2017 B1G Previews: Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota Golden Gophers (West Division)

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium (50,805)

Coach: P.J. Fleck (1^st year): 30-22 overall, 2-7 v B1G

2016 Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-4)(5-4)                        2017 Minnesota Golden Gophers

30        Oregon State               23                                A31      Buffalo

58        Indiana State               28                                S9        at Oregon State

31        Colorado State            24                                S16      Middle Tennessee State

26        at Penn State               29 (OT)                       S23      idle

  7        Iowa                            14                                S30      Maryland

31        at Maryland                10                                O7       at Purdue

34        at Rutgers                   32                                O14     Michigan State

40        at Illinois                     17                                O21     Illinois

44        Purdue                         31                                O28     at Iowa

17        at Nebraska                 24                                N4        at Michigan

29        Northwestern              12                                N11      Nebraska

17        at Wisconsin                31                                N18      at Northwestern

17        Washington State        12                                N25      Wisconsin

            (Holiday Bowl)

After a controversial offseason that resulted in the firing of Tracy Claeys, the Gophers named P.J. Fleck as their new coach on January 6.  Fleck revived a Western Michigan program in his four years there, going 13-1 last year.

With a new coaching staff, the Gophers will also have a new quarterback.  Heading into the August preseason practice, senior Conor Rhoda appears to have the edge.  Rhoda played in three games last year as Mitch Leidner’s backup, going 8 for 16 for 88 yards and a touchdown.  Junior WR Rashad Still was third on the team in receptions a year ago with 18 for 349 yards.  He, along with senior Eric Carter and junior Melvin Holland Jr will attempt to make up for the departed Drew Wolitarsky and Rodney Smith who accounted for nearly half of Minnesota’s receptions.  The good news is the return of senior TE Nate Wozniak ,a dependable blocker and receiver who came up with 13 catches for 135 yards.  With a new starting quarterback and new faces at receiver, that means the Gophers will be turning to the ground game, at least early on.  They have a couple of good ones in juniors Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks.  Smith carried the load, going for over 1150 yards and 16 scores while Brooks was a capable backup with 650 yards and five touchdowns.  The offensive line returns senior standouts Garrison Wright and Vincent Calhoun at RG and RT respectively.  Experienced juniors Jared Wright at center and Donnell Greene at LT will also fit nicely into Minnesota’s run-heavy scheme.  Sophomore Bronson Dovich performed very well in spring drills and figures to get the nod at LG.  

                                            RB Rodney Smith

Minnesota ranked 21^st in the FBS in scoring defense in 2016, giving up 22.1 points per game and All-B1G senior Steven Richardson returns to anchor the defensive line at one of the DT spots after getting 31 tackles, 11 TFLs, 7 sacks, and two fumble recoveries.  Classmates Andrew Stelter and Merrick Jackson also return at DT and DE respectively.  Stelter turned in 18 tackles and 3 TFLs and Jackson had eight in limited playing time a year ago.  The other DE spot is up for grabs, however sophomore Tal’yon Devers looks to have the edge.  Seeing action mostly on special teams, Devers managed only five tackles, but three of them were sacks and he also forced three fumbles.  LB Jonathan Celeston returns to lead an experienced group of linebackers.  Minnesota’s leading returning tackler, Celeston managed 80 stops, seven TFL and 2.5 sacks.  He also broke up four passes, showing his ability to drop into coverage.  Senior Cody Poock and junior Blake Cashman also return, with Cashman getting 45 tackles and a whopping 10.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks and Poock with 24 tackles, so Minnesota will come in with one of the best linebacker units in the West Division.  Senior Duke McGee and sophomore Antoine Winfield Jr played very well last year, garnering 54 and 52 tackles respectively.  Each had an interception and Winfield Jr showed his ability to play up close to the line and blitz, with 2.5 tackles for loss.  The corners will be new starters and after quite a spirited competition during the spring, sophomore Coney Durr and junior Antonio Shenault appeared to have the edge going into August.  Shenault played well in a backup role with 32 tackles while Durr managed six tackles when he got a chance to see action.

                                                         DT Steven Richardson

Special teams will be strength for the Gophers as they welcome back junior Emmit Carpenter and senior Ryan Santoso.  Carpenter was one of the better field goal specialists in the country and should be a candidate for the Lou Groza Award after going 22 for 24 with a long of 53.  This includes a perfect 10 for 10 beyond 40 yards.  Santoso averaged almost 41 yards per punt with a long of 60.

Minnesota’s non conference schedule is reasonable, with a trip to Oregon State and there’s a good chance they could win their first seven games and Ohio State and Penn State are not on the schedule.  However, the last five games will be really tough, starting with road trips to Iowa and Michigan.  The Gophers will make the post-season this year, but that back half of the schedule will be a bumpy ride.

PREDICTION: 7-5 (4-5) 5^th in B1G West