BleedGopher
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per Shama:
The football Golden Gophers are about halfway through spring practices. At this point there is a lot to like about the defensive secondary.
Veteran starting linebacker and team leader Mariano Sori-Marin was asked after practice yesterday if the secondary will be among the best in the Big Ten Conference next fall. In his answer he went beyond the Big Ten.
“Their expectation is they’re going to be one of the best secondaries in the country, and they know that, and you can see that in the way they work,” Sori-Marin said. “The way they communicate with each other. Just the way they practice. That’s one thing about that group that flies off the tape is the way they practice.”
Conversations about individuals in the secondary can begin with Tyler Nubin. He was honorable mention All-Big Ten last season and defensive MVP at the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in December when the Gophers defeated West Virginia. He has already lettered three times at Minnesota and he led the team in interceptions in 2021 and was third in tackles. Sori-Marin describes Nubin as a fly-around-the-field safety and “vocal leader.”
Other returning starters in the secondary are safety Jordan Howden and corner Justin Walley. Howden has played in 45 games at Minnesota and will forever be remembered by Gopher fans for his late game interception in 2019 against No. 5 ranked Penn State. He has been named Academic All-Big Ten the last three seasons.
As a freshman last year Walley played in all 13 games and started the final six. The former Mississippi Mr. Football was named to the 247Sports True Freshman All-American team. He and Nubin are certain to be candidates for All-Big Ten next fall.
The Gophers have a cornerback spot to fill but candidates to become the starter have experience and skills. Transfers Beanie Bishop and Ryan Stapp have impressed at spring practice. Bishop was an All-USA Conference selection at Western Kentucky, while Stapp is highly regarded, too, after three seasons at Abilene Christian.
Terrell Smith is a four year letter winner for the Gophers and started seven games last season. He also was Academic All-Big Ten in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Go Gophers!!
The football Golden Gophers are about halfway through spring practices. At this point there is a lot to like about the defensive secondary.
Veteran starting linebacker and team leader Mariano Sori-Marin was asked after practice yesterday if the secondary will be among the best in the Big Ten Conference next fall. In his answer he went beyond the Big Ten.
“Their expectation is they’re going to be one of the best secondaries in the country, and they know that, and you can see that in the way they work,” Sori-Marin said. “The way they communicate with each other. Just the way they practice. That’s one thing about that group that flies off the tape is the way they practice.”
Conversations about individuals in the secondary can begin with Tyler Nubin. He was honorable mention All-Big Ten last season and defensive MVP at the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in December when the Gophers defeated West Virginia. He has already lettered three times at Minnesota and he led the team in interceptions in 2021 and was third in tackles. Sori-Marin describes Nubin as a fly-around-the-field safety and “vocal leader.”
Other returning starters in the secondary are safety Jordan Howden and corner Justin Walley. Howden has played in 45 games at Minnesota and will forever be remembered by Gopher fans for his late game interception in 2019 against No. 5 ranked Penn State. He has been named Academic All-Big Ten the last three seasons.
As a freshman last year Walley played in all 13 games and started the final six. The former Mississippi Mr. Football was named to the 247Sports True Freshman All-American team. He and Nubin are certain to be candidates for All-Big Ten next fall.
The Gophers have a cornerback spot to fill but candidates to become the starter have experience and skills. Transfers Beanie Bishop and Ryan Stapp have impressed at spring practice. Bishop was an All-USA Conference selection at Western Kentucky, while Stapp is highly regarded, too, after three seasons at Abilene Christian.
Terrell Smith is a four year letter winner for the Gophers and started seven games last season. He also was Academic All-Big Ten in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Go Gophers!!
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