Official 2026 Roster Movement Thread - Who's In and Who's Out?

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gopherbadgerman said:
He might play P4, but you think he is a starting back on a good team? His rushing stats were close, his receiving stats were not.

Opinions differ, I just don't think he is a difference maker. A solid player for sure.
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He can be a starter. I don't get too worked up over players leaving if they don't want to be Gophers. Coaches will find someone to pick up the workload.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
He can be a starter. I don't get too worked up over players leaving if they don't want to be Gophers. Coaches will find someone to pick up the workload.
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So you think he will be a starter on a good P4 team? I don't. I think he is a decent depth piece. I may be totally wrong on him though. I was just not that impressed, but maybe it had something to do with our OL?
 

Apparently Fame knows next year is an even year, which means our RB's will all stay healthy. And if Taylor and Turner come back, he's not playing as much. It's only in odd years that all the RB's get hurt ;) Taylor and Turner only have 1 year left, so if he stayed, he would likely get a pretty good workload in 2027, but Lord knows nobody waits anymore.
 


gopherbadgerman said:
So you think he will be a starter on a good P4 team? I don't. I think he is a decent depth piece. I may be totally wrong on him though. I was just not that impressed, but maybe it had something to do with our OL?
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Hard to say considering it's his first year. He's a tough runner (breaks some tackles) and will only get better. I don't think he's a great pass catcher or elite in space. I could see Campbell taking him at Penn State as he may need some players.
 



This is the college football world today.

The teams have a very finite amount of money to pay players.

There is no way Fleck can guarantee Ijeboi a starting job or even a certain amount of playing time — if he did, Taylor might walk.

Talented players like Femi have the right to pursue other options.

This is the reality now.
 




RememberMurray said:
This is the college football world today.

The teams have a very finite amount of money to pay players.

There is no way Fleck can guarantee Ijeboi a starting job or even a certain amount of playing time — if he did, Taylor might walk.

Talented players like Femi have the right to pursue other options.

This is the reality now.
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Great take.
 

gopherbadgerman said:
So you think he will be a starter on a good P4 team? I don't. I think he is a decent depth piece. I may be totally wrong on him though. I was just not that impressed, but maybe it had something to do with our OL?
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I'm in general agreement with your take. I think Ijeboi did fine with what we needed him to do and will be a nice piece for a team looking for depth and a runner that isn't afraid of contact. I don't see him upgrading teams and being a starter. If he wants to start, in terms of landing spots I'm guessing lateral at best and probably slightly downgrade.

Ky Thomas to Kansas and AK to Rutgers are similar examples.
 

Maybe F Washington or Ford are going to pass Fame?
forever a gopher said:
Apparently Fame knows next year is an even year, which means our RB's will all stay healthy. And if Taylor and Turner come back, he's not playing as much. It's only in odd years that all the RB's get hurt ;) Taylor and Turner only have 1 year left, so if he stayed, he would likely get a pretty good workload in 2027, but Lord knows nobody waits anymore.
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Besides AJ Turner getting healthy, next year's lineup could (depending on transfers) have RS F Washington and/or Ford playing real minutes. Washington looked pretty decent in spot duty in his true FR year. We've also got a couple of really good RB prospects in the 2026 class, who could quickly climb up the depth chart ladder. And PJ might pluck another experienced, perhaps a bit more versatile, depth piece from the portal. I wish Fame would stay, because there is definitely a role for him on the Gophers. But if he wants a meaningfully bigger role--and a chance at a bell cow role--his decision to shop around makes sense. Wish him well at his next stop. The Gophers will be fine.
 





MaxyJR1 said:
He can be a starter. I don't get too worked up over players leaving if they don't want to be Gophers. Coaches will find someone to pick up the workload.
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Yep.....hard to hang onto a lot of quality depth in this current college landscape. I don't see the high end upside with Ijeboi that some of you apparently do but sorry to see him go because RB depth is important and he showed he could be a productive player for us.

In a perfect world a guy like Ijeboi stays and waits his turn to be the lead back but with the way things are right now that is not the route a lot of players choose to go anymore.
 

MNVCGUY said:
Yep.....hard to hang onto a lot of quality depth in this current college landscape. I don't see the high end upside with Ijeboi that some of you apparently do but sorry to see him go because RB depth is important and he showed he could be a productive player for us.

In a perfect world a guy like Ijeboi stays and waits his turn to be the lead back but with the way things are right now that is not the route a lot of players choose to go anymore.
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I think this offseason is getting more play makers across the board on offense for Lindsey and some people are going to have to leave to accomplish that.

Hypothetical

Ijeboi is going to demand a higher salary this coming season going into his 3rd year in the program. That money could be used for a transfer in and we just can't afford to keep him. I think RB is always going to be 2-3 upper classmen and then freshmen.

We had 6 on roster and PJ has commented that Turner should be good to go. Many took that as meaning he's coming back.

Taylor 1 year left
Turner 1-2 left depending on medical
Washington 4 left
Ford 4 left
Estrada 5 to play 4
Bates 5 to play 4
Castillo 5 to play 4

So we're at 7 next year to 6 this year without any more movement.
 
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MaxyJR1 said:
I think this offseason is getting more play makers across the board on offense for Lindsey and some people are going to have to leave to accomplish that.

Hypothetical

Ijeboi is going to demand a higher salary this coming season going into his 3rd year in the program. That money could be used for a transfer in and we just can't afford to keep him. I think RB is always going to be 2-3 upper classmen and then freshmen.

We had 6 on roster and PJ has commented that Turner should be good to go. Many took that as meaning he's coming back.

Taylor 1 year left
Turner 1-2 left depending on medical
Washington 3 left
Ford 3 left
Estrada 4
Bates 4
Castillo 4

So we're at 7 next year to 6 this year without any more movement.
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Were Washington and Ford unable to redshirt?
 



I can't put my finger on it again but last night I saw a clip from the Northern Arizona (FCS - Big Sky Conference) HC. His program has tracked the outcomes for its departing players and a large majority ended up playing fewer snaps at the next institution. I assume most departing players, though, if they aren't getting a payday, think they only need a fresh "chance" and aren't patient enough to wait for their own development.
 

That's really it. Most happy contributing players stay. They leave because they realize they can't compete, don't have patience, want to play at highest level, or get poached.
 


forever a gopher said:
Apparently Fame knows next year is an even year, which means our RB's will all stay healthy. And if Taylor and Turner come back, he's not playing as much. It's only in odd years that all the RB's get hurt ;) Taylor and Turner only have 1 year left, so if he stayed, he would likely get a pretty good workload in 2027, but Lord knows nobody waits anymore.
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This is the take
 

I think Estrada will be playing as RB2 next year.

He's faster than Darius, has produced eye-popping production in Texas, and can catch out of the backfield.

Following year, the torch is passed, and Estrada is RB1. ...I think all of this is the basic issue for Ijeboi -- he needs to locate another team where he can start (and get paid like a starter).
 

touchdownvikings said:
I think Estrada will be playing as RB2 next year.

He's faster than Darius, has produced eye-popping production in Texas, and can catch out of the backfield.

Following year, the torch is passed, and Estrada is RB1. ...I think all of this is the basic issue for Ijeboi -- he needs to locate another team where he can start (and get paid like a starter).
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Not unless theres an injury...he's not passing Taylor or Turner if they're both back and healthy.
 

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