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Aug6
JUCOs (Junior College Transfers)
Entering the 2008 football season, the Gophers have added six junior college transfers to their squad. Junior college transfers, or JUCOs, are players who used one or two years of their NCAA eligibility to play football for junior college teams. Why would a Division 1 Big Ten Football program want to add players to their recruiting class that only have one or two years of eligibility left instead of high school recruits who could contribute to the program for four years? First, JUCOs have a few more years of maturity and experience, and can contribute to a program immediately. Second, the Gophers had several holes to fill after last year’s 1-11 season, and many incoming freshmen may not be physically ready or experienced enough to play right away. Third, many JUCOs are players that were either overlooked by scouts, matured after high school, or needed to improve upon their academics before being accepted to a Division I-A program.
JUCO players can offer immediate assistance to teams in need of talented players. In 1997, Bill Snyder of Kansas State brought in 12 junior college players. One year later, Kansas State realized their first ever number one ranking during the season. Apparently, Kansas State is revisiting that strategy once again. I think it highly unlikely that the six Gopher JUCO transfers will bring us to the Rose Bowl, but I do expect the defense to have a much better year.
Expect to see JUCO transfers Tramaine Brock, Traye Simmons, and Simoni Lawrence start in the defensive backfield. Don’t be surprised to see Lawrence play some downs as a linebacker, too. Cedric McKinley should add size and speed at defensive end. Rex Sharpe was a highly recruited player coming out of high school in 2005, and originally committed to Auburn. After overcoming some adversity, he is looking forward to being an impact player as a linebacker for the Gophers. Potentially, the Gophers could be adding three talented defensive backs, a defensive end with excellent size and speed, and a linebacker who could be a difference maker. On offense, David Pittman should be a versatile weapon for the Gophers.
Hopefully, the Gophers’ six JUCO recruits will add a shot of adrenaline to the program for the 2008 season. While these players don’t have a full four years of eligibility to play football at the University of Minnesota, they should help improve the team as the Gophers look to expand the Gopher Nation prior to the opening of their new stadium in 2009. Long term, their presence may allow some of the linebacker and defensive line high school recruits to redshirt in 2008. An extra year in the weight room prior to the eligibility clock ticking away can do wonders for a player’s strength and size. In 2008, expect there to be nothing junior about Gopher JUCOs.
6 Responses to “JUCOs (Junior College Transfers)”
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Did not Lawrence go to prep school and not junior college. He is being listed at a freshman and has not lost any eligibility. Any JUCOs would lose eligibility.
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1-11Again August 13th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
This is hilarious! These JUCO “studs” are going to get mowed down like grass in the Big 10 this year, and most will have flunked out by the 2009 season. David Pittman is “versatile?” How would you know that, seeing as he has not had his a@@ off the warm-up bike since arriving in the TCs?? Nice move brew; full ride to a guy with a chronically bum hamstring!!
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Lawrence is listed as a starting LB currently, should help the pass coverage against RB’s. Sharpe could push out Steve Davis for the other starting spot along with Hightower.
Why would anyone think that players who excelled at the JUCO level will not be ready or able to compete with Big Ten players? They were brought in to start immediately and provide an upgrade on a defense that was the worst in D-1 last year. Even some of the true freshmen will come in and help this team immediately. We lost 6 games by less than a TD, so we aren’t that far away, relax. Should win 6 games, maybe 7.
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[...] that the incoming recruits were not a factor as mentioned in this article. In my opinion, three JUCOs from last year’s recruiting class made a difference in the outcome of the game. If Tramaine Brock, Traye Simmons and Simoni [...]
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Week 2 Recap: Minnesota 42 - Bowling Green 17 « Buck Bravo’s Gopher Football Blog September 7th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
[...] showing. Will the Gophers demonstrate defensive improvement versus last year with the addition of JUCO players and new defensive coordinator Ted Roof? That question may determine the outcome of the [...]
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hey good job man.
