Ladies and Gentlemen.....We Got Him!

By Billy Tucker
It might be early, but Tim Brewster is certainly off to a great start on the recruiting trail in '09 and building off his surprising No. 23 class from a year ago. The second year head coach with a reputation as a fierce recruiter has landed another talented offensive prospect who by most accounts, was a reach for the Golden Gopher program that went 1-11 in 2007.

Running back Hasan Lipscomb (Houston/Cypress Ridge) chose Minnesota over Nebraska, LSU and Iowa State and has the physical makeup in our opinion to be a very productive college running back, a guy who could potentially carry the load for the Gophers. Lipscomb has the lateral quickness and perimeter speed to hurt a defense on the outside and we feel he will develop into a great runner who can become a one cut and go downhill runner at the next level. With great upside, he forms a great offensive nucleus with Under Armour All-American quarterback Moses Alipate (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson).

Aside from his impressive skills as a running back, Lipscomb is a significant land out of the talent rich state of Texas. Minnesota went the extra mile to snag the ESPN 150 Watch List back, and it made quite an impression on him while doing so.

"They told me I can come in and start like every school tells recruits, but I believe them," Lipscomb explained. "At some of those other schools like LSU I would be like the third running back -- in just the freshmen class alone."

A victim of Hurricane Katrina when living in New Orleans, Lipscomb fell behind in his school credits. He said the effort Minnesota's staff has put forth in getting the gifted running back on the right track to be eligible for college, was one of the deciding points as well. Some schools in Lipscomb's eyes were scared off by the challenge, but Minnesota hung with him, and now the back who rushed for over 1,600 yards and 26 touchdowns while playing in the shadow of Under Armour All-American athlete Russell Shepard (Houston/Cypress Ridge) is doing some solid recruiting of his own.

"I am calling and texting other recruits Minnesota has offered," Lipscomb said. "There are not going to be as many scholarships this year so I want to make sure we get great players."