Hageman rises on draft boards

Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Heading into Saturday’s homecoming battle against Northwestern, Minnesota understands that the best way to win the game is to play off of the defense.

The Gophers have had a strong showing so far from all areas of the defense. The secondary has improved a ton with sophomores Derrick Wells and Cedric Thompson taking a step in their second season donning the maroon and gold. Yet, it has been the defensive line that has surprised people, including NFL draft expert Mel Kiper.

In Kiper’s latest ranking of top juniors at each position, he put junior Ra’Shede Hageman as his 5th best defensive tackle prospect in all of college football.

Hageman is a player that many media outlets pegged to make a giant leap this year for the Gophers.  It has shown already with his three sacks.  The defensive tackle has been able to bust through offensive linemen with ease during the 2012 season.

As the number five junior target for DTs, Hageman will have to think long and hard about perhaps going pro.  There are thoughts now that he could end up being a second round pick, something the Gophers have not been able to say in quite some time.

If Hageman decided to turn pro, it would derail the progress coach Jerry Kill is making on defense.  The d-line is graduating D.L. Wilhite, a senior with 4.5 sacks already this season, and the line is already thin in the middle in terms of numbers and size.

Hageman’s next goal is not about April’s draft, but instead on containing Kain Colter and the Northwestern Wildcats