Four recruits have decommitted from the Gophers football team since Nov. 22 but, according to sources, only one of those developments stung coach Tracy Claeys.
When Tralund Webber, a junior college defensive end from Texas, flipped to Oklahoma State two weekends ago, the Gophers felt they'd lost a potential All-Big Ten player.
The other three — including consensus four-star offensive lineman Sean Foster, who decommitted Tuesday — probably did what's best for both sides. Claeys has sent very clear signals that this is his program now, and he's going to do things his way.
When Andre Polk, a linebacker from Fort Meyers, Fla., flipped to South Florida, he said he wanted to play closer to home. The Gophers would have liked to have him, but they understood.
Then came Sunday, with the sudden news that Claeys had fired offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover and quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski. Within hours, Tony Poljan, a quarterback from Lansing, Mich., decommitted, citing the "ever changing leadership" at the University of Minnesota.
But the Poljan decision was mutual, according to sources. The Gophers think he can be a great college player, but aren't sure he'd be a good fit under Claeys, who wants quarterbacks with more mobility. The 6-6, 230-pound Poljan has since received an offer from Nebraska, but that's to play tight end.
One quarterback name to watch is Seth Green, the former East Ridge standout who transferred to Allen, Texas, for his senior year. Green committed to Oregon, but there are rumblings that Minnesota still could land him. Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost is the one who recruited Green, and Frost just left to become the head coach at Central Florida.
No matter who plays quarterback, the Gophers need to improve along the offensive line. That was Limegrover's domain. He handled offensive line recruiting, since he coached that unit, in addition to his coordinator duties.
