True freshman walk-on QB Zack Annexstad to start for Minnesota
This will make Annexstad only the second true freshman walk-on QB to start an opener for a P5 program, after Baker Mayfield at TTU.
Annexstad went to IMG Academy last year and ended up beating out current Rutgers QB (and potential starter) true freshman Artur Sitkowski leading IMG to an undefeated season. Annexstad is originally from Minnesota and had offers from programs like Cinci and Pitt out of HS. He decided to walk-on at Minnesota because he's from the state, his brother is on the team, multiple of his IMG teammates go to Minnesota and he was very comfortable with Fleck.
August 20th, 2018 at 2:53 PM ^
I thought walk ons were not allowed to play as true freshmen?
August 20th, 2018 at 2:56 PM ^
Baker Mayfield says whats up.
August 20th, 2018 at 11:03 PM ^
Technically this means he's not a walk-on anymore. They're going to have to use a scholarship on him, per NCAA rules. But from a fan perspective a guy who intended to walk on counts as such because the guy still committed without a promise of a scholarship, and had to follow the NCAA's rules that prevent teams from oversigning then retaining captured players without scholarships.
I'm sure Minnesota has a scholarship available for a quarterback after the mass exodus they suffered.
August 20th, 2018 at 11:17 PM ^
They have to wait until January to give him Viramontes's scholarship, so it doesn't count against the class total.
August 20th, 2018 at 2:54 PM ^
So basically, Minnesota F'ed up by not offering him - but not really because he signed anyway? Still bad talent evaluation.
August 20th, 2018 at 3:13 PM ^
Either that or the rest of MN's scholarship QBs are just that terrible. Guess we'll find out pretty soon here
August 20th, 2018 at 4:41 PM ^
iirc they only have one scholarship QB, a redshirt freshman who's obv never played.
Still smdh that Vicious Vic couldn't win the job.
August 20th, 2018 at 4:12 PM ^
But why would you waste a scholarship on a player who is willing to come to your school as a walk on anyway? That’s just one more scholarship you can use for another quality player.
August 20th, 2018 at 5:38 PM ^
This works for his recruiting class, but he will most likely be offered a scholarship this year if he really will be the starter. This is assuming they have space, but most teams end up with a few spots at the beginning of the season and fill up the 85 to the most deserving walk-ons (e.g. Jordan Kovacs and the Glasgows).
August 20th, 2018 at 2:55 PM ^
What could go wrong?
Of course, Baker Mayfield turned out ok, except not for Texas Tech.
August 20th, 2018 at 3:00 PM ^
Annexstad wins 2020 Heisman Trophy after undefeated season for Michigan Wolverines.
August 20th, 2018 at 5:43 PM ^
Nobody would've predicted Mayfield to turn into a heisman winner, but at the time Texas Tech had some damn good QB's (in their eyes) in front of him with Davis Webb and Patrick Mahomes, both in the NFL. I'd definitely take Mayfield over them in college, but it's not like they were worried at the time, hindsight and all that.
QB was far from their problem, that horrid defense was the issue.
August 20th, 2018 at 2:55 PM ^
Oh My God, I hope they have a play called "The Annexstad of Puerto Rico"....
August 20th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
This comment, right here, is the Michigan Difference
August 20th, 2018 at 2:56 PM ^
Technically a walk-on but not really if he had those offers. Still a true freshman. Luckily he plays in West.
August 20th, 2018 at 2:57 PM ^
So that's going well, eh?
August 20th, 2018 at 6:49 PM ^
I'd still bet he does better than O'Korn.
August 20th, 2018 at 2:59 PM ^
Great story and best wishes to him.
God has given him a double-blessing: starting, walk-on QB and he does not have play against Devin Bush, Rashan Gary, Khaleke Hudson, and Chase Winovich this season (or likely ever). So maybe that's a quintuple blessing.
August 20th, 2018 at 3:15 PM ^
I hate writing this, but it's likely the truth. If he doesn't play them this year, he never will. Now I'm sad.
August 20th, 2018 at 3:10 PM ^
They should find a schloarship if their QB room is so bad a FR walk-on has to save their bacon. Least they can do to say thanks to the guy.
He couldve gone several other places
August 20th, 2018 at 3:40 PM ^
Then someone currently on scholarship would lose theirs?? Sounds like the kind of thing we would kill Saban for.
August 20th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^
Well, do what ya gotta do to open up a scholarship ASAP i guess. Long as no one is getting theirs taken away this year.
Maybe dont invite a 5th year guy back next year, or take one less in the next recruiting class.
August 20th, 2018 at 3:15 PM ^
What? Kid starts for IMG and walks on at Minnesota? MINNESOTA??
August 20th, 2018 at 4:48 PM ^
And Minnesota has multiple IMG players?
MINNESOTA?
August 20th, 2018 at 3:22 PM ^
Ok so sounds like this kid is a legit player. Started for IMG and had MAC and low level ACC and B1G offers (Illinois offered). I'm sure he'll be awful this year and it certainly doesn't speak well to their current QBs, but good for him and he may be a solid player down the road.
August 20th, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^
Year 0 2.0. Next year is Year 1 of the Fleck Era!
August 20th, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^
Zach seems to have walked on because his dad played for Minnesota and his older brother currently does. IMO he's a walk-on only in that he pays for school. He early enrolled after attending IMG and turned down other scholarship offers. His story is similar to the player who chose to walk on at NW in the class of 2017 rather than a scholarship at MSU. Annexstad beat out Tanner Morgan for the job who is a redshirt freshman and Minnesota's only scholarship qb on the team.
August 20th, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^
But what about Vicious Vic?
August 20th, 2018 at 3:44 PM ^
He already transferred out of Minnesota
August 20th, 2018 at 3:45 PM ^
Damn, can’t even sneak one joke in before that guy transfers again!
August 20th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^
So Sitkowski rode the bench at IMG and the guy that beat him out walked on ? That's pretty bizarre.
August 20th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
To be fair, Sitkowski didn't get a scholarship to a D1 school either.
August 20th, 2018 at 4:23 PM ^
You'd think if you were the starting QB for IMG you'd have tons of offers from all over. Weird.
August 20th, 2018 at 4:34 PM ^
Good for him but also bad for him.
August 20th, 2018 at 4:41 PM ^
Am rooting for this kid, if he passed on scholarships to Cinci or Pitt, to play at home..he will eventually get a scholarship if he starts the entire year.
August 20th, 2018 at 9:58 PM ^
He kind of already did receive a scholarship. His older brother, who was also a walk-on, was given a scholarship just a couple days ago. I don't expect the elder Annexstad to see any meaningful snaps this year.
So Zach may not be receiving the full benefit of being on scholarship this year, but it all balances the same in the family checkbook.
August 20th, 2018 at 5:06 PM ^
It's Minnesota, so technically isn't he swimming on?
August 20th, 2018 at 5:43 PM ^
So he's like Brian Griese - technically a walk on but not a typical one.
August 20th, 2018 at 6:03 PM ^
How did they not find a grad transfer QB?
August 20th, 2018 at 10:21 PM ^
Minnesota had used their 25 initial counters, so they couldn't bring in a grad transfer.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:23 AM ^
Hope we beat them this year