Junior college safety to play major minutes

By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune

Last update: April 6, 2008 - 12:35 AM

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The Gophers football team could roll out four new starters in its secondary next season, and it's safe to put junior college transfer Tramaine Brock's name down in ink.

Brock, a free safety, has received glowing accolades daily from Gophers coach Tim Brewster through the first two weeks of spring practice. An All-America at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College last season, Brock enrolled this semester and has impressed the staff with his speed, athleticism and attitude.

"He's a vicious player on the field," Brewster said. "I love his temperament. He absolutely plays the game the way I see the game being played, with tremendous toughness and passion. He is an absolute joy to coach."

Brewster said Brock (6-foot, 187 pounds) has the ability to play either safety position and also cornerback. It didn't take long for Brock to win the starting spot at free safety, which was something he looked for when choosing schools.

"I just wanted an opportunity to come in and start and play right away," Brock said. "They were willing to keep me at free safety. Some other schools wanted me more at cornerback. I like free safety because you can fly around and make plays."

Brock said he was timed in the 40 at 4.37 seconds in junior college, which would make him one of the Gophers' fastest players.

"I think I can get lower [than 4.37]," he said.

Brock's team went 12-0 and won a share of the NJCAA national championship this past season. He collected 59 tackles and seven interceptions to earn All-America honors.

"You can see right out of the gate that Tramaine Brock is a special football player," Brewster said.

Give it a try

Senior backup quarterback Tony Mortensen is trying his hand as a long snapper with the team looking for someone to replace four-year starter Robert McGarry.

Mortensen joked that he needs a "7-foot punter" sometimes because of his high snaps, but he is getting better at it with more practice.

"I just said, 'Let's try something to help out the team,'" Mortensen said. "I'm just going to keep working on it. Spring ball is a good chance to develop it."

Brewster called the long snapper position "vital" and said Mortensen could be in the mix for that job this fall.

"Tony has done a nice job," he said. "He has outstanding potential. He just needs to get the live snaps, particularly with somebody sitting [close to] his head."

Back to normal

Senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg had a disappointing 2007 season after suffering a broken wrist the first week. VanDeSteeg said he still wears a brace on his right wrist in practice, but the injury no longer affects his play.

"You can see he's using his hands so much more," Brewster said. "Defensive line play is all hands and grip strength. Last year he had no grip strength. It's really hard to be a defensive lineman and have a broken wrist."

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