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'06 MN DT Walker Ashley (Minny...no, maybe USC......no, PSU...no, Minnesota commit)

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Star Tribune

Last update: August 20, 2005 at 8:55 PM
Ashley sets sights on joining 'U'
August 21, 2005 UFOT0821.SIDE

Walker Ashley stood inside the Gophers football practice facility in street clothes Saturday after the team held its open scrimmage. The former Eden Prairie star defensive lineman expects to practice on that same field in a Gophers uniform next spring.

Ashley, the state's top recruit in 2004, met with Gophers coaches and told them he will retake his college entrance exam this fall and enroll in school in January.

Ashley signed with Southern California last winter but failed to qualify academically. Ashley (6-5, 300 pounds) returned home last week and began exploring his options.

Ashley said throughout the recruiting process that he felt comfortable with every facet of the Gophers program. On Saturday, he said that the Gophers are a better fit and that he made "the wrong decision" when he signed with USC.

Ashley said he will work with a personal trainer to stay in shape this fall. He can participate in spring practice if he enrolls in January.

Ashley was rated the 11th-best defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com and had scholarship offers from Oklahoma, Ohio State and Penn State, among others.
 
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Ashley wastes no time with decision Zach Johnson
GopherIllustrated.com
Last February Eden Prairie defensive tackle Walker Ashley made a decision that broke a lot of hearts in the Gopher Nation. Just under seven months later, Ashley has decided to return home and will indeed play for the University of Minnesota. Ashley, who was a NCAA Clearinghouse casualty at Southern Cal, should be eligible to enroll at Minnesota for the Spring semester as a full scholarship athlete. He is also projected to be able to participate in Spring practice.

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Ashley was on the Minnesota campus unofficially for the annual Fan Fest scrimmage.

"I went down to the 'U' today for the scrimmage and to meet with some of the coaches. After the scrimmage I was able to meet with Coach Mason, Coach Lockwood and Coach Bailey."

"We talked about my different options and they told me that I could let them know my plans at any time. I told them that I didn't need anymore time and I really wanted to be a Gopher."

Ashley will be not enroll until January but will still have a full plate this Fall.

"I just plan to live at home with my parents and continue to workout with my personal trainer. I want to stay in great shape so I will be ready to go come Spring ball. I will also retake the ACT test in October and should be able to become eligible with one more test."

"Due to my GPA I needed a combined score of 76 points on the ACT test when you add up all four of the subtests. My original score was 19, but when you added up the four subtests it only came to 75. For me to qualify for a scholarship at Minnesota I need to score only one point higher on any of the four subtests, because they take the higher subtest score each time you attempt the test."

Ashley wasted no time in letting the coaching community know of his decision.

"I am 100% committed to the Gopher program and will not look at any other schools this time around. I have actually notified all of the coaches who were trying to get back in touch with me that I appreciate their interest but I really just want to stay home and play for the 'U'."
 
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At least he went to Minny and not wisconsin, Iowa or other schools that could hurt us. And the weaker USC becomes, the better. Fair or not, there's no way that these transfers aren't gonna lead to successful negative publicity from some schools competing against USC for a recruit.
 
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jwinslow said:
At least he went to Minny and not wisconsin, Iowa or other schools that could hurt us. And the weaker USC becomes, the better. Fair or not, there's no way that these transfers aren't gonna lead to successful negative publicity from some schools competing against USC for a recruit.
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Dont kid yourself, Mason is putting together a solid DEF, especially with the defectors from OH. Add in the fact that he can take the borderline kids and he will be putting togetrher some dangerous teams on the field.

I still dont think he can win a "big-game", he has that deer in the headlights :frown2: look when things suddenly go bad - but he could make some noise in the Big11.
 
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Minny has no depth whatsoever... plus, Ashley won't play until next year, and they will lose a bunch of offensive talent then (Maroney and i think 2-3 OLineman at least). so they will continue to be dangerous, but not B-10 title contenders.
 
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I would rather see Ashley at USC than Minnesota.

Article Launched: 11/17/2005 12:00:00 AM

Ashley sticks with Trojans
By Scott Wolf, Staff Writer

Defensive lineman Walker Lee Ashley, who was academically ineligible to enroll in August, has contacted USC about enrolling in January.

Ashley signed with USC in February but did not meet the NCAA Clearinghouse standards and returned home to Eden Prairie, Minn. There was speculation Ashley would enroll at Minnesota in the fall but he did not and recently informed USC he was cleared by the NCAA.

Ashley (6-foot-5, 295 pounds) is in the process of submitting his paperwork to see if he can be admitted to USC again. He would enroll in the spring semester and have four years of eligibility.

USC coach Pete Carroll coached Ashley's father, also named Walker Lee, with the Minnesota Vikings.

Unimpressive offense: Although USC scored 35 points against California, offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said it was the Trojans' second-worst game of the season behind only Notre Dame.

"For all 11 guys, play after play, it was our worst besides Notre Dame," Kiffin said. "Thirty-five points is bad when your defense gets that many turnovers. Guys were screwing up on little things. A bad (pass) route or a wrong read by a (running) back or a wrong step by a lineman.

"But it was a great game because we won."

Linebacker update: Middle linebacker Oscar Lua (strained knee) practiced but doesn't appear well enough to last a whole game and it wouldn't be surprising if freshman Rey Maualuga started against Fresno State.

"I'm not making a big deal about (who starts)," Carroll said. "Rey will play, regardless. We wouldn't try to play Oscar the whole time."

Meanwhile, freshman Brian Cushing continues to be bothered by soreness from his dislocated shoulder but will start at outside linebacker.

No big deal: Tailback Reggie Bush said he has ignored recent Heisman Trophy polls that show him trailing Texas quarterback Vince Young.

"I'd lie if I said I didn't want to win it, but I don't even look at the polls," Bush said.

Bush said he is not worried that he gained only 82 yards last week against Cal.

"I don't know if it's the (Cal) defense, you just have those games without long runs or amazing plays," Bush said.

Carroll said one reason Bush didn't break any long runs was because Cal's defense did a superb job tackling.

Community service: Maualuga spoke to a group of youth football players after practice Wednesday, the third time he has done it since being arrested for punching another student at a Halloween party.

Scott Wolf, (818) 713-3607

[email protected]
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Looks like he has the Bucks back in the picture...Per BN$

Link

Ashley adds Ohio State to his list

BY CHARLEY WALTERS

Last year, Walker Ashley, a former Eden Prairie High School star who was the most highly recruited football player in Minnesota, committed to reigning national champion Southern California, then reneged and committed to the Gophers.

Tuesday, he said he's now considering Minnesota, Southern California and Ohio State.

"Right now I still want to go to Minnesota, but I'm also talking to USC and Ohio State at the moment," the 6-foot-5, 299-pound defensive end said.

Ashley, who wasn't cleared academically by the NCAA for freshman eligibility at USC this season, said he recently received clearance after an acceptable ACT score. He plans to enroll in classes at Minnesota, Ohio State or Southern California in January and play in 2006.

He said if he had to decide today, it would be Minnesota.

"When I wasn't able to play (for academic reasons), Minnesota stood by me," Ashley said. "But right now, I just want to make sure I make the right decision."

Ashley said Minnesota and Ohio State have notified him that he's eligible for next season, and that he hasn't heard from USC regarding eligibility.
 
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