Minnesota Golden Gophers' coach Jerry Kill was busy on national signing day, gathering the paper work for 31 new players from all over the map.

But the players close to home that decided to stay in Minnesota may be the most valuable, especially Mankato quarterback Philip Nelson and Hopkins wide receiver Andre McDonald. Kill's efforts to bolster his program received pretty good reviews, as well.

CSN Chicago ranked the Big Ten recruiting classes with the help of Midwest recruiting guru Tom Lemming, and they had Minnesota ranked No. 6 in the top half of the Big Ten. Here's what they had to say about the Gophers' class.

6. MINNESOTA: The Gophers managed to keep the state's top prospect at home -- QB Philip Nelson of Mankato, who ranks as the No. 40 player in the nation. The Gophers also got LB Jack Lynn of Lake Zurich, WR Andre McDonald, WR Jamel Harbison, OL Isaac Hayes and OL Johan Pirsig.

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