Newman has many options

Since the introductory press conference, offensive line coach Bart Miller has made it clear he wants the offensive line to be more nasty and physical than recent Gopher lines. Fans got a glimpse of what Miller is looking for in lineman by the types of players he recruited after joining the program late in the 2016 recruiting cycle.

Miller has been aggressive recruiting his style of player thus far in the 2017 class. One lineman the Gophers are recruiting that certainly aligns with Miller’s vision for the line is DeSoto (Texas) guard Xavier Newman.

“I’m very physical -- very, very, very physical,” Newman told Gopher Illustrated. “I take pride in that. I live to just be a mauler and push people back. I’m also pretty quick on my feet and can pass block too.”

New graduate assistant and assistant offensive line coach Lee Grimes has been Newman’s primary recruiter.

“I like him. He’s from Texas too.”

The Gophers have a lot of competition for Newman. The 6’4”, 285 pound lineman holds nine power five offers: Arizona State, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Texas A&M.

“It’s been great. I’m just so blessed. All the glory goes to God. My recruitment has been great, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me. I’m open to a lot of schools right now.”

While he’s open to many, Newman says four programs have been recruiting him the hardest: Arizona State, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. He visits Texas A&M on April 9.

System fit and academics are the two key factors he’s looking for while evaluating the programs pursuing him. Newman wants to major in education and minor in kinesiology.

“I want to play in a spread style for a team that’s really uptempo. That’s what my high school team plays, and I would like to continue to play in that system. If where I go doesn’t play that system, it will be fine, though. I can adjust and play in many systems. Academics are important too.”