Hartman: Athleticism showing in early Gophers football practices

Jerry Kill was asked if he has an early opinion after three practices about the athleticism of his Gophers football squad.

?Our athleticism is improved,? Kill said. ?I think that?s the biggest thing I noticed on both sides of the ball. We have some young guys that we have to get put in the right place, and that takes time to teach them.

?They?re all trying to learn and be cautious and so forth. Then I see some guys who have been here who have changed their body type and move much better. Overall I like that we look better and I think we move better, and now we have to coach them better.?

Looking back to last year?s 34-31 loss to Texas Tech in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, Kill said he believes the team might have gained some confidence from the way it played.

?Certainly that particular game helped us but, again, each year is a new team,? he said. ?I think recruiting has a lot to do with most of it. I mean you have to get lucky in recruiting. Good players make you a good coach, that?s the bottom line. I think with our second recruiting class coming in, some of the guys that have come in are pretty gifted athletically.?

Depth at skill positions

Kill said two wide receivers, redshirt freshman Jamel Harbison and sophomore Andre McDonald, will improve the young receiving corps, which is already impressing him.

?I think certainly them being back, that certainly helps. But I?ll be honest with you, they?re in an extreme amount of competition right now because [freshmen] named Eric Carter and Drew Wolitarsky have done very well right at the start of camp. You can tell they?re blessed with a lot of athleticism. [Redshirt junior] Isaac Fruechte and [redshirt senior] Derrick Engel have come in in great shape and so we?ll be better in that area.?

Source: http://www.startribune.com/sports/218313161.html

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