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University of Minnesota Athletics
2003 Football Season Outlook - Part One: The Offense
8/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
With 40 returning lettermen, including eight starters on offense and eight on defense, the table has been set for the Gophers to build off their first eight-win season since 1999.
Coach Mason is excited about the options his team will have offensively with a veteran cast returning.
"Our offense returns almost entirely intact, especially at the skill positions with Asad Abdul-Khaliq at quarterback, the trio of Thomas Tapeh, Terry Jackson II and Marion Barber III at running back and Ben Utecht at tight end," Mason said. "We also have four of five starters back on the offensive line which will be a big plus for us and with the addition of several role players at wide receiver and incoming junior college player Paris Hamilton, we are looking forward to an exciting season."
QUARTERBACK
Leading the charge will be senior quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq, who is on the verge on becoming one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Golden Gopher history. A preseason All-Big Ten selection by Street & Smith's, Abdul-Khaliq's versatility as both a passer and a scrambler continues to create problems for opposing defenses. Despite playing with a nagging ankle injury for a majority of the 2002 season, Abdul-Khaliq still managed to complete 165-of-315 passes for 2190 yards, which ranks sixth all-time in school history for passing yards in a season. His 19 touchdown passes in 2002 were only one shy of the school record for scoring passes in a season. He enters his final year at Minnesota only three touchdown passes away from setting the school's career record in that category.
Besides posting solid passing numbers, Abdul-Khaliq continued to give opposing defenses problems with his scrambling ability and knack for making plays outside the pocket. He had a career-high 322 rushing yards last season, including a career-best 103 yards in the Gophers' win over Toledo. Backing up Abdul-Khaliq for the second straight season will be senior Benji Kamrath, who filled in nicely in his only start last year. Kamrath engineered a 45-42 win over Northwestern last season and he is a capable leader behind Abdul-Khaliq. Redshirt freshman Bryan Cupito will look to gain experience behind Abdul-Khaliq and Kamrath.
RUNNING BACK
Abdul-Khaliq will have plenty of weapons to work with this season, including possibly the strongest trio of running backs in the nation. Already labeled as one of the top three running back corps in the nation and the best in the Big Ten by Athlon, the Gophers should have even more firepower on the ground in 2003. Junior Terry Jackson and senior Thomas Tapeh became one of the best backfield combinations in the country last season. The duo helped propel the Gophers among the nation's elite, as Minnesota joined West Virginia as the only two teams to have two running backs with at least 900 yards rushing each.
After a hamstring injury forced sophomore tailback Marion Barber III to the sideline following the fourth game of last season, Jackson stepped up and made the most of his opportunity as a starter. He exploded onto the scene with 1,317 yards on 239 carries. Jackson has great vision and his slashing style led him to the fifth-best rushing total in single-season history. He became the first Gopher ever to rush for 200 yards in consecutive games as he totaled 239 and 238 yards, respectively, in wins over Northwestern and Michigan State. Jackson finished his sophomore season with four 100-yard games and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the media.
By contrast, Tapeh used his powerful prowess to steamroll over opposing defenses. Tapeh also registered four 100-yard games in 2002, including three straight against Illinois, Northwestern and Michigan State. Tapeh finished 10th in the Big Ten in rushing yards in 2002 and also became the 33rd player in school history to surpass the 1000-yard mark for his career. His signature moment last season came against Arkansas in the Music City Bowl as he powered through several would-be tacklers on his way to a 33-yard touchdown run, sealing the game for Minnesota. Tapeh's versatility has also been a positive for the Gophers as he is a tremendous blocker when used as a fullback.
Even with the accomplishments of Jackson and Tapeh, Barber will not be a forgotten man in 2003. He has fully recovered from his injury last season and is expected to return to form this year. The sophomore tailback had an excellent spring in which he displayed the same quickness and strength that helped him average 6.9 yards per carry and earn Freshman All-America honors in 2001.
With Jackson, Tapeh and Barber, Minnesota will look to add to their school record of four consecutive seasons with a 1,000-yard ground-gainer.
The Gophers' talented backfield has also improved at the fullback position where redshirt freshman Jason Lamers has made huge strides in the offseason. Brandon Hagen and converted tight end Chad Redmann also provide quality depth at the position.
WIDE RECEIVER
The Gophers' receiving corps will feature a great mix of size and speed in 2003. Aaron Hosack returns for his senior season after leading the team with 649 receiving yards. Hosack has great hands and leaping ability and was able to capitalize on mismatches with smaller cornerbacks last season. He was the Gophers' big-play threat, averaging 22.4 yards per catch, the best among Big Ten receivers with at least 25 receptions last season.
With the loss of Antoine Burns to graduation, junior college transfer Paris Hamilton is projected as the Gophers' other starting receiver. Hamilton was ranked as the No. 1 junior college receiver by JCFootball.com and should have an immediate impact on the offense. Much like Hosack, Hamilton will stretch the middle of the field with his speed. He also has good size and is very dangerous after the catch.
Also returning to the mix are lettermen Tony Patterson, Keith Matthews and Jared Ellerson. Patterson finished last year strong by posting his three best receiving games to end the regular season. He is another big receiver (6-2, 205) who does most of his damage over the middle. Matthews will compete for time after his season was cut short by a knee injury. He played in 11 games, totaling 51 yards on six catches. Ellerson showed big-play potential last year by scoring touchdowns on his first two receptions of the season. He has good speed and showed improvement throughout the year.
TIGHT END
The key to the Gophers' offensive success may lie neither with a running back nor receiver, but with senior tight end Ben Utecht. Utecht started last season in overdrive, scoring five touchdown in his first three games, including three against Louisiana-Lafayette before an ankle injury limited his production. A John Mackey Award candidate, Utecht came up big for the Gophers in their most important game of the season, hauling in five passes for 77 yards with a touchdown in the Music City Bowl. Even with the injury, Utecht still finished his junior season with 480 yards on 37 catches and has been recognized as one of the top five tight ends in the country by Lindy's, Athlon, and The Sporting News. A dominant run blocker as well, Utecht can create mismatches in favor of the offense because of his versatility.
Also figuring into the mix at tight end is redshirt freshman Matt Spaeth, who has made great strides working with Utecht. Spaeth has tremendous size and could be one of the Gophers' best kept secrets. Sophomore Jarod Posthumus, redshirt freshman Brian Sykora and sophomore Kevin Salmen will also provide depth at the position.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Despite being very young, the Gophers' strength for 2003 and beyond could reside on the offensive line. The Gophers lose two long-time contributors in tackles Jeremiah Carter and Jake Kuppe, but have stability with all three starters returning on the interior line.
Center Greg Eslinger and left guard Mark Setterstrom set the standard last season by starting all 13 games as true freshmen. The freshmen duo was named to The Sporting News Freshman All-America Team. Eslinger, a Dave Rimington Award candidate, has great quickness, and with a year of experience and 30 pounds added to his frame, he should be a key contributor up front. Setterstrom was also a big reason for the Gophers' success on the ground last season. He is among the best on the team at finishing off his blocks and his relentlessness allowed the Gophers to rush for at least 200 yards seven times last season.
Senior Joe Quinn earned his second letter in 2002, starting all 13 games. The former walk-on is the elder statesman of the offensive line and provides leadership to a very young group. At tackle, the Gophers will turn to junior Rian Melander and sophomore Mike Nicholson. Melander earned his way into the starting lineup for the final two games of 2002 and will move from right tackle to left tackle to protect Abdul-Khaliq's blindside. He was part of a group last season that allowed less than 1.5 sacks per game and helped the Gopher rushing attack finish among the top 20 in the nation. Nicholson will take over at right tackle after seeing significant playing time last season on the interior line. Also competing for playing time are veterans Matt McIntosh (6-8, 310), Mark McElroy (6-5, 275), Trevor McCulloch (6-4, 320), Lance Sannes (6-7, 295) and converted defensive lineman Brandon Harston (6-2, 320).
Fresh off its 29-14 victory over Arkansas in the 2002 Music City Bowl, the Golden Gopher football team heads into the 2003 season full of confidence and poised to raise the stakes to an even higher level. After competing in their third bowl game in four years under head coach Glen Mason and winning their first postseason game since 1985, the Gophers have reason to believe that last year's bowl victory is a preview of things to come in 2003.
With 40 returning lettermen, including eight starters on offense and eight on defense, the table has been set for the Gophers to build off their first eight-win season since 1999.
Coach Mason is excited about the options his team will have offensively with a veteran cast returning.
"Our offense returns almost entirely intact, especially at the skill positions with Asad Abdul-Khaliq at quarterback, the trio of Thomas Tapeh, Terry Jackson II and Marion Barber III at running back and Ben Utecht at tight end," Mason said. "We also have four of five starters back on the offensive line which will be a big plus for us and with the addition of several role players at wide receiver and incoming junior college player Paris Hamilton, we are looking forward to an exciting season."
QUARTERBACK
Leading the charge will be senior quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq, who is on the verge on becoming one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Golden Gopher history. A preseason All-Big Ten selection by Street & Smith's, Abdul-Khaliq's versatility as both a passer and a scrambler continues to create problems for opposing defenses. Despite playing with a nagging ankle injury for a majority of the 2002 season, Abdul-Khaliq still managed to complete 165-of-315 passes for 2190 yards, which ranks sixth all-time in school history for passing yards in a season. His 19 touchdown passes in 2002 were only one shy of the school record for scoring passes in a season. He enters his final year at Minnesota only three touchdown passes away from setting the school's career record in that category.
Besides posting solid passing numbers, Abdul-Khaliq continued to give opposing defenses problems with his scrambling ability and knack for making plays outside the pocket. He had a career-high 322 rushing yards last season, including a career-best 103 yards in the Gophers' win over Toledo. Backing up Abdul-Khaliq for the second straight season will be senior Benji Kamrath, who filled in nicely in his only start last year. Kamrath engineered a 45-42 win over Northwestern last season and he is a capable leader behind Abdul-Khaliq. Redshirt freshman Bryan Cupito will look to gain experience behind Abdul-Khaliq and Kamrath.
RUNNING BACK
Abdul-Khaliq will have plenty of weapons to work with this season, including possibly the strongest trio of running backs in the nation. Already labeled as one of the top three running back corps in the nation and the best in the Big Ten by Athlon, the Gophers should have even more firepower on the ground in 2003. Junior Terry Jackson and senior Thomas Tapeh became one of the best backfield combinations in the country last season. The duo helped propel the Gophers among the nation's elite, as Minnesota joined West Virginia as the only two teams to have two running backs with at least 900 yards rushing each.
After a hamstring injury forced sophomore tailback Marion Barber III to the sideline following the fourth game of last season, Jackson stepped up and made the most of his opportunity as a starter. He exploded onto the scene with 1,317 yards on 239 carries. Jackson has great vision and his slashing style led him to the fifth-best rushing total in single-season history. He became the first Gopher ever to rush for 200 yards in consecutive games as he totaled 239 and 238 yards, respectively, in wins over Northwestern and Michigan State. Jackson finished his sophomore season with four 100-yard games and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the media.
By contrast, Tapeh used his powerful prowess to steamroll over opposing defenses. Tapeh also registered four 100-yard games in 2002, including three straight against Illinois, Northwestern and Michigan State. Tapeh finished 10th in the Big Ten in rushing yards in 2002 and also became the 33rd player in school history to surpass the 1000-yard mark for his career. His signature moment last season came against Arkansas in the Music City Bowl as he powered through several would-be tacklers on his way to a 33-yard touchdown run, sealing the game for Minnesota. Tapeh's versatility has also been a positive for the Gophers as he is a tremendous blocker when used as a fullback.
Even with the accomplishments of Jackson and Tapeh, Barber will not be a forgotten man in 2003. He has fully recovered from his injury last season and is expected to return to form this year. The sophomore tailback had an excellent spring in which he displayed the same quickness and strength that helped him average 6.9 yards per carry and earn Freshman All-America honors in 2001.
With Jackson, Tapeh and Barber, Minnesota will look to add to their school record of four consecutive seasons with a 1,000-yard ground-gainer.
The Gophers' talented backfield has also improved at the fullback position where redshirt freshman Jason Lamers has made huge strides in the offseason. Brandon Hagen and converted tight end Chad Redmann also provide quality depth at the position.
WIDE RECEIVER
The Gophers' receiving corps will feature a great mix of size and speed in 2003. Aaron Hosack returns for his senior season after leading the team with 649 receiving yards. Hosack has great hands and leaping ability and was able to capitalize on mismatches with smaller cornerbacks last season. He was the Gophers' big-play threat, averaging 22.4 yards per catch, the best among Big Ten receivers with at least 25 receptions last season.
With the loss of Antoine Burns to graduation, junior college transfer Paris Hamilton is projected as the Gophers' other starting receiver. Hamilton was ranked as the No. 1 junior college receiver by JCFootball.com and should have an immediate impact on the offense. Much like Hosack, Hamilton will stretch the middle of the field with his speed. He also has good size and is very dangerous after the catch.
Also returning to the mix are lettermen Tony Patterson, Keith Matthews and Jared Ellerson. Patterson finished last year strong by posting his three best receiving games to end the regular season. He is another big receiver (6-2, 205) who does most of his damage over the middle. Matthews will compete for time after his season was cut short by a knee injury. He played in 11 games, totaling 51 yards on six catches. Ellerson showed big-play potential last year by scoring touchdowns on his first two receptions of the season. He has good speed and showed improvement throughout the year.
TIGHT END
The key to the Gophers' offensive success may lie neither with a running back nor receiver, but with senior tight end Ben Utecht. Utecht started last season in overdrive, scoring five touchdown in his first three games, including three against Louisiana-Lafayette before an ankle injury limited his production. A John Mackey Award candidate, Utecht came up big for the Gophers in their most important game of the season, hauling in five passes for 77 yards with a touchdown in the Music City Bowl. Even with the injury, Utecht still finished his junior season with 480 yards on 37 catches and has been recognized as one of the top five tight ends in the country by Lindy's, Athlon, and The Sporting News. A dominant run blocker as well, Utecht can create mismatches in favor of the offense because of his versatility.
Also figuring into the mix at tight end is redshirt freshman Matt Spaeth, who has made great strides working with Utecht. Spaeth has tremendous size and could be one of the Gophers' best kept secrets. Sophomore Jarod Posthumus, redshirt freshman Brian Sykora and sophomore Kevin Salmen will also provide depth at the position.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Despite being very young, the Gophers' strength for 2003 and beyond could reside on the offensive line. The Gophers lose two long-time contributors in tackles Jeremiah Carter and Jake Kuppe, but have stability with all three starters returning on the interior line.
Center Greg Eslinger and left guard Mark Setterstrom set the standard last season by starting all 13 games as true freshmen. The freshmen duo was named to The Sporting News Freshman All-America Team. Eslinger, a Dave Rimington Award candidate, has great quickness, and with a year of experience and 30 pounds added to his frame, he should be a key contributor up front. Setterstrom was also a big reason for the Gophers' success on the ground last season. He is among the best on the team at finishing off his blocks and his relentlessness allowed the Gophers to rush for at least 200 yards seven times last season.
Senior Joe Quinn earned his second letter in 2002, starting all 13 games. The former walk-on is the elder statesman of the offensive line and provides leadership to a very young group. At tackle, the Gophers will turn to junior Rian Melander and sophomore Mike Nicholson. Melander earned his way into the starting lineup for the final two games of 2002 and will move from right tackle to left tackle to protect Abdul-Khaliq's blindside. He was part of a group last season that allowed less than 1.5 sacks per game and helped the Gopher rushing attack finish among the top 20 in the nation. Nicholson will take over at right tackle after seeing significant playing time last season on the interior line. Also competing for playing time are veterans Matt McIntosh (6-8, 310), Mark McElroy (6-5, 275), Trevor McCulloch (6-4, 320), Lance Sannes (6-7, 295) and converted defensive lineman Brandon Harston (6-2, 320).
