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(*Editor’s note…What the heck does “Commitment to Eight” mean? It is our new recurring title for recruit commitments referencing a commitment to work towards the Gopher’s Eighth National Championship. A little bit tongue in cheek, but why not right? )

Summer camps are the time when players heading into their senior year really begin to emerge and earn themselves D1 scholarship offers.  One such player who turned good camp performances into a scholarship is Dominik London.

After a couple of strong camp performances (one in Chicago and one on campus), Dominik London has earned himself a Golden Gopher scholarship offer and after visiting this week he has accepted. This very well may be the only scholarship running back taken in this 2017 recruit class, so let us get to know Mr. London.

Quotables

Ryan Burns of GopherDigest ($) talked about London at the first Gopher camp of the summer.

London tested extremely well like he did at the Nike Camp in Chicago, and just toasted every linebacker during one on ones. London is very elusive in space and knows how to use his quickness to his advantage, just toying with the defender in the open field.

A recent Rivals interview, London had this to say about the Gopher staff and their interest.

“They love my vision. they love the power that I have. My East Ridge team, we run an offense really similar to theirs, and they think I run it really well. I’ve mastered the zone read and they think I can do it even better for them.”

(Likely Fraudulent) Measurables**

** The section title is a bit. It’s an intentionally facetious comment on how recruiting sites (and even some college coaches) notoriously exaggerate traditional combine measures — especially the 40. No offense is meant.

Height: 5′ 9″
Weight: 195 lbs.
Fake 40 Time: 4.66

Big 4 Ratings:

Site Stars Rating Position Rank
247 Composite 3 .8266 88
247 3 85 85
Rivals 3 5.7 –
Scout 3 – 70
ESPN – – –

At this point of the year we can lament how stars don’t matter but then come February we (or others) lament about how the Gopher class ranks so poorly compared to its Big Ten piers. So do stars matter? Not really, but kind of.

Highlights

Junior year highlights:

TDG Analysis

In Two Words – if you have to remember just two things about this player…

  • Elusive
  • Hands

Absurd Comparisons

Going back a few years to compare London to Duane Bennett.  Both in terms of stature, speed is similar and both were adept at catching the ball out of the backfield and accumulating all-purpose yardage.  London appears to be a kid with solid speed, but not exactly blazing.  He is better at making people miss than he would be at running away from them or bowling them over.

Bennett finished his Gopher career with nearly 3,000 all-purpose yardage (2,126 on the ground and 806 via the pass). His 2,126 ranks 13th all-time on the Gopher career list and if London has a career similar to this we should all say this scholarship was a pretty big success.

Scheme Fit

If you watch closely there are even a few clips in London’s highlight video of him blocking in pass protection.  He was praised for his hands at the Chicago Opening and I suspect you will see London as a potential 3rd down back who may work himself into an everydown kinda player.  A good combo-back who with elusiveness and solid speed.

Impact on Other Prospects?

It is entirely possible that this is the only Gopher running back taken in this class. It is also possible that London is one of two and he gets a look elsewhere (DB or slot receiver).  There are currently 5 scholarship running backs on the roster with none being seniors so adding 2 to this class would seem excessive.  Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks are sophomores so adding multiple backs to this class does not seem likely.  But it is early and if the right kid came along that is a “must take,” you know they would.