six major conferences, none of them in the Big Ten.
Leading the list of the newcomers this season is quarterback Philip Nelson, the Associated Press Player of the Year from Mankato West. He's joined by Hopkins wide receiver Andre McDonald and Blue Earth offensive tackle Jonah Pirsig.
Nelson is among eight incoming freshmen who enrolled early at Minnesota this semester. They'll get to participate in spring practice starting next month.
The list of players who have signed scholarship national letters of intent with Minnesota for 2012:
x (equals) already enrolled in school
Duke Anyanwu, wr, 6-4, 230, Blaine (Minn.) HS
x-Jeremy Baltazar, db, 6-0, 190, Corona, Calif/Blinn College (Texas)
x-Briean Boddy, cb, 5-11, 175, Wilmington, Del./Coffeyville CC (Kan.)
x-Scott Ekpe, dt, 6-4, 260, Lewisville (Texas) HS
x-Isaac Fruechte, wr, 6-3, 210, Caledonia, Minn./Rochester CTC (Minn.)
x-James Gillum, rb, 5-11, 208, Pearl River, La./Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
Jamel Harbison, wr, 5-11, 195, Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek HS
Isaac Hayes, ol, 6-2, 275, St. Thomas Academy HS, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Jordan Hinojosa, dt, 6-3, 275, Miami Central HS
Antonio Johnson, db, 6-0, 190, Cleveland Shaker Heights HS
Roland Johnson, dt, 6-1, 295, Duncan, S.C./Butler County CC (Kan.)
Alex Keith, de, 6-3, 230, Columbia, Mo./Hickman HS
Ben Lauer, ot, 6-6, 265, Wayzata HS, Plymouth, Minn.
x-Mitch Leidner, qb, 6-4, 225, Lakeville (Minn.) South HS
Jack Lynn, lb, 6-3, 210, Lake Zurich (Ill.) HS
KJ Maye, wr, 5-10, 190, Mobile (Ala.) Murphy HS
Andre McDonald, wr, 6-2, 200, Hopkins HS, Minnetonka, Minn.
Eric Murray, cb, 6-0, 178, Milwaukee Riverside University HS
x-Philip Nelson, qb, 6-2, 220, Mankato (Minn.) West HS
Jonah Pirsig, ot, 6-9, 295, Blue Earth (Minn.) Area HS
Lincoln Plsek, de, 6-4, 245, Waco (Texas) Reicher HS
Nick Rallis, lb, 5-11, 220, Edina (Minn.) HS
x-Martez Shabazz, cb, 5-11, 165, DeSoto, Texas/Trinity Valley CC
Yoshoub Timms, dt, 6-2, 265, Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) HS
Damarius Travis, db, 6-2, 205, Pensacola (Fla.) HS
Maxx Williams, te, 6-4, 235, Waconia (Minn.) HS
Rodrick Williams, rb, 5-11, 228, Lewisville (Texas) HS
The preferred walk-ons who have signed acceptance of admission forms with Minnesota for 2012:
Cedric Dicke, db, 6-3, 200, Cannon Falls (Minn.) HS
Tyler Hartmann, dl, 6-3, 245, Andover (Minn.) HS
Ben Holcomb, db, 6-4, 200, Germantown (Wis.) HS
John McKelvey, wr, 6-0, 190, Hunting Valley (Ohio) University School
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