Gopher FB recruits and targets continue to impress

Several teams played their football games on Thursday night, so this week we will split up our look at the Minnesota recruits and recruiting targets. Several shined in their fifth contest of the 2003 season. The following is a look at some of the performances by Minnesota commitments or recruiting targets.

Minnetonka (MN) Hopkins fell to 2-3 as they lost to Armstrong 16-14, despite a 54-yard passing touchdown by QB Johnny Carlson, who committed to Minnesota in June. Carlson rushed nine times for 39 yards and completed ten of 19 passes for 172 yards.

Armstrong (4-1) has two-sport standout Everette Pedescleaux. Pedescleaux has six touchdowns this year. He plays fullback, tight end and defensive end. He has been offered a scholarship by Minnesota and Kansas State and has narrowed his list to five schools in basketball.

Dominique Barber of Wayzata (5-0), who committed to Minnesota, rushed 15 times for 71 yards and caught three passes for 59 yards, including one touchdown, in the Trojans' 41-21 win over #3 Cretin-Derham Hall. Barber has seven touchdowns this season and has rushed for 478 yards. Wayzata was ranked #7 in the Star Tribune, but will move up in the rankings.

Barber received some big holes behind the Wayzata offensive line, led by Tony Sparkman, who is being recruited by Minnesota and Illinois.

Liam O'Hagan threw three touchdown passes as Breck, ranked #1 in Class AA, defeated Concordia Academy 44-0. Breck has improved to 5-0 and has outscored thier opponents 210-49. O’Hagan has thrown for 17 touchdowns in his first five games. His brother is a pitcher at Stanford and the Cardinal, Boston College and Minnesota are among the schools recruiting him.

Teammate Brandon Robinson failed to score for the first time this season. In fact, he had scored three touchdowns in the previous four games this season. He did make five extra points and nailed a 35-yard field goal. Boston College, California, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern, Stanford, UCLA, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin have all offered him a scholarship and he is considering Boston College, California, Stanford, UCLA, Minnesota and Colorado among his favorites. Robinson is one of the country's top defensive back prospects. He has set up a visit to Stanford Dec. 6.