Jah Joyner vows to end Gophers' double-digit sack drought

BleedGopher · Jul 12, 2024

Per SI:

Gophers redshirt-senior defensive lineman Jah Joyner vowed to do something that hasn't been done in 16 years by a Minnesota football player: reach double-digit sacks.

"That is my goal to be a double-digit sack guy," said Joyner at Thursday's Gophers media day.

Joyner came up 2.5 sacks short of accomplishing that goal last season. The last time the Gophers had a player record double-digit sacks was Willie Vandesteeg in 2008. Since then, Carter Coughlin was the closest during his 9.5-sack 2018 season.

Closest Gophers to double-digit sacks since 2008

9.5 - Carter Coughlin, 2018
8.5 - D.L. White, 2012
7.5 - Thieren Cockran, 2013
7.5 - Blake Cashman - 2016
7.5 - Jah Joyner - 2023
7.0 - Steve Richardson, 2016
7.0 - Boye Mafe, 2021

Joyner said he put in "a lot of work" this offseason, which he hopes can help him improve on his team-leading 7.5 sacks in 2023. When asked if getting to double-digits is his goal, Joyner confidently responded, "Absolutely. That's going to happen and I can't wait."