The recruiting class that Minnesota football coach Jerry Kill hauled in Wednesday can't really be described as a "haul." In fact, it was ranked dead last in the Big Ten, though Kill has a reputation for recruiting much better than the "experts" are led to believe on signing day.
That said, things are already starting to look much better on paper for the 2014 recruiting season. Just last week, Kill got a verbal commitment from the best junior in the state, Minneapolis Washburn running back Jeff Jones. The 6-foot, 190-pounder is ranked the eighth-best running back in the country.
There is no telling if Jones — or anyone who verbally commits this early — will stick with Minnesota. But when the best player in the state, and one of the best in the Midwest says yes to your program, there is a tendency for other stars to follow him. And there are a whole lot more real stars in the state for 2014 than there were for 2013, including Owatonna stud defensive lineman Andrew Stelter. Expect Kill's 2014 recruiting class to look a whole lot better than this year's. Jones verbal commitment is the No. 1 reason why.
— Pat Ruff
