(Photo Credit: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Tanner Morgan, RB Mohamed Ibrahim, WR Chris Autman-Bell, WR Daniel Jackson, OC John Michael Schmitz, OG Conner Olson, OG Blaise Andries, OT Daniel Faalele, OT Sam Schlueter, DE Boye Mafe, DE Esezi Otomewo, DT DeAngelo Carter, LB Josh Aune, LB James Gordon, LB Mariano Sori-Marin, CB Coney Durr, CB Terell Smith, NB Justus Harris, FS Tyler Nubin, SS Jordan Howden, KR Cam Wiley, PK Brock Walker, and PT Mark Crawford.
Key Players Departing:
WR Rashod Bateman.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: QB Athan Kaliakmanis (Antioch, Illinois), CB Steven Ortiz (Goodyear, Arizona), RB Mar’Keise Irving (Country Club Hills, Illinois), and DT Deven Eastern (Shakopee, Minnesota).
3 Star Recruits: OT Cameron Jones (Chicago, Illinois), OT Saia Mapakaitolo (Mesa, Arizona), WR Lemeke Brockington (Moultrie, Georgia), DT Jacob Schuster (Olympia, Washington), LB Devon Williams (Dublin, Ohio), and DE Austin Booker (Greenwood, Indiana).
2020 Results:
G01 #18 MICHIGAN L 24-49
G02 at Maryland L | OT 44-45
G03 at Illinois W 41-14
G04 IOWA L 7-35
G05 PURDUE W 34-31
G06 at Nebraska W 24-17
G07 at Wisconsin L | OT 17-20
Team Info:
2020 Record: 3-4 (4th in Big Ten West)
Home: 1-2
Away: 2-2
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 3-4
Non-B10: 0-0
Head Coach: P.J. Fleck
Minnesota: 0-0
Career: 56-41
Bowls: 3-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Tanner Morgan (106-183, 1374 yards, 57.9%, 7.5 avg., 7 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Mohamed Ibrahim (201 car., 1076 yards, 5.4 avg., 15 TD)
Receiving: Chris Autman-Bell (22 rec., 430 yards, 19.5 avg., 1 TD)
TDs Scored: Mohamed Ibrahim (15)
Sacks: Boye Mafe (4.5)
Tackles: Mariano Sori-Marin (54)
Tackles For Loss: Boye Mafe (5.5)
Interceptions: 4 Tied (1)
Pass Deflections: Cory Durr (5)
Forced Fumbles: Micah Dew-Treadway/Boye Mafe (2)
Kick Returns: Cam Wiley (11 ret., 176 yards, 16.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Philip Howard (5 ret., 4 yards, 0.8 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Brock Walker (2-3 fg/fga., 67%, 12-14 xp/xpa., 18 pts.)
Punting: Max Crawford (17 punts, 642 yards, 37.8 avg., 7 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 2 Tanner Morgan (RS SR)
RB: 24 Mohamed Ibrahim (RS SR)
WR: 16 Dylan Wright (RS SO/TR)
WR: 7 Chris Autman-Bell (RS SR)
WR: 9 Daniel Jackson (SO)
TE: 42 Ko Kieft (RS SR)
LT: 70 Sam Schlueter (RS SR)
LG: 77 Blaise Andries (RS SR)
OC: 60 John Michael Schmitz (RS SR)
RG: 64 Conner Olson (RS SR)
RT: 78 Daniel Faalele (SR)
KR: 24 Mohammed Abrahim (RS SR)
PK: 95 Matthew Trickett (SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 9 Esezi Otomewo (RS SR)
DT: 99 DeAngelo Carter (RS SO)
DT: 5 Nyles Pinckney (GR/TR)
DE: 34 Boye Mafe (RS SR)
LB: 47 Jack Gibbens (GR/TR)
LB: 14 Braelen Oliver (RS SO)
NB: 21 Justus Harris (SR)
CB: 16 Coney Durr (RS SR)
CB: 4 Terell Smith (SR)
FS: 27 Tyler Nubin (JR)
SS: 23 Jordan Howden (SR)
PR: 2 Phillip Howard (RS SR)
PT: 38 Daniel Sparks (SO/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/02 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES | Minnesota trails the series 7-46. The Golden Gophers lost (14-30) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/11 MIAMI (OH) REDHAWKS | Minnesota leads the series 4-0. The Golden Gophers won (26-3) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/18 at Colorado Buffalos | Minnesota trails the series 0-3. The Golden Gophers lost (20-21) the last meeting between schools in 1992.
09/25 BOWLING GREEN FALCONS | Minnesota leads the series 2-1. The Golden Gophers won (42-17) the last meeting between schools in 2008.
10/02 at Purdue Boilermakers | Minnesota leads the series 40-33-3. The Golden Gophers are 7-2 since 2011, and their lasts series loss (17-31) was in 2017.
10/16 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS | Minnesota leads the series 34-25-2. The Golden Gophers are 5-5 since 2011, and their last series loss (28-53) was in 2018.
10/23 MARYLAND TERRAPINS | Minnesota trails the series 2-4. The Golden Gophers are 2-3 since 2011, and their last series win (52-10) was in 2019.
10/30 at Northwestern Wildcats | Minnesota leads the series 54-36-5. The Golden Gophers are 4-5 since 2011, and they won (38-22) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/06 ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI | Minnesota leads the series 40-30-3. The Golden Gophers are 7-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (31-55) was in 2018.
11/13 at Iowa Hawkeyes | Minnesota leads the series 62-50-2. The Golden Gophers are 2-8 since 2011, and their last series win (51-14) was in 2014.
11/20 at Indiana Hoosiers | Minnesota leads the series 39-26-3. The Golden Gophers won (38-31) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
11/27 WISCONSIN BADGERS | Minnesota trails the series 60-62-8. The Golden Gophers are 1-9 since 2011, and their last series win (37-15) was in 2018.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Road: 2-3
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 6-3
Non-B10: 3-1
Overall: 8-4 (2nd in Big Ten West)
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