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Dynamic Freshmen Receivers Left Mark on Season
1/8/2019 7:43:00 AM | Football
It was hard not to notice freshmen receivers Rashod Bateman, Chris Autman-Bell and Demetrius Douglas this season.
It's no secret that Minnesota relied heavily on its freshman this season. As they grew, the team improved and ended the season with a 7-6 record and won three of its final four games.Â
The Gophers ended the season with resounding wins at Wisconsin and against Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl. This was the first time in the history of the program that Minnesota won the final game of the regular season and a bowl game.Â
While many freshmen played integral roles on the team – receivers Rashod Bateman, Chris Autman-Bell and Demetrius Douglas – left their marks on the season.
Bateman, who played as a true freshman, set freshman program records for receptions (51) and yards (704). His six touchdowns – which all came in Big Ten play – tied for the second most ever by a Minnesota freshman. Bateman started all 13 games and caught at least one pass in every game. He had two 100-yard receiving games and caught a career high seven passes three times.Â
The Tifton, Ga., native also had a career high 175 receiving yards at Illinois, which were the second most ever by a Gopher freshman in a game (Ryan Thelwell had 178 yards against Northwestern in 1994). Bateman's 86-yard touchdown from Tanner Morgan at Illinois was Minnesota's longest passing play since Jared Ellerson had a 96-yard touchdown reception from Asad Abdul-Khaliq at Northwestern on Oct. 4, 2003. Bateman also caught a 67-yard game-winning touchdown from Morgan with 1:34 left in the game against Indiana.Â
Autman-Bell saw his first action as a Gopher this year after redshirting last season. The Kankakee, Ill., native playing in all 13 games and started nine of them. He made 28 catches (fourth all-time for a Minnesota freshman) for 449 yards (third all-time for a Minnesota freshman) and led the team with a 16.03 yards per catch average.
Autman-Bell caught a pass in 12 games and set career highs in receptions (4) against New Mexico State and yards (75) at Nebraska.Â
Douglas, who like Autman-Bell redshirted last season, caught nine passes for 87 yards and one touchdown in 2018.Â
Douglas also served as the team's primary kick and punt returner. He returned 24 kickoffs for 594 yards (24.75 average) and his long return was 87 yards at Nebraska. Douglas returned seven punts for 113 yards (16.14 average), which included a 69-yard return for a touchdown at Wisconsin.Â
The Portland, Ore., native finished third on the team – behind Mohamed Ibrahim and Tyler Johnson – with 794 all-purpose yards (594 kick return, 113 punt return and 87 receiving).Â
The Gophers ended the season with resounding wins at Wisconsin and against Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl. This was the first time in the history of the program that Minnesota won the final game of the regular season and a bowl game.Â
While many freshmen played integral roles on the team – receivers Rashod Bateman, Chris Autman-Bell and Demetrius Douglas – left their marks on the season.
Bateman, who played as a true freshman, set freshman program records for receptions (51) and yards (704). His six touchdowns – which all came in Big Ten play – tied for the second most ever by a Minnesota freshman. Bateman started all 13 games and caught at least one pass in every game. He had two 100-yard receiving games and caught a career high seven passes three times.Â
The Tifton, Ga., native also had a career high 175 receiving yards at Illinois, which were the second most ever by a Gopher freshman in a game (Ryan Thelwell had 178 yards against Northwestern in 1994). Bateman's 86-yard touchdown from Tanner Morgan at Illinois was Minnesota's longest passing play since Jared Ellerson had a 96-yard touchdown reception from Asad Abdul-Khaliq at Northwestern on Oct. 4, 2003. Bateman also caught a 67-yard game-winning touchdown from Morgan with 1:34 left in the game against Indiana.Â
Autman-Bell saw his first action as a Gopher this year after redshirting last season. The Kankakee, Ill., native playing in all 13 games and started nine of them. He made 28 catches (fourth all-time for a Minnesota freshman) for 449 yards (third all-time for a Minnesota freshman) and led the team with a 16.03 yards per catch average.
Autman-Bell caught a pass in 12 games and set career highs in receptions (4) against New Mexico State and yards (75) at Nebraska.Â
Douglas, who like Autman-Bell redshirted last season, caught nine passes for 87 yards and one touchdown in 2018.Â
Douglas also served as the team's primary kick and punt returner. He returned 24 kickoffs for 594 yards (24.75 average) and his long return was 87 yards at Nebraska. Douglas returned seven punts for 113 yards (16.14 average), which included a 69-yard return for a touchdown at Wisconsin.Â
The Portland, Ore., native finished third on the team – behind Mohamed Ibrahim and Tyler Johnson – with 794 all-purpose yards (594 kick return, 113 punt return and 87 receiving).Â
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