Sean Tyler RB from Western Michigan to transfer to Gophers!!!!!

[MaxyJR1]

P. J. can't have many fans left at W. Michigan.

He's a grad transfer and was committed to Ok State.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

He has punt & kick returner vibes.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

This could all also be entirely coincidence and I'm not sure how much a new TE coach is going to impact our eventual offense but Kent State used a ton of Jet Sweep action in their running game and that requires someone with quite a bit of speed.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

He has punt & kick returner vibes.

I think he will be our starting RB unless one of the freshman take it from him.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

P. J. can't have many fans left at W. Michigan.

He was already gone.

 

[DarrenTheGreek]

I can't read embedded tweets on my office network so if it was said elsewhere I apologize....but how many years of eligibility does he have left?

 

[WriterGoph]

I can't read embedded tweets on my office network so if it was said elsewhere I apologize....but how many years of eligibility does he have left?

Appears just 1 year, which is perfect for our situation with our young RBs

 

[Panthadad2]

He has some hops. 76-yard run this year. Kick return for a TD last year. Nice add to the RB squad.

 

[MaxyJR1]

Appears just 1 year, which is perfect for our situation with our young RBs

Played in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. So he has the COVID season to play this fall is what it looks like.

Back to back 1,000 yard seasons.
Looks like he caught 12 and 14 passes over the last two years.

Zero punt return experience

Main KO returner this last season.

 

[MNVCGUY]

P. J. can't have many fans left at W. Michigan.

These guys were already in the portal so they were going to end up somewhere else regardless. Doubt the fans will hold it against Fleck, in fact they might like the fact that their former coach is giving some of these guys a shot to be power 5 contributors.

 

[btowngopher]

Very nice! I had been hoping we were adding a proven RB. Great addition! Good point by Writer with the one year of eligibility, that’s perfect. Also shrewd to wait til early signing before adding him. No need to risk commits jumping ship. Not saying this is what Fleck did or that he wasn’t transparent, but I could see it being used this way in some cases.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Appears just 1 year, which is perfect for our situation with our young RBs

Yep, will be interesting to see how the RB room shakes out in the spring and fall but gotta believe Tyler will be the most likely to secure the primary roll.

Having a Tyler and a Taylor in the same backfield is likely to lead to some confusion

 

[WriterGoph]

Played in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. So he has the COVID season to play this fall is what it looks like.

Back to back 1,000 yard seasons.
Looks like he caught 12 and 14 passes over the last two years.

Zero punt return experience

Main KO returner this last season.

Consecutive-season 1K backs from the G5 aren't just growing on trees. Have to think that Mo's success and our running game in general are starting to help the reputation of what you can do at Minnesota. This applies for the HS and transfer recruits we have gotten this year. The fact we beat out heavy NIL from Oklahoma State really illustrates that.

 

[btowngopher]

Looks a lot like Bucky, might not have his strength, but seems to have his other attributes.

 

[Panthadad2]

Consecutive-season 1K backs from the G5 aren't just growing on trees. Have to think that Mo's success and our running game in general are starting to help the reputation of what you can do at Minnesota. This applies for the HS and transfer recruits we have gotten this year. The fact we beat out heavy NIL from Oklahoma State really illustrates that.

MN is building the reputation of a having a big power-blocking offensive line. That has to be music to the ears for a running back.

 

[mkAz]

He looks like a quality pickup.

 

[GophersInIowa]

He took this one from OK State. He had already entered the portal and committed there.

And Oklahoma St's head coach can take the disappointment because he's a man and he's 40.

 

[Full Speed Ahead]

Dude look at the wheels on this kid! Sounds like he also me may be part of the kick return picture.

Always like it when the kicker tries to chase down the return man - just pick up your tee and go to the sideline, you're not gonna catch 'em...

 

[Dupreefor3]

Curious if Potts will go to the portal. This move clearly sends a signal that staff doesn't believe he can take the reigns and by next year, Williams, Taylor Evans will all have another year in the program

 

[swingman]

He's a grad transfer and was committed to Ok State.

PJ is 42. He's a man.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Pair and a spare.

I wonder what - if anything - this says about the coaching staff's level of confidence in Potts and Williams.

Let's face it - if you're 100% happy with Potts and Williams leading the RB room, you are probably not going to bring in a grad transfer RB for one year.

the coaches perceived a hole to fill, and this presumably fills it.

 

[swingman]

We don't rebuild. We reload.

 

[fmlizard]

Pair and a spare.

I wonder what - if anything - this says about the coaching staff's level of confidence in Potts and Williams.

Let's face it - if you're 100% happy with Potts and Williams leading the RB room, you are probably not going to bring in a grad transfer RB for one year.

the coaches perceived a hole to fill, and this presumably fills it.

Pair and a spare is right. It's a long season and the Gophers run the ball a lot.

There's going to be room for at least 2 guys to get a bunch of carries next fall, and a 3rd guy who ends up finding reps when someone gets dinged.

 

[mkAz]

 

[highwayman]

TAYLOR, TYLER, & EVANS: The Running Backs You Choose Makes a Difference, The Backfield Minnesotans Know and Trust

 

[fmlizard]

One way a team that can't often recruit the best players out of high school can beat teams who can is by having older, more mature players. A bunch of 23 year old 3* guys can often beat a bunch of 19 year old 4* and 5* players.

The Gophers will go from having a 24 year old 6th year vet in the backfield to having a trio of grad students carrying the ball in 2023 (plus Evans).

We may be heading into a 3rd consecutive year of being an "older" team. That's good. It's one way the Gophers can overcome a talent gap.

I'm not sure if it's intentional but I think it is. And the Portal makes it much easier to do.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Pair and a spare.

I wonder what - if anything - this says about the coaching staff's level of confidence in Potts and Williams.

Let's face it - if you're 100% happy with Potts and Williams leading the RB room, you are probably not going to bring in a grad transfer RB for one year.

the coaches perceived a hole to fill, and this presumably fills it.

Naw you’re always bringing in guys if you can.

Pair and a spare.

 

[zman]

Zero punt return experience

Can he waive his hand in the air?

 

[laazrakit]

Wonder if it signals a potential expansion of the playbook?

This is a key takeaway... I think it's almost a certainty that Greg Harbaugh whispered something in Sean's ear since he's got to be quite familiar with Tyler's game.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Pair and a spare.

I wonder what - if anything - this says about the coaching staff's level of confidence in Potts and Williams.

Let's face it - if you're 100% happy with Potts and Williams leading the RB room, you are probably not going to bring in a grad transfer RB for one year.

the coaches perceived a hole to fill, and this presumably fills it.

I think Williams will always find a niche, he always has. He is an excellent pass blocker and kind of does a lot of little things well.

For Potts, if he still has some juice and runs like he did prior to his injury, he'll get snaps. If he ran like he did last year, he probably won't. For selfish reasons (being a Gopher fan) and unselfish ones (rooting for someone whose been through a lot), I hope we see the pre-injury Potts.