Amid the snow, Gophers land commitments after recruits visit

With a dozen Gophers football recruits making official visits this past weekend, Mother Nature picked a rough time to deliver her biggest snowstorm so far this season.

"We've told them [about the weather]," coach Tracy Claeys said. "And it's better to find out now than later. That's one of those things that's out of your control."

The Gophers still landed verbal commitments from Neil McLaurin, a junior college quarterback from Mississippi, and Jakyle Holmes, a multiposition athlete from Ponchatoula, La.

College coaches can't comment on specific recruits until signing day, but Claeys said it helped that the Gophers were practicing for their Holiday Bowl matchup with Washington State.

"They got to see us practice and how we coach, and sit in on meetings, and so they get to see everything," Claeys said. "And I think that will outweigh the weather when it comes to their decision."

Last weekend, the Gophers offered a scholarship to another junior college quarterback, Jordan Ta'amu from the New Mexico Military Institute, but he committed to Mississippi on Saturday.

The 6-3, 200-pound McLaurin has three years of eligibility remaining, coming out of Southwest Mississippi Community College. His other reported offers are from Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana and Troy. He is a consensus two-star recruit whose running ability stands out on film. The Gophers are clearly looking for mobility from their quarterbacks.

The 5-10, 180-pound Holmes played quarterback in high school but projects as more of a running back for the Gophers. He is a consensus three-star recruit who also had reported offers from Arizona State, Colorado State and Louisiana-Lafayette, among others.

The Gophers have 15 verbal commitments for the Class of 2017, with national signing day coming Feb. 1.

Gophers running back James Johannesson confirmed that he is transferring to North Dakota.

He ran for a school-record 6,158 yards at Fargo South High School but didn't see any playing time for the Gophers the past two years. Minnesota has two sophomores leading the way in rushing, Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks, followed by a junior college transfer in Kobe McCrary.

Johannesson had a standout performance in this year's spring game, rushing 22 times for 130 yards and a touchdown. He still has three years of eligibility remaining and will be able to play for the FCS Fighting Hawks next fall.

Leidner was held out of Sunday's practice.

"I've got a couple things banged up right now that I'm just trying to work through," he said. "But hopefully I'll be able to get out here and start practicing on Wednesday and feeling good after that."

Mark Williams has returned to quarterback after working out with the wide receivers while his broken right wrist healed. An Alabama native who is redshirting this season, Williams has been contemplating a permanent position switch to receiver but is sticking with quarterback "for now," Claeys said.