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University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota Football Program Announces 22 Signees
2/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
University of Minnesota head football coach Tim Brewster announced today 22 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend the University of Minnesota and play football for the Golden Gophers.
The list includes players from eight different states and is highlighted by eight signees from Minnesota. The group includes one quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end, four offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, one linebacker, five defensive backs and two athletes.
“We are extremely excited about the signing of 22 student-athletes who will be the newest members of the Gopher Nation,” Brewster said. “Our first priority is always to the student-athletes of the great state of Minnesota and we are ecstatic about their desire to be a part of our program. We are thrilled with the reception that we received from this year’s class and look forward to providing them with a great experience both academically and athletically at the University of Minnesota.”
2007 Golden Gopher Football Signees
| Name | Pos. | Hgt. | Wgt. | Hometown (Last School) |
| Duane Bennett | RB | 5-9 | 190 | Fairview Heights, Ill. (O'Fallon Township) |
| Clint Brewster | QB | 6-1 | 190 | Denver, Colo. (J.K. Mullen) |
| Chris Bunders | OL | 6-3 | 305 | Maple Grove, Minn. (Osseo) |
| Justin Chatman | ATH | 5-9 | 165 | Mesquite, Texas (Horn) |
| Marc Cheatham | WR | 6-2 | 210 | Oakland, Calif. (Laney College) |
| Durrell Clark-James | DB | 6-1 | 190 | San Francisco, Calif. (City College of San Francisco) |
| Ryan Collado | DB | 5-9 | 165 | Cincinnati, Ohio (Hills Christian) |
| Trey Davis | OL | 6-2 | 275 | Farmington, Minn. (Farmington) |
| Serge Elizee | DT | 6-1 | 300 | Miami, Fla. (College of the Sequoias) |
| Tray Herndon | WR | 5-10 | 170 | Jacksonville, Fla. (The Bolles School) |
| Harold Howell | ATH | 5-8 | 160 | Jacksonville, Fla. (Mandarin) |
| Anthony Jacobs | DE | 6-2 | 265 | Northfield, Minn. (Northfield) |
| Collin McGarry | TE | 6-4 | 230 | Stillwater, Minn. (Stillwater) |
| Ryan Orton | OL | 6-4 | 265 | Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie) |
| Shane Potter | DB | 6-1 | 195 | Clearwater, Minn. (Becker) |
| Eric Small | DL | 6-2 | 265 | Naperville, Ill. (Joliet JC) |
| Andre Tate' | RB | 6-2 | 215 | Mendota Heights, Minn. (Henry Sibley) |
| Kyle Theret | DB | 5-11 | 185 | Denver, Colo. (J.K. Mullen) |
| Curtis Thomas | S | 6-1 | 190 | Aldine, Texas (Aldine) |
| Jimmy Thompson | WR | 6-1 | 180 | Hayward, Wis. (Hayward) |
| Logan Uu | LB | 5-10 | 225 | Oakland, Calif. (Laney College) |
| Ryan Wynn | OL | 6-5 | 240 | Plymouth, Minn. (Maple Grove) |
2007 Golden Gopher Football Signee Bios
Duane Bennett RB 5-9 190 Fairview Heights, Ill. (O’Fallon Township HS)
Named to the PrepStar Midwest Region Team…the 135th-ranked running back in the nation by ESPN.com…finished his senior season with 1,362 yards and 22 touchdowns…totaled 993 yards rushing on 112 carries with 12 touchdowns his junior year…concluded his career with 443 carries for 3,419 yards and 40 scores…undecided upon major…high school coach is Gary Bridell…son of Daryll Bennett and Chantys Floyd…born June 11, 1989.
Clint Brewster QB 6-1 190 Denver, Colo. (J.K. Mullen HS)
Four-star recruit ranked as the 24th-best quarterback in the nation and the third-ranked overall player in Colorado by Scout…three-star recruit ranked as the 17th-best pro-style quarterback in the nation and the third-best player in Colorado by Rivals…selected to the SuperPrep All-America Team, ranked as the 17th-best quarterback in the nation and named to the Midlands 88 Team as the 13th-best overall player and second-best quarterback…the eighth-ranked quarterback in the nation by ESPN.com…completed 134-of 214 passes (62.6%) for 2,257 yards with 27 touchdowns his senior season…completed 141-of-245 passes for 2,082 yards with 22 touchdowns his junior campaign…named all-conference and all-state…undecided upon major…high school coach is Dave Logan…son of Gopher head football coach Tim Brewster and Cathy Brewster…born Sept. 19, 1988.
Chris Bunders OL 6-3 305 Maple Grove, Minn. (Osseo HS)
Three-star recruit ranked as the 49th-best offensive guard in the nation and the ninth-best player in Minnesota by Rivals…ranked the 89th-best offensive guard in the nation by Scout…named to the PrepStar Midwest Region Team…named to recruiting expert Tom Lemming’s All-Midwest Team…was a 2006 first team Associated Press All-State selection…also played pitcher, first baseman and DH on the baseball team in high school…plans to major in civil engineering…high school coach is Derrin Lamker…son of John and Sue Bunders…born June 3, 1988.
Justin Chatman ATH 5-9 165 Mesquite, Texas (Horn HS)
Three-star recruit ranked the 78th-best cornerback in the nation by Scout…the 39th-ranked cornerback in the nation by ESPN.com…was a second-team all-district selection his junior season…registered 76 tackles, six pass breakups, two sacks and two fumble recoveries his junior season… undecided upon major…high school coach is Don Payne…son of Troy and Alisha Chatman…born March, 7, 1989.
Marc Cheatham WR 6-2 210 Oakland, Calif. (Laney College (Calif.))
Was an All-Mid-Empire Conference selection in 2006…led Laney College in receiving yards during the 2006 regular season…had 25 catches for 452 yards for an average of 18.1 yards per catch…tied for second on the team with five touchdowns in 10 regular season games… helped Laney to back-to-back 9-2 seasons and a Golden Gate Conference title in 2005…helped the Eagles finish the 2005 season with a 20-17 victory over American River College in the Capital Shrine Classic…led Laney to a 34-28 victory over Modesto in the 2006 Graffiti Bowl…will join Laney teammate Logan Uu at Minnesota…plans to major in kinesiology …junior college coach was Jay Uchiumi…son of James Cheatham and Barbara Presley…born April 4, 1987.
Durrell Clark-James DB 6-1 190 San Francisco, Calif. (City College of San Francisco (Calif.))
Three-star recruit ranked as the 89th-best junior college prospect in the nation by Rivals…led CCSF in both tackles-for-loss with five and interceptions with six in 2006…tied for 12th in the Northern California Conference with .56 interceptions per game…his three forced fumbles along with his six interceptions made him the team leader in turnovers forced with nine…also added 28 tackles, a sack and three pass breakups last season…plans to major in communications…junior college coach was George Rush…son of Paymon and Phelicia Ghafouri…born Feb. 20, 1985.
Ryan Collado DB 5-9 165 Cincinnati, Ohio (Hills Christian HS)
Three-star recruit ranked as the 64th-best cornerback in the nation by Rivals…selected to the SuperPrep Midwest Team as the 113th-best player…named to the PrepStar Midwest Region Team…recorded 56 tackles, three interceptions, seven pass breakups, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries his senior season…also had 513 yards rushing and 501 yards receiving with 17 total touchdowns in 2006… undecided upon major…high school coach is Mike Gims…son of Rolando and Jenny Collado…born Sept. 19, 1988.
Trey Davis OL 6-2 275 Farmington, Minn. (Farmington HS)
Three-star recruit ranked as the 31st-best offensive guard in the nation and the fourth-best player in Minnesota by Rivals…three-star performer ranked the 62nd-best defensive tackle in the nation and the sixth-best player in Minnesota by Scout…selected to the SuperPrep Midwest Team as the 50th-best player…named to the PrepStar Midwest Region Team…was a 2006 first team Associated Press All-State selection…ranked 21st overall among guards and centers by recruiting expert Tom Lemming…named to the 2006 Minnesota Vikings All-State Team…three-year starter on both offensive and defensive line…was a finalist for Minnesota’s Mr. Football his senior season…led Farmington to a 10-1 mark and an appearance in the Class 5A Section I championship game his junior season…named first team All-Metro by KARE-11 and the Star Tribune and was a second team all-state selection by the Pioneer Press…plans to major in history…high school coach is Mark Froehling…son of Craig and Kelly Davis…born Sept. 1, 1988.
Serge Elizee DT 6-1 300 Miami, Fla. (College of the Sequoias (Calif.))
Played in six games in 2006, registering 4.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks…recorded 17 tackles on the season, forced one fumble and had one interception…inter-college program major…junior college coach was Curtis Allen…son of Yonel Elizee and Daniele Deas…born Sept. 18, 1987.
Tray Herndon WR 5-10 170 Jacksonville, Fla. (The Bolles School)
Named to the Florida Class 2A All-State Team…ranked as the 89th -best overall player in Florida by the Orlando Sun Sentinel…led Bolles to a 14-0 record in 2006 and a state championship by defeating Clewiston 27-24…caught three passes for 91 yards in the state title game, including a 58-yard touchdown reception…finished his senior campaign by setting an area record for receiving yards in a regular season with 1,363 in 10 games…also an outstanding track athlete with high marks of 24.1 in the 200 meters, 18-6 in the long jump and 35-10 in the triple jump…undecided upon major…high school coach is Corky Rodgers…son of Xaviers Herndon and Olivia Scurlock…born Nov. 26, 1988.
Harold Howell ATH 5-8 160 Jacksonville, Fla. (Mandarin HS)
Four-year letterwinner who tallied 20 tackles with four interceptions, six pass deflections and two fumble returns for touchdowns last season on defense, while accumulating 515 yards receiving on 27 catches along with seven touchdowns on offense…also contributed on special teams, finishing senior season with 525 kick return yards and three scores and 650 punt return yards with four scores… first-team all-conference selection and second-team All-First Coast choice as a junior…a standout track athlete, competing in the 100 meters and 4x100 meter relay at the state meet…undecided upon major…high school coach is Jermaine “J.D.” Hall…son of Harold Howell II…born Feb. 22, 1989.
Anthony Jacobs DE 6-2 265 Northfield, Minn. (Northfield HS)
Four-star recruit ranked among the Rivals Top 250 and listed as the top player in Minnesota and the 16th-best strongside defensive end in the nation…ranked the third-best player in Minnesota by Scout…selected to the SuperPrep Midwest Team as the 33rd-best player…named to the PrepStar Midwest Region Team… the 54th-ranked running back in the nation by ESPN.com…named to recruiting expert Tom Lemming’s All-Midwest Team…named to the 2006 Associated Press All-State Team…along with being a standout defensive end, also compiled 1,107 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns in 2006…totaled 49 tackles with six tackles-for-loss and two sacks along with rushing for 618 yards and six scores on 108 carries in 2005…selected to play in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla…undecided upon major…high school coach is Bubba Sullivan…son of Anthony Carter and Carolyn Jacobs…born Nov. 16, 1988.
Collin McGarry TE 6-4 230 Stillwater, Minn. (Stillwater HS)
Ranked as the 12th-best player in Minnesota by Rivals…ranked the 10th-best player in Minnesota by Scout…selected to the SuperPrep Midwest Team as the 115th-best player…named to the PrepStar Midwest Region Team…received honorable mention all-state recognition by the Associated Press in 2006…brother, Robert, is current Gopher long-snapper…undecided upon major…high school coach is Scott Hoffman …son of Robert and Jenny McGarry…born Dec. 16, 1988.
Ryan Orton OL 6-4 265 Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie HS)
Three-star recruit ranked as the 42nd-best offensive guard in the nation and the seventh-best player in Minnesota by Rivals…ranked the 80th-best offensive guard in the nation and the ninth-best player in Minnesota by Scout…selected to the SuperPrep Midwest Team as the 83rd-best player…named to the PrepStar Midwest Region Team…was a 2006 first team Associated Press All-State selection…selected to the Star Tribune All-Metro Team in 2006…led Eagles to an 11-2 mark as a junior, helping his team advance to the Class 5A semifinals…also competed in track at Eden Prairie, competing in the shot put…undecided upon major…high school coach is Mike Grant…son of Donald Ramler and Susan Orton…born Oct. 18, 1988.
Shane Potter DB 6-1 195 Clearwater, Minn. (Becker HS)
Ranked as the 11th-best player in Minnesota by Rivals…selected to the SuperPrep Midwest Team as the 98th-best player…named to the PrepStar Midwest Region Team…chosen as the 2005 St. Cloud Times Player of the Year…had senior season cut short by injury…posted 69 receptions for 1,008 yards (14.8 average) with 13 touchdowns his sophomore season...was an All-Wright County Conference selection and was named to the St Cloud Times All-Area Team…helped lead the Bulldogs to a 14-0 record and the Class 3A title with a 28-0 win over Albany in the Prep Bowl…is undecided upon major…high school coach is Dwight Lundeen…son of Todd and Barb Potter …born Sept. 23, 1988.
Eric Small DL 6-2 265 Naperville, Ill. (Joliet JC (Ill.))
Received honorable-mention recognition on the 2006 National Junior College Athletic Association All-America Team as a defensive lineman…also named a first-team NJCAA All-Region IV selection and was a first-team All-Midwest Football Conference performer…was the runner-up for the Midwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award last season…finished the 2006 season ranked fourth on the team in total tackles with 35, including 27 solo stops and six quarterback sacks…plans to major in sociology / criminal justice…junior college coach was Tom Minnick…son of Ken and Sally Small…born Nov. 19, 1986.
Andre Tate' RB 6-2 215 Mendota Heights, Minn. (Henry Sibley HS)
Three-star recruit ranked as the 30th-best running back in the nation and the third-best player in Minnesota by Rivals…three-star athlete ranked the 86th-best running back in the nation and the fourth-best player in Minnesota by Scout…selected to the SuperPrep All-America Team, ranked as the 22nd-best running back in the nation and named to the SuperPrep Midwest Team as the 27th-best player…named to the PrepStar Midwest Region Team…the 36th-ranked running back in the nation by ESPN.com…named to recruiting expert Tom Lemming’s All-Midwest Team…received honorable mention all-state recognition by the Associated Press in 2006…played in the 2007 East Meets West All-American Game in Orlando, Fla…tallied 1,500 yards rushing his senior season and 1,300 yards his junior season…carried the ball 26 times for 336 yards and five touchdowns in a playoff game last season against Minneapolis Southwest, including three scoring runs of over 50 yards…named all-conference as a junior and also received honorable mention all-state recognition by the Pioneer Press…also a standout on the track team…plans to major in business administration…high school coach is Tom Orth…son of Ken and Gail Tate'…born April 4, 1989.
Kyle Theret DB 5-11 185 Denver, Colo. (J.K. Mullen)
Recorded 144 tackles with seven sacks and one interception, which was returned for a score, in 14 games his senior season…posted 76 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions and scored a touchdown on a kickoff return his junior year…was a 2005 All-Centennial League choice…undecided upon major…high school coach is Dave Logan…son of Michael and Carolyn Theret…born Sept. 27, 1989.
Curtis Thomas S 6-1 190 Aldine, Texas (Aldine HS)
Three-star recruit ranked as the 35th-best safety in the nation by Rivals and the 62nd-best player in Texas…three-star player ranked as the 40th-best safety in the country by Scout…named to the PrepStar Midlands Region Team…the 58th-ranked safety in the nation by ESPN.com…nephew of Oklahoma State and NFL defensive end Juqua Thomas…undecided upon major…high school coach is Bob Jones…son of Regina Thomas…born March 16, 1988.
Jimmy Thompson WR 6-1 180 Hayward, Wis. (Hayward HS)
Named to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All-State Team…was an all-conference selection his junior season…tallied 1,500 yards rushing, 750 yards receiving and 18 total touchdowns his senior season…had 4,552 total yards and 42 total touchdowns for his career…displayed big play potential with 21 career touchdowns of 60 yards or more…undecided upon major…high school coach is Dave Dixon…son of Ken and Nicole Vessel…born Sept. 13, 1988.
Logan Uu LB 5-10 225 Oakland, Calif. (Laney College (Calif.))
Three-star recruit by Rivals and Scout…led Laney College to a 9-2 overall record and finished the season with a 20-17 victory over American River College in the Capitol Shrine Classic…closed out the 2006 campaign with 18 stops, 4.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack…will join Laney teammate Marc Cheatham at Minnesota…plans to major in communications…junior college coach was Jay Uchiumi…son of Frank and Iloa Uu…born April 3, 1987.
Ryan Wynn OL 6-5 240 Plymouth, Minn. (Maple Grove HS)
Ranked as the 13th-best player in Minnesota by Rivals…selected to the SuperPrep Midwest Team as the 105th-best player…named to the PrepStar Midwest Region Team…named to recruiting expert Tom Lemming’s All-Midwest Team…was a 2006 first team Associated Press All-State selection…selected to the Star Tribune All-Metro Team in 2006…named to the 2006 Minnesota Vikings All-State Team… honored as an All-Northwest Suburban Conference choice as a junior…led team to a 9-1 mark and the section playoffs in 2005…also played basketball for the Crimson…played at Osseo High School as a sophomore before transferring …plans to major in pre-med…high school coach is Craig Hansen…son of Dennis and Nancy Wynn…born Aug. 2, 1989.
