BleedGopher
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per CBS:
While the sheer talent at Ohio State and renewed rivalry between the Michigan schools generate the most buzz in the Big Ten, one of the conference's best stories in recent years has been the emergence of the University of Minnesota as a legitimate contender and producer of NFL talent.
In comparison to other highly regarded quarterbacks, Mitch Leidner's statistics, to this point, are hardly eye-popping. He completed just 59.5 percent of his passes for 2,701 yards and 14 touchdowns while starting all 13 games last season, tossing 11 interceptions along the way. His total of 20 combined touchdowns (passing and rushing) in 2015 was actually one fewer than he posted as a redshirt sophomore, when Leidner completed just 51.5 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns (against eight interceptions) but ran for another 10 scores on a career-high 452 rushing yards.
Leidner is the unquestioned leader of Minnesota's offense, earning the team's MVP honors last season, as well as the Neil Fredenburg Award, given annually to the Gopher who best exemplifies courage and love of the game. Leidner earned his degree in kinesiology last year (as a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree) and is now pursuing his master's in sports management.
Leidner's raw tools alone are enough to get him drafted -- which would be quite a feat at Minnesota, considering that the last Gophers' quarterback to be selected came back in 1972 (Craig Curry, Miami Dolphins). If Leidner can prove his health, iron out some of his wrinkles and quickly master Johnson's new offense, a vault up boards this year is possible.
With similarly built and former "raw" passers like Carson Wentz and Blake Bortles emerging as top-three picks the past two years, Leidner is likely to be among this year's most scrutinized quarterback prospects, drawing the interest of NFL teams and post-season all-star games alike.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...otas-mitch-leidner-could-be-this-years-wentz/
Go Gophers!!
While the sheer talent at Ohio State and renewed rivalry between the Michigan schools generate the most buzz in the Big Ten, one of the conference's best stories in recent years has been the emergence of the University of Minnesota as a legitimate contender and producer of NFL talent.
In comparison to other highly regarded quarterbacks, Mitch Leidner's statistics, to this point, are hardly eye-popping. He completed just 59.5 percent of his passes for 2,701 yards and 14 touchdowns while starting all 13 games last season, tossing 11 interceptions along the way. His total of 20 combined touchdowns (passing and rushing) in 2015 was actually one fewer than he posted as a redshirt sophomore, when Leidner completed just 51.5 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns (against eight interceptions) but ran for another 10 scores on a career-high 452 rushing yards.
Leidner is the unquestioned leader of Minnesota's offense, earning the team's MVP honors last season, as well as the Neil Fredenburg Award, given annually to the Gopher who best exemplifies courage and love of the game. Leidner earned his degree in kinesiology last year (as a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree) and is now pursuing his master's in sports management.
Leidner's raw tools alone are enough to get him drafted -- which would be quite a feat at Minnesota, considering that the last Gophers' quarterback to be selected came back in 1972 (Craig Curry, Miami Dolphins). If Leidner can prove his health, iron out some of his wrinkles and quickly master Johnson's new offense, a vault up boards this year is possible.
With similarly built and former "raw" passers like Carson Wentz and Blake Bortles emerging as top-three picks the past two years, Leidner is likely to be among this year's most scrutinized quarterback prospects, drawing the interest of NFL teams and post-season all-star games alike.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...otas-mitch-leidner-could-be-this-years-wentz/
Go Gophers!!
