Hopkins Wide Receiver Andre McDonald Discusses Recruitment

When Andre McDonald, a 6-foot-3 junior wide receiver from Hopkins committed to Minnesota after attending the Gopher Junior Day on Super Bowl Sunday, it seemed to indicate new head coach Jerry Kill’s desire to keep the top players in-state.

However, McDonald has since received interest from several other Big Ten schools and decided that he will take some visits this summer and fall.

McDonald, the lone junior to be named as an Associated Press All-State first team offensive selection, was the first player from the Class of 2012 to verbal to the Golden Gophers.

Despite the word that he would re-open his recruitment, McDonald attended the Minnesota summer football camp Sunday at TCF Stadium.

McDonald caught 64 passes for 1144 yards (17.9 yards per reception) with 19 touchdowns. He had seven games with 100 or more receiving yards. McDonald had four touchdowns against Centennial and Edina, three scores against Minneapolis Southwest and two in games against Irondale and St. Louis Park.

McDonald led the Royals to a 7-4 mark, losing to Eden Prairie in the Class AAAAA, Section 6 finals. Hopkins lost to perennial power Eden Prairie twice, Minnetonka and eventual state champion Wayzata.

McDonald also played basketball for the Royals, who won their third consecutive Class AAAA title.

Recruiting websites and Twitter were all abuzz with news that McDonald had de-committed from the Gophers. He said he was a bit surprised by the reaction to the news

“I’m not really making any final decisions. I just want to be sure, if I can say that,” McDonald said. 

McDonald plans to check out some other campuses before making his college choice.

“I might go down to the Ohio State camp,” he said. “I might go to an Iowa camp. I am planning more of a visits than going to a camp.” 

McDonald felt that he got some things out of the camps that he can incorporate into his game and improve himself as a player. 

“I love working with (Minnesota wide receiver coach) Coach (Pat) Poore because he really knows what he is talking about,” said McDonald. “I learned a lot of stuff today like how to get in and out of my breaks faster. Getting rid of D-back hands when they press. The biggest emphasis was getting in and out of my cuts.” 

McDonald will see some differences when he returns to the field this fall. Hopkins graduated standout quarterback Billy Gregg, who threw for 2,849 yards and 31 touchdowns this past season. Gregg, who will play in this weekend’s 38th annual Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game this weekend, will be tough to replace, but McDonald likes the returning signal callers.

“We have our back-up that we had last year, Andy Wicklund, but he playing corner for us,” said McDonald. “The coach’s son, J.T., I think is our potential starter. It doesn’t really change (our offense). It actually kind of helps, because he is really smart and really decisive with his passes.”

McDonald is working hard this summer to improve himself as a football player.

“Timing is my biggest thing and my routes,” said McDonald. “I need to try to run better routes and get good timing, so I can free up other guys to make big plays.”

McDonald said that Minnesota is still in the recruiting mix.

“Oh yes,” said McDonald. “I’m not really shying away from Minnesota. I am just trying to make sure that I have everything I need.”

McDonald established a good relationship with  Gopher commit Phil Nelson, a quarterback from Mankato West. The two had talked about playing together and recruiting some of the other top Minnesota to stay home. McDonald said that he has talked to Nelson since re-opening his recruitment.

“He told me to do what was best for me,” said McDonald. “We would love to be together in college, but he told me to do what was best for me.” 

McDonald is hoping for another big season for the Royals this fall, which should only increase the number of schools that show him recruiting interest.