Cockran started 12 games in 2014, recording four sacks and 23 tackles. The pass-rushing lineman uses his enormous 6-6, 257 lb. frame to his advantage and could eventually find himself playing professional ball on Sundays with an impressive 2015 campaign.
It’s hard to believe, but the 2015 Big Ten Football Media Days are upon us, yet another sign that the college football season is near. The event will take place Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago.
Representing the Gophers alongside head coach Jerry Kill will be redshirt Seniors Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Theiren Cockran, as well as redshirt Junior Mitch Leidner.
Boddy-Calhoun comes off a strong 2014 season, in which he played in all 13 games. He made 51 tackles, amassed five interceptions and forced two fumbles, most notably stripping the football out of the hands of Nebraska wide receiver De’Mornay Pierson-El at the 2-yard line, essentially securing a victory over the Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. He was recently named to the 2015 watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, The Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy. Look for number 29 to lead a highly experienced defensive secondary this season.
Cockran started 12 games in 2014, recording four sacks and 23 tackles. The pass-rushing lineman uses his enormous 6-6, 257 lb. frame to his advantage and could eventually find himself playing professional ball on Sundays with an impressive 2015 campaign. Expect Cockran to thrive in leading a younger defensive line faced with replacing 2014 staples Cameron Botticelli and Michael Amaefula.
Leidner has started in 16 games in his career as a Gopher, posting a 10-6 record. He started in 12 games in 2014, throwing for 11 touchdowns and rushing for 10. The pinnacle of his 2014 effort likely came against rival Iowa, in which he shredded the Hawkeye defense for a career-high four touchdown passes en route to a 51-14 win at TCF Bank Stadium. Leidner’s running ability and grit are admirable. If he can solidify his passing game in 2015, Leidner could bolster an efficient Gopher offense seeking to replace NFL-bound athletes Maxx Williams and David Cobb.
Boddy-Calhoun, Cockran and Leidner make up a majority of the leadership core that will aim to take Minnesota back to a January bowl game. Look to these upperclassmen to represent the maroon and gold well this week in Chicago and throughout the upcoming season.
Coach Kill will take the podium to address media members around 8 a.m. CT on Friday. Minnesota joins Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue and Rutgers as teams that will present on the 31st. I would expect a large media presence for Kill on Friday, with the Gophers coming off another eight-win season and looking like a realistic Big Ten West contender.
Additionally, there is a reasonable chance that the Hyatt Regency could resemble a Barnum & Bailey Circus when the media is introduced to new Big Ten head coaches Jim Harbaugh (Michigan) and Mike Riley (Nebraska). The SEC Football Media Days usually garners the most national attention when it comes to pre-season college football, but a new two-day format paired with several intriguing storylines and new coaches will make the upcoming Big Ten Media Days very appealing.
Luke Gildemeister welcomes comments via e-mail at [email protected] or Twitter @Lgildy.