BleedGopher
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per ESPN:
It's time for No. 8: the Minnesota Golden Gophers
QB Mitch Leidner: A fifth-year senior, Leidner had his best season in 2015. He threw for 2,701 yards and 14 touchdowns, and ran for another six scores. His accuracy (59.5 completion percentage last season) could still use some work, and this is probably never going to be high-flying passing offense. But Leidner is a dual-threat guy who should fit in well in Jay Johnson's new run-heavy scheme, and his leadership skills are off the charts.
RB Shannon Brooks: He had a very impressive freshman season, running for 709 yards and seven touchdowns, and averaging a stout 6.0 yards per carry. Brooks has breakaway speed and a knack for the big play. He could be a 1,000-yard back as a sophomore, while still splitting carries with classmate Rodney Smith.
TE Brandon Lingen: Ideally, a wide receiver steps forward and becomes the third triplet here. But in the meantime, Lingen is a solid option. He had 33 catches for 428 yards and three scores last season, and posted a pair of 100-yard games. Minnesota knows how to use its tight ends well, and he could be a favorite target for Leidner.
Evaluation: Experience at quarterback can never be underrated, so the Gophers start with a great base in Leidner. The running back position is set for the next couple of years, with Brooks poised to be a star. It's really all about the receivers developing, which is a sentence it feels like we've typed for about five straight years now. If that happens, or even if Lingen continues to be a major threat in the passing game, this will be a strong threesome.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/134424/ranking-b1gs-offensive-triplets-no-8-minnesota
Go Gophers!!
It's time for No. 8: the Minnesota Golden Gophers
QB Mitch Leidner: A fifth-year senior, Leidner had his best season in 2015. He threw for 2,701 yards and 14 touchdowns, and ran for another six scores. His accuracy (59.5 completion percentage last season) could still use some work, and this is probably never going to be high-flying passing offense. But Leidner is a dual-threat guy who should fit in well in Jay Johnson's new run-heavy scheme, and his leadership skills are off the charts.
RB Shannon Brooks: He had a very impressive freshman season, running for 709 yards and seven touchdowns, and averaging a stout 6.0 yards per carry. Brooks has breakaway speed and a knack for the big play. He could be a 1,000-yard back as a sophomore, while still splitting carries with classmate Rodney Smith.
TE Brandon Lingen: Ideally, a wide receiver steps forward and becomes the third triplet here. But in the meantime, Lingen is a solid option. He had 33 catches for 428 yards and three scores last season, and posted a pair of 100-yard games. Minnesota knows how to use its tight ends well, and he could be a favorite target for Leidner.
Evaluation: Experience at quarterback can never be underrated, so the Gophers start with a great base in Leidner. The running back position is set for the next couple of years, with Brooks poised to be a star. It's really all about the receivers developing, which is a sentence it feels like we've typed for about five straight years now. If that happens, or even if Lingen continues to be a major threat in the passing game, this will be a strong threesome.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/134424/ranking-b1gs-offensive-triplets-no-8-minnesota
Go Gophers!!
