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So.Mn.Fan -> RE: Gopher Football (11/5/2008 2:42:47 AM)
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QB hopes to persuade other recruits to attend U
By Marcus R. Fuller
mfuller@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 11/05/2008 02:32:58 AM CST
Of all the prospects who will visit the University of Minnesota's football game against Michigan on Saturday, MarQueis Gray might be the most thrilled to be at the Metrodome.
Gray, who practiced with the team in the fall before being ruled ineligible because of his ACT score, was the top recruit in the Gophers' 2008 class. After taking his test again two weeks ago, the former Indianapolis Ben Davis High School All-America quarterback feels confident about rejoining the team next season.
He also can't wait to talk to other recruits attending Saturday's game into joining him to give the Gophers (7-2, 3-2 Big Ten Conference) even more reason to be excited.
"I'm pretty confident about it," said the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Gray about his latest test score, which he hopes to get back Nov. 12. "I can't tell you how excited I am to go back. It's been hard watching the games, but I'm going to be so hyped when I get there. I think I even might sit in the student section."
This could be the Gophers' biggest recruiting weekend of the season, with six highly rated high school seniors scheduled to attend the game against Michigan (2-7, 1-4). Gray, former Dallas Skyline High School linebacker Spencer Reeves and former Champlin Park linebacker Sam Maresh, all former members of the 2008 class, also will be there to try to persuade them.
"I think that's the main reason why they wanted us to come down there," Reeves said. "I think (the recruits) will be very impressed with
what the Gophers are doing."
Reeves couldn't join the team in the fall because of his ACT score, but he has qualified and hopes to join the team with Gray next season. Maresh, who couldn't play this season after having heart surgery, has been cleared to play.
All three players will be big salesmen Saturday for the Gophers, who are trying to add to their 11 oral commitments for next year.
"I think the other recruits will be happy with what they see Saturday," said Gray, who will attend the Michigan game with his mother and former high school coach. "The Gophers went from 1-11 to 7-2 and made a major turnaround with a great recruiting class, with a defense that's stopping people and an offense that's putting up points. Spencer and I, we're going to try to talk some guys into committing. We're trying to get another big recruiting class in next year for Minnesota."
Four-star Pompano Beach (Fla.) Ely High School cornerback Michael Carter, a cousin of former Gophers player Tyrone Carter, will be one of the top recruits making his official visit to Minnesota this weekend. He also has received scholarship offers from two schools in his home state, Miami and Florida, as well as from Georgia and West Virginia.
"They're really looking good to me," the 5-11, 154-pound Carter said about the Gophers. "They're a young team, but I heard they're a fast defense. I see them getting to the quarterback and making plays (in the secondary)."
Out-of-state recruits visiting besides Carter will be three-star athlete Bryant Allen of Richmond Heights (Mo.) High School, three-star defensive end Nosa Eguae of Summit (Texas) High School and three-star defensive tackle Joey Searcy of South Grand Prairie (Texas) High School.
Two of Minnesota's top high school seniors, Minneapolis Washburn tight end Ra'Shede Hageman and four-star Breck wide receiver Bryce McNeal, who decommitted from Michigan, also will be making their visits.
"Probably from a numbers standpoint, with the number of kids coming, it's big," Gophers coach Tim Brewster said. "We had 45 visits (last year) and 31 signed. That's over a 72 percent success rate."
Gray is one player Brewster won't have to recruit.
When he was told about Minnesota encouraging fans to wear all gold for "Solid Gold Saturday" at the Metrodome, Gray said he definitely wanted to take part.
"I arrive Friday morning, so I hope I get a chance to buy a T-shirt before the game," he said. "I gotta get some gold."
Briefly: Brewster said sophomore wide receiver Ralph Spry would return to practice this week after a two-game suspension for violating team rules but that Spry wouldn't play against Michigan.
The Gophers lost four-star running back Eric Stephens of Timberview (Texas) High School, who switched his commitment to Texas Tech.
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