The Minnesota Gophers have been a powerhouse for bringing through exceptionally talented young athletes and sports stars, so it is no surprise that hundreds of its alumni have graduated to the top level in their respective sports. Here are a few who made waves at college and then featured in the NBA, NFL and MLB.
Adam Weber
Adam Weber has been ranked as the best quarterback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and he still holds the records for the most career passing yards (10,917), most passing yards in a single season (2,895), most career passing touchdowns (72) and most passing touchdowns in one season (24). Weber eventually advanced to the major leagues, but he didn’t have a long or illustrious career in the NFL. As a 23-year-old, he signed with the Denver Broncos in 2011 as a free agent and made his NFL debut a month later in a pre-season match against the Arizona Cardinals.
Eric Decker
Eric Decker showcases the natural sporting talent of Gophers, as he played for both the baseball and football teams at college level before being drafted by both the MLB and NFL. Decker focused on football after being drafted by the Broncos in 2010, where he played his natural position of wide receiver. Following three seasons there, he joined the New York Jets (2014-16) and then the Tennessee Titans (2017).
Maxx Williams
Maxx Williams is among a new breed of Gophers who are still plying their trade in the top leagues. The 24-year-old was the first tight end to be selected in the 2015 NFL draft but he has yet to fulfill his potential after undergoing major knee surgery in 2016. He faces stiff competition to secure a jersey for the roster next season, but for punters betting on the NFL, he could potentially be a major factor in the Ravens’ 2018 campaign.
Herb Brooks
Minnesota native Herb Brooks played ice hockey for the Gophers during the late 1950s and competed at the 1962 World Championships for the United States. While he didn’t make the major leagues as a player, he did coach the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL during the 1980 and 1990s. He also led the USA Olympic Men’s Team to gold at the 1980 Winter Olympics on home soil.
Jack Hannahan
Jack Hannahan played college baseball for the Gophers, hitting .360 with 28 runs and four home runs in 1999. Hannahan advanced to Major League Baseball in 2001 after being selected by the Detroit Tigers in the third round. He didn’t make his MLB debut until 2006, but had a steady career at the top level with the likes of Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners during the next decade. Hannahan ended his MLB career with a .231 batting average and 29 home runs. His last appearance was with the Cincinnati Reds in September 2014.
Denny Neagle
Dennis Edward Neagle Jr. is arguably the best pitcher who has graduated from the Gophers to MLB. Neagle played on the baseball team at the University of Minnesota and was drafted by the Twins in 1989, though he didn’t feature on the postseason roster in the World Series win in 1991. He went on to play for Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and the New York Yankees during the 1990s and early 2000s, before finishing his MLB career at the Colorado Rockies in 2003. Neagle had 1,415 strikeouts in MLB in total, with a 4,24 earned run average.
Kevin McHale
Out of all the NBA Draft Picks from the University of Minnesota, Kevin McHale leads the way in terms of games played at the top level, with a staggering 971 between 1981 and 1993. Born in Hibbing, McHale starred in the power forward position for the Gophers in the late 1970s before joining Boston, where he would spend his entire career. The 60-year-old is now a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and considered to be one of the best ever in his position. McHale also featured in a top 50 list of the NBA’s best ever players in 1996. He won the NBA Championship three times with Celtics and featured in seven NBA All Star games. His raw statistics also impress, as he racked up 17,335 points, 7,122 rebounds and 1,690 blocks during his career.
Mychal Thompson
Mychal Thompson is another Gopher who went on to become an NBA champion. After a four-year college career at Minnesota, Thompson joined Portland, where he displayed his excellent skills in the power forward and center positions. Like McHale, he stood 6 feet 10 inches tall and was at the peak of his powers during the mid-1980s. Thompson won the NBA in successive seasons after joining the L.A. Lakers in 1986. He scored almost 13,000 points during his 12-year career, retiring in 1991.
There are many successful Gophers who could have been listed here, and there will be more talented young sportsmen and women in the future who make the transition from college sport in Minnesota to the highest echelons of their respective games across the United States.