(Photo Credit: David Berding/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
WR Daniel Jackson, TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, OG Quinn Carroll, OT Aireontae Ersery, DE Jalen Logan-Redding, DE Danny Striggow, DT Kylar Baugh, LB Cody Lindenberg, CB Justin Walley, DS Tyler Nubin, KR/PR Quentin Redding and PT Mark Crawford.
Key Players Departing:
QB Tanner Morgan, RB Mohamed Ibrahim, WR Michael Brown-Stephens, OC John Michael Schmitz, OG Chuck Filiaga, OG Axel Ruschmeyer, DE Thomas Rush, DT Trill Carter, LB Mariano Sori-Marin, LB Braelin Oliver, CB Terell Smith, DS Jordan Howden and PK Matthew Trickett.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: WR Kenric Lanier (Decatur, Georgia), OG Greg Johnson (Prior Lake, Minnesota) and WR Elijah Spencer (Charlotte transfer).
3 Star Recruits: RB Sean Tyler (Western Michigan transfer), DS Jack Henderson (SE Louisiana transfer), RB Darius Taylor (Walled Lake, Michigan), OL Jerome Williams (Osseo, Minnesota), LB Ryan Selig (Western Michigan transfer), WR Corey Crooms (Western Michigan transfer) and CB Zaquan Bryan (Savannah, Georgia).
2022 Results:
G01 NEW MEXICO STATE W 38-0
G02 WESTERN ILLINOIS W 62-10
G03 COLORADO W 49-7
G04 @ Michigan State W 34-7
G05 PURDUE L 10-20
G06 @ #24 Illinois L 14-26
G07 @ #16 Penn State L 17-45
G08 RUTGERS W 31-0
G09 @ Nebraska W 20-13
G10 NORTHWESTERN W 31-3
G11 IOWA L 10-13
G12 @ Wisconsin W 23-16
BOWL vs. Syracuse W 28-20
Team Info:
2022 Record: 9-4 (4th in Big Ten West)
Home: 5-2
Away: 3-2
Neutral: 1-0
B10: 5-4
Non-B10: 4-0
Head Coach: PJ Fleck
Minnesota: 18-8
Career: 74-50
Bowls: 5-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Athan Kaliakmanis (60-111, 946 yards, 54.1%, 8.5 avg., 3 TD, 4 INT)
Rushing: Bryce Williams (51 car., 249 yards, 4.9 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: Daniel Jackson (37 rec., 557 yards, 15.1 avg., 5 TD)
TDs Scored: Daniel Jackson (5)
Sacks: Danny Strggow (3.5)
Tackles: Cody Lindenberg (71)
Tackles For Loss: Danny Striggow (4.5)
Interceptions: Justin Walley (3)
Pass Deflections: Cody Lindenberg/Danny Striggow/Justin Walley (2)
Forced Fumbles: Justin Walley (1)
Kick Returns: Quentin Redding (20 ret., 508 yards, 25.4 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Quentin Redding (13 ret., 78 yards, 6.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Matthew Trickett (15-18 fg/fga., 83%, 46-46 xp/xpa., 91 pts.)
Punting: Max Crawford (46 punts, 1868 yards, 40.6 avg., 15 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 8 Athan Kaliakmanis (RS SO)
RB: 2 Sean Tyler (GR/TR)
WR: 9 Daniel Jackson (SR)
WR: 7 Chris Autman-Bell (RS SR)
WR: 4 Corey Crooms Jr. (SR/TR)
TE: 88 Brevyn Spann-Ford (RS SR)
LT: 69 Aireontae Ersery (RS JR)
LG: 75 Tyler Cooper (RS SR)
OC: 66 Nathan Boe (RS SR)
RG: 77 Quinn Carroll (RS SR/TR)
RT: 71 Martes Lewis (RS JR)
KR: 81 Quentin Redding (RS SO)
PK: 99 Dragan Kesich (SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 17 Jah Joyner (RS JR)
DT: 93 Kyler Baugh (RS SR/TR)
DT: 91 Deven Eastern (RS SO)
DE: 92 Danny Striggow (SR)
LB: 45 Cody Lindenberg (RS JR)
LB: 33 Ryan Selig (RS SR/TR)
NB: 20 Jack Henderson (SR/TR)
CB: 5 Justin Walley (JR)
CB: 2 Tre’Von Jones (RS SR/TR)
FS: 27 Tyler Nubin (SR)
SS: 12 Darius Green (RS SO)
PR: 81 Quentin Redding (RS SO
PT: 96 Mark Crawford (SR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/31 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS | Minnesota leads the series 36-25-2. The Golden Gophers 7-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (28-53) was in 2018.
09/09 EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES | First meeting between schools.
09/16 @ North Carolina Tar Heels | First meeting between schools.
09/23 @ Northwestern Wildcats | Minnesota leads the series 56-36-5. The Golden Gophers are 6-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (14-24) was in 2018.
09/30 LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS | Minnesota leads the series 3-0. The Golden Gophers won (48-14) the last meeting between schools in 2003.
10/07 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES | Minnesota trails the series 25-76-3. The Golden Gophers lost (24-49) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
10/21 @ Iowa Hawkeyes | Minnesota leads the series 62-52-2. The Golden Gophers are 1-9 since 2013 and their last series win (51-14) was in 2014.
10/28 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS | Minnesota trails the series 18-30. The Golden Gophers won (34-7) last season’s meeting between schools and their last series loss (27-30) dates back to 2017.
11/04 ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI | Minnesota leads the series 40-32-3. The Golden Gophers ae 5-4 since restarting the series in 2014 and their last series win (41-14) was in 2020.
11/11 @ Purdue Boilermakers | Minnesota leads the series 41-34-3. The Golden Gophers are 7-2 since restarting the series in 2014 and their last series win (20-13) was in 2021.
11/18 @ Ohio State Buckeyes | Minnesota trails the series 7-47. The Golden Gophers lost (31-45) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/25 WISCONSIN BADGERS | The series is tied 62-62-8. The Golden Gophers are 3-7 since 2013 and their last series loss (17-20 OT) was in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 5-2
Road: 3-2
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 5-4
Non-B10: 3-0
Overall: 8-4 (3rd in Big Ten West)
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