BleedGopher
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Per Cole:
Here are 5 positions the Gophers should target this offseason via the transfer portal:
Among the wideouts, Daniel Jackson led the charge with 484 yards while Michael Brown-Stephens and Dylan Wright registered 338 and 266, respectively. All 3 have eligibility remaining. Even if they all return, Minnesota needs a difference-maker who can separate himself as the clear No. 1 option. The top 4 targets all have roles in Kirk Ciarrocca’s offense, but there needs to be a consistent playmaker.
In today’s college football, teams need a legitimate No. 1 receiver to contend. Will the Gophers get their own version of Jordan Addison or Jacob Cowing next fall? They might be on the right path following the transfer commitment of Wisconsin’s Markus Allen, who had 7 catches for 91 yards and 1 TD this season for the Badgers.
Minnesota ranks dead last in sacks among B1G programs this season with 17. Minnesota’s defense hasn’t featured a player with double-digit sacks since Willie VanDeSteeg in 2008. The Gophers have only had 3 players surpass 7.5 sacks since 2010, with Boye Mafe leading the charge last season with 7.
No one is saying that the Gophers need to land a Will Anderson from Alabama or an Isaiah Foskey from Notre Dame, but they need more pressure. Perhaps Minnesota follows a similar path to that of Florida State. Last season, the Seminoles added Jared Verse from FSC Albany. A year later, their defense finished 19th nationally with 34 sacks, 7.5 of which came from the former Great Dane.
Fleck could look at multiple options. Athan Kaliakmanis went 2-2 as a starter in place of an injured Morgan and impressed in his final game against Wisconsin. He also never found his footing or rhythm against Iowa, ultimately leading to the loss that knocked the Gophers out of the B1G West title race.
At worse, Fleck could look to bring in a lower-tier transfer for competition purposes. Kaliakmanis has more than earned the right to fight for the title of QB1, but nothing should be promised to the 2021 4-star recruit. Look for maybe a Group of 5 senior transfer to be in play as the guy to push for reps against the rising sophomore.
That said, Mohamed Ibrahim had over 55% of the Gophers’ carries this season. He’s going pro, and the Gophers will need depth.
Potts should be the favorite to see his rep count increase after serving as the No. 2. He averaged 4.9 yards per run and scored 3 touchdowns on 92 carries. Still, 92 carries is chump change for a program that registered 548 rush attempts. Not to mention, both Bryce Williams and Preston Jelen are seniors (though with options for 1 more season). The duo combined for 53 carries and 4 TDs.
One simply doesn’t replace a talent like Ibrahim by trusting the process and hoping for the best. The Gophers again could be one of the B1G’s more run-oriented offenses next season, so the more quality options in the backfield the better.
Nubin finished with a team-high 4 interceptions. Howden finished 2nd in pass breakups with 4. Not to mention, the Gophers’ pass defense was their bright spot defensively, holding opponents to 173.7 yards per game (8th nationally) and tallying 13 interceptions.
Late in the season in harsh weather conditions, programs with stable defenses often prevail. Look at Iowa. Look at Michigan. Look at even Illinois. While the offense will take time to adjust, if Fleck can establish consistency in the secondary, he could keep the Gophers at the forefront of contending for a B1G West title.
That starts with veteran leadership on the backend. Expect the open safety spot to be filled by a transfer come September of next season.
saturdaytradition.com
Go Gophers!!
Here are 5 positions the Gophers should target this offseason via the transfer portal:
1. Wide receiver
The Gophers’ leader in receptions was Brevyn Spann-Ford, a tight end. Four pass-catchers totaled at least 250 yards and 15 catches, but none of them reached 500 yards.Among the wideouts, Daniel Jackson led the charge with 484 yards while Michael Brown-Stephens and Dylan Wright registered 338 and 266, respectively. All 3 have eligibility remaining. Even if they all return, Minnesota needs a difference-maker who can separate himself as the clear No. 1 option. The top 4 targets all have roles in Kirk Ciarrocca’s offense, but there needs to be a consistent playmaker.
In today’s college football, teams need a legitimate No. 1 receiver to contend. Will the Gophers get their own version of Jordan Addison or Jacob Cowing next fall? They might be on the right path following the transfer commitment of Wisconsin’s Markus Allen, who had 7 catches for 91 yards and 1 TD this season for the Badgers.
2. Defensive end
No Golden Gopher recorded more than 3.5 sacks in 2022. Danny Striggow was the most consistent at exerting pressure, registering 4.5 tackles for losses to go along with his team-high in sacks.Minnesota ranks dead last in sacks among B1G programs this season with 17. Minnesota’s defense hasn’t featured a player with double-digit sacks since Willie VanDeSteeg in 2008. The Gophers have only had 3 players surpass 7.5 sacks since 2010, with Boye Mafe leading the charge last season with 7.
No one is saying that the Gophers need to land a Will Anderson from Alabama or an Isaiah Foskey from Notre Dame, but they need more pressure. Perhaps Minnesota follows a similar path to that of Florida State. Last season, the Seminoles added Jared Verse from FSC Albany. A year later, their defense finished 19th nationally with 34 sacks, 7.5 of which came from the former Great Dane.
3. Quarterback
Morgan might qualify for AARP by the time he finally leaves Minneapolis after this season. He’ll finish 2nd all-time in passing yards for Minnesota, which will have an opening at QB for the first time in 5 seasons.Fleck could look at multiple options. Athan Kaliakmanis went 2-2 as a starter in place of an injured Morgan and impressed in his final game against Wisconsin. He also never found his footing or rhythm against Iowa, ultimately leading to the loss that knocked the Gophers out of the B1G West title race.
At worse, Fleck could look to bring in a lower-tier transfer for competition purposes. Kaliakmanis has more than earned the right to fight for the title of QB1, but nothing should be promised to the 2021 4-star recruit. Look for maybe a Group of 5 senior transfer to be in play as the guy to push for reps against the rising sophomore.
4. Running back
Could Trey Potts be the clear-cut No. 1 runner in 2023? Sure. Could freshman Jordan Nubin potentially be the next great bruiser of the B1G? Without question.That said, Mohamed Ibrahim had over 55% of the Gophers’ carries this season. He’s going pro, and the Gophers will need depth.
Potts should be the favorite to see his rep count increase after serving as the No. 2. He averaged 4.9 yards per run and scored 3 touchdowns on 92 carries. Still, 92 carries is chump change for a program that registered 548 rush attempts. Not to mention, both Bryce Williams and Preston Jelen are seniors (though with options for 1 more season). The duo combined for 53 carries and 4 TDs.
One simply doesn’t replace a talent like Ibrahim by trusting the process and hoping for the best. The Gophers again could be one of the B1G’s more run-oriented offenses next season, so the more quality options in the backfield the better.
5. Safety
Tyler Nubin has decided to return, but Jordan Howden likely is leaving. That leaves a spot up for grabs in Minnesota’s secondary, and the safety position might carry more weight than any other defensive back position for the Gophers.Nubin finished with a team-high 4 interceptions. Howden finished 2nd in pass breakups with 4. Not to mention, the Gophers’ pass defense was their bright spot defensively, holding opponents to 173.7 yards per game (8th nationally) and tallying 13 interceptions.
Late in the season in harsh weather conditions, programs with stable defenses often prevail. Look at Iowa. Look at Michigan. Look at even Illinois. While the offense will take time to adjust, if Fleck can establish consistency in the secondary, he could keep the Gophers at the forefront of contending for a B1G West title.
That starts with veteran leadership on the backend. Expect the open safety spot to be filled by a transfer come September of next season.
Minnesota football: 5 biggest transfer portal needs for 2023
Which players could be headed to the Land of 10,000 Lakes this offseason?
saturdaytradition.com
Go Gophers!!
