BleedGopher
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per Sid:
Best WR in NCAA?
While the Gophers lost Johnson, they’ll bring back maybe the most talented receiver in the country in Rashod Bateman.
CBSsports.com ran an 2021 NFL mock draft this week and had Bateman going No. 18 overall. He was considered one of the best receivers in the country last season as a sophomore.
Fleck said receivers coach Matt Simon will have that group ready, even with Johnson graduating.
“I think Matt Simon is the best receivers coach in the country. What he has done here at Minnesota and at previous stops has been incredible,” Fleck said. “The proof is there. Ty and Rashod were both named All-Big Ten first team last year and that was the first time in the history of the Big Ten that one school had both first-team wide receivers. Think about that for a second. That is credit to Coach Simon and the relationship he builds with his receivers.”
Who will stand out besides Bateman?
“I do think people are going to see how impactful [redshirt junior] Chris Autman-Bell can be. He has been in that No. 3 role the past two seasons, but we have all the confidence in the world in him,” Fleck said. “He’s been extremely productive here, but sometimes was overshadowed because of Ty and Rashod. He has 56 catches for more than 800 yards and five touchdowns, and I am really excited to see his continued growth.
“[Redshirt junior] Demetrius Douglas has been extremely reliable for us as well. We don’t beat Georgia Southern last year without Demetrius Douglas. It was third-and-30 from inside our own 10-yard line and he catches back-to-back balls to keep the drive alive and we pull that game out at the end.
“And then I mentioned earlier that you may see the tight end more in the passing game. I really liked what I saw from [redshirt sophomore] Brevyn Spann-Ford in the couple of spring practices we had. He has all the tools and performed at a high level in the passing game when we called on him and he scored his first touchdown. I think he is a player who is capable of taking that next step.”
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
Best WR in NCAA?
While the Gophers lost Johnson, they’ll bring back maybe the most talented receiver in the country in Rashod Bateman.
CBSsports.com ran an 2021 NFL mock draft this week and had Bateman going No. 18 overall. He was considered one of the best receivers in the country last season as a sophomore.
Fleck said receivers coach Matt Simon will have that group ready, even with Johnson graduating.
“I think Matt Simon is the best receivers coach in the country. What he has done here at Minnesota and at previous stops has been incredible,” Fleck said. “The proof is there. Ty and Rashod were both named All-Big Ten first team last year and that was the first time in the history of the Big Ten that one school had both first-team wide receivers. Think about that for a second. That is credit to Coach Simon and the relationship he builds with his receivers.”
Who will stand out besides Bateman?
“I do think people are going to see how impactful [redshirt junior] Chris Autman-Bell can be. He has been in that No. 3 role the past two seasons, but we have all the confidence in the world in him,” Fleck said. “He’s been extremely productive here, but sometimes was overshadowed because of Ty and Rashod. He has 56 catches for more than 800 yards and five touchdowns, and I am really excited to see his continued growth.
“[Redshirt junior] Demetrius Douglas has been extremely reliable for us as well. We don’t beat Georgia Southern last year without Demetrius Douglas. It was third-and-30 from inside our own 10-yard line and he catches back-to-back balls to keep the drive alive and we pull that game out at the end.
“And then I mentioned earlier that you may see the tight end more in the passing game. I really liked what I saw from [redshirt sophomore] Brevyn Spann-Ford in the couple of spring practices we had. He has all the tools and performed at a high level in the passing game when we called on him and he scored his first touchdown. I think he is a player who is capable of taking that next step.”
Gophers football recruiting climbs in national rankings
P.J. Fleck and staff have been creative in pursuing players while coping with coronavirus restrictions.
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
