College football: Gophers' Fruechte finally getting to prove his worth

By Marcus R. Fuller
St. Paul Pioneer Press
MINNEAPOLIS - Isaac Fruechte is the only wide receiver on the Gophers roster who has caught passes from four different quarterbacks during his career.
First it was MarQueis Gray, and then Max Shortell and Philip Nelson in 2012. Then Mitch Leidner last year.
“I didn’t expect that,” the Caledonia, Minn., native said. “It’s been a roller coaster.”
Building chemistry was tough when the quarterback position was a revolving door. Fruechte’s development and confidence suffered, but the 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior is starting to remind everyone he still has a lot left to give this team.
For his perseverance this season, Fruechte is finally being rewarded. In the first four games, he only caught one pass for 5 yards. But in the past two games, he has combined for five catches for 62 yards.
“I’m excited about where we’re headed,” Fruechte said. “But it’s been up and down. It’s been a journey for sure. That’s what your parents, family members, coaches and teammates are there for - to help you through tough situations and be there to celebrate with you for the good situations.”
The Gophers (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten), who play Purdue (3-4, 1-2) for homecoming Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium, got a lift from Fruechte with two big catches in the win at Michigan for the Little Brown Jug on Sept. 27.
That was a high moment for him.
But having his teammate and roommate Philip Nelson transfer last year, and then get arrested for assault in the spring, was a low point.
Fruechte, a Rochester Community and Technical College standout, and Nelson, a Mankato West star, joined the program at the same time in the spring of 2012. They bonded immediately, both being from southern Minnesota. They hoped to be a future top quarterback-receiver tandem and even studied plays together late at night in their apartment.
“It’s just kind of a tough deal there,” Fruechte said of Nelson’s situation. “We talk a little bit here and there. Sounds like he’s doing all right. He’s kind of just working out and seeing if he’ll get a chance again.”
Even as an all-state receiver and state champion at Caledonia, Fruechte’s best opportunity was to play safety at North Dakota State out of high school in 2010.
He planned on being a Gopher walk-on and earning a scholarship but needed to go to junior college to improve his grades.
One big season at RCTC and Fruechte’s speed (4.4 seconds in the 40) was enough to impress Kill’s staff.
For a kid growing up in a rural town three hours southeast of Minneapolis, the “Big City” was an adjustment. He missed hunting, fishing and hanging out with friends and family.
Fruechte had his best season when Nelson started as a freshman two years ago, catching 19 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers dropped the following year to 13 catches for 154 yards in 2013.
Sophomores Drew Wolitarsky and Donovahn Jones surpassed Fruechte on the depth chart the past two seasons. But the 24-year-old captain never complained, even though it was frustrating not getting any catches to start his senior season.
Two weeks ago, Kill predicted Fruechte would be a breakout player in the Big Ten moving forward.
Fruechte caught a couple of wide open play-action passes from Leidner in last week’s 24-17 win over Northwestern. He had three catches for 46 yards.
“We got some good looks that we wanted,” Leidner said. “Isaac made a couple great catches there. We definitely got into a little groove.”
Gophers offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover was excited to see Fruechte get after teammates in practice last Thursday, saying, ‘We need to pick up the intensity; this isn’t good enough.’
“It isn’t easy sometimes being a senior wide receiver, not being a guy that’s getting many balls,” Limegrover said. “I’m real happy he was able to have some success, because he’s a kid that stayed in it 100 percent, hadn’t gone the other way, really a young man who deserves that and more.”
Briefly
Kill said after Wednesday’s practice that cornerback Marcus Jones (broken hand) is wearing a soft cast and could play against Purdue. But the Gophers will stick with Jalen Myrick on kick return and Craig James on punt return. ...Center Brian Bobek is questionable for Saturday.