‘O’ should power Golden Gophers
Nine starters will return from a productive unit
Minnesota entered the 2018 season with renewed optimism despite a disappointing five-win campaign the previous year. The Golden Gophers rebounded to qualify for their first bowl game since 2016.
This year’s team features a wealth of experience on offense, but it must take a big leap forward on defense.
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2019 season. The Sentinel staff will take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
Today at No. 39:
Minnesota
Coach: P.J. Fleck (12-13, entering third season; 42-35 overall)
2018 record: 7-6, 3-6 in the Big Ten Conference; tied for fifth in the West Division
Look back: The Golden Gophers opened by winning their first three games, but defensive lapses contributed to the team dropping five of its next six contests. A change at coordinator shook up the Golden Gophers, who played much better after the switch.
The team snapped a 14-game losing streak against rival Wisconsin and beat Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl, securing Minnesota’s first winning season since 2016.
Offensive starters 9
returning:
Offensive starters lost: 2
Defensive starters 7 returning:
Defensive starters lost: 4
Key losses: OL Jared Weyler, OL Donnell Greene, LB Blake Cashman, DT Gary Moore, DT Royal Sliver, DB Jacob Huff, K Emmit Carpenter
Top returnees: QB Tanner Morgan, RB Mohamed Ibrahim, WR Tyler Johnson, WR Rashod Bateman, OL Conner Olson, LB Thomas Barber, DE Carter Coughlin, DB Coney Durr
Strengths: Minnesota returns one of the most experienced offenses in the Big Ten, with nine starters back from a group that featured eight freshman starters in 2018.
Quarterback Tanner Morgan and tailback Mohamed Ibrahim were among those first-time starters who provided the Golden Gophers with a big boost on offense. Morgan started the final six games, leading the team to a 4-2 record and a bowl victory.
Ibrahim emerged after tailbacks Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks went down with season-ending injuries. He became the first Minnesota freshman to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a season since Laurence Maroney in 2003. All three will be back in 2019, giving the Golden Gophers one of the most talented tailback units in the conference.
Receiver Tyler Johnson tied a school record with six 100-yard receiving games on his way to a 1,000-yard season after collecting 74 receptions for 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns. He leads a group that returns everybody, including Rashod Bateman (704 yards, six touchdowns) and Chris Autman-Bell (449 yards).
Weaknesses: The Golden Gophers struggled on defense, allowing more than 45 points and nearly 500 yards per game during their first five losses last season. Fleck fired defensive coordinator Robb Smith following the team’s blowout loss to Illinois and replaced him
2019 Schedule
with Joe Rossi. The impact was almost immediate, with the unit allowing just 26 points and 390 yards the rest of the way.
This team will lean on defensive end Carter Coughlin (9 1⁄2 sacks, 5 1⁄2 tackles for a loss) and linebackers Kamal Martin (59 tackles) and Thomas Barber (81 tackles) for leadership. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. returns after missing much of last season with an injury and along with corner Terell Smith shores up the secondary.
Outlook: Minnesota made huge strides in 2018, but the program has room for improvement — especially in Big Ten play. The Gophers went 1-9 against winning teams in the conference during the past two seasons under Fleck, with the sole win coming against Wisconsin last season. The 2019 schedule features five bowleligible teams from last season.