As the Minnesota Golden Gophers turn the corner into their 2025 offseason, some very important questions need answers before fans can confidently look ahead to a big season. These are critical issues that need to be addressed if the team wants to be taken as a serious competitor in the Big Ten Conference.
Reinforcing the Offensive Unit
The 2024 season saw the Gophers’ ground game struggle with just 111.3 rushing yards per game — the worst average in Coach P.J. Fleck’s time at Minnesota.
The reason for this drop-off can be blamed on shortcomings in the offensive line. Adding to the struggles are the departures of some key linemen Aireontae Ersery, Tyler Cooper, and Quinn Carroll who leave behind some big shoes to fill. In response, Minnesota brought in Marcellus Marshall (UCF), Kahlee Tafai (Washington), and Dylan Ray (Kentucky). The ability to effectively integrate these newcomers will be crucial to returning to a dominant run game, especially with a young quarterback at the reins.
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Choosing the Starting Quarterback
Adding to the uncertainty at quarterback, however, was the loss of Max Brosmer. A potential replacement would be redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey, who saw little action in college. The latest Gophers recruit was four-star California quarterback Jackson Kollock, who threw for 1,711 and 21 touchdowns in senior season. They also intend to add a transfer QB to help provide competition.
From there, the most competent person should be determined to organize everyone on the attack into a cohesive unit.
Reloading the Wide Out Room
With top receivers Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spencer getting their transfers, there is a need for more bodies in the passing game. Minnesota’s not taking any chances though, and had already added transfers Javon Tracy (Miami of Ohio), Logan Loya (UCLA) and Malachi Coleman (Nebraska) to the roster. Additional help from the returning players Le’Meke Brockington, Cristian Driver, etc are also due. So, moulding these talents and building chemistry with the new quarterback will be essential if the offense is going to be balanced.
Revamp the Back Line
They lost a lot of players, including key guys like Danny Striggow and Cody Lindenberg. Young players like Jaxon Howard and Anthony Smith will quickly fill these in. Depth, especially at linebacker and cornerback is a concern, though. The coaching staff could be headed back to the portal for more talent in an effort to sustain that defensive prowess.
Balancing Roster Management and NCAA Guidelines
The NCAA has imposed new restrictions on FBS rosters, capping them at 105 total players, including both scholarship and non-scholarship. This means that roster management will have to be fully strategic. Fleck expects more players to leave when the transfer portal reopens in April 16, two days after spring camp ends and athletes get a new look at their standing. This is critical to manage the incoming talent within these constraints to keep depth and competition high.
To take a step forward in 2025, no doubt the Gophers need to address all of these concerns over the offseason. The team’s success will depend heavily on how strategically the new talent is integrated.