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Spring Storylines
3/11/2019 1:24:00 PM | Football
Gophers start spring practice this week with plenty of storylines
Minnesota starts spring practice on Tuesday (four open practices to the public!) and will play its annual Spring Game presented by Abbott at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 13 at TCF Bank Stadium.
Before the Gophers get started on changing their best, we take a look at some of the top spring storylines.
FINISHED
Minnesota fielded youngest team in the nation in 2018 as 58% of the team was freshmen and the Gophers were the only team in the nation with all freshmen quarterbacks on the roster. Minnesota started eight freshmen on offense in the Quick Lane Bowl. The Gophers finished the year strong, as they won three of their final four games and ended the year with a 7-6 record.
The Gophers beat Wisconsin for the first time since 2003 (first win at Wisconsin since 1994) and then topped the ACC's Georgia Tech 34-10 in the Quick Lane Bowl. The 24-point win was the largest margin of victory in a bowl game ever for Minnesota. The 2018 season also marked the first time ever that Minnesota ended regular season (Wisconsin) and bowl game (Georgia Tech) with wins.
In 2018, Minnesota averaged 28.9 points per game (tied for seventh most all time since 1955), scored 46 touchdowns (tied for fifth in school history since 1955), totaled 4,935 yards of offense (sixth most in school history since 1955), totaled 269 first downs (third most in school history since 1955) and threw for 2,714 yards (eighth most in school history since 1955).
Minnesota was 3-1 in its final four games (only loss was to Big Ten west champion Northwestern) of the season and averaged 31.5 points on offense, while allowing only 14.75 points per game on defense.
SENIORS
The Gophers have 12 seniors and one graduate student (Micah Dew-Treadway) on the roster. Minnesota has only three seniors on offense in Shannon Brooks, Tyler Johnson and Rodney Smith. On defense, the Gophers have seven seniors in Thomas Barber, Carter Coughlin, Winston DeLattiboudere, Tai'yon Devers, Kamal Martin, Sam Renner and Chris Williamson. Minnesota's two additional seniors are punters Jacob Herbers and Alex Melvin.
NEWCOMERS
The Gophers start spring practice on March 12 and will play their annual spring game on April 13. While Minnesota was one of the youngest teams in the nation last year, there are still quite a few new faces – players and coaches – on the sideline this spring. Minnesota welcomed a school-record 14 new student-athletes who enrolled in January. They are Solomon Brown (No. 7, DB), Cole Kramer (No. 14, QB), Jacob Clark (No. 15, QB), Micah Dew-Treadway (No. 18, DL), Keonte Schad (No. 19, DL), Kelvin Clemmons (No. 20, DB), Mike Brown-Stephens (No. 22, WR), Treyson Potts (No. 23, RB), Jason Williamson (No. 28, Ath), Brady Weeks (No. 37, LS), Rashad Cheney (No. 44, DL), JJ Guedet (No. 50, OL), Peter Udoibok (No. 84, WR) and Logan Richter (No. 96, DL). In addition, the Gophers have three new coaches in Maroon and Gold in Rod Chance (cornerbacks), Joe Harasymiak (defensive backs/safeties) and Jim Panagos (defensive line).
AN ALL-TIME GREAT
Tyler Johnson, who was named First Team All-Big Ten (first Gopher receiver to receiver that honor since 2009), is back in Dinkytown for his senior season. Johnson put the Big Ten on notice last year when he made 78 catches (second most in a season) for 1,169 yards (single-season school record) and 12 touchdowns (single-season school record). He had six 100-yard games, which tied for first in school history in a season and became the first Gopher ever to have four straight 100-yard games in Big Ten play.
Tyler Jonson's legacy as one of the best to ever wear the Maroon and Gold is already established, but he has a chance to leave as the school's most productive receiver ever. Johnson enters 2019 ranked all-time in career receiving yards with 1,987. Eric Decker is the school record holder with 3,119 career yards and is the only Gopher ever to eclipse 3,000 yards. Johnson will need 1,133 yards next season to break Decker's record and will need 1,013 yards to join him in Club 3,000. Johnson ranks tenth in school history with 127 catches and again will be chasing Decker who is the program standard with 227 career receptions. Decker's 84 catches in 2008 is the school record, so Johnson will need a monster season – 100 catches – to tie Decker's record. Johnson ranks fourth in school history with 20 receiving touchdowns. Ron Johnson (no relation) is first with 31 and is followed by Ernie Wheelwright (26) and Decker (24). If Johnson were to duplicate his 2018 season (78 catches, 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns) in 2019,
he would leave Minnesota as the program holder in receiving yards (3,156) and touchdowns (32) and would rank second all-time in catches (205).
Tyler Johnson will also enter 2019 having caught a pass in 23 straight games, which is tied for eighth in school history. Ron Johnson's record of 46 straight games is not reachable, but Tyler Johnson could finish second all-time (Decker and Tutu Atwell hold down second place with a catch in 34 straight games). Johnson has played in 36 career games (he missed the final two games of the 2017 season with an injury) and has nine 100-yard career games on his resume. The school record is 11 and is held by Decker and Atwell.
HERE THEY COME
It's no secret that Minnesota relied heavily on its freshmen in 2018. As they grew, the team improved and ended the season with a 7-6 record and won three of its final four games. The Gophers ended the season with resume-building wins at Wisconsin and against Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl. 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.
Autman-Bell saw his first action as a Gopher this year after redshirting last season. 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.
Douglas, who like Autman-Bell redshirted last season, caught nine passes for 87 yards and one touchdown in 2018. 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. The legacy Gopher (son of Omar Douglas) 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).
LOTS OF YARDS
In 2018, freshmen running backs Mohamed Ibrahim and Bryce Williams were heavily featured as upperclassmen Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith missed most of the season with injuries. Ibrahim and Williams certainly did not disappoint and played beyond their years. The duo combined for 1,662 yards and 13 touchdowns as Minnesota won four of its last six games.
Ibrahim and Williams will both be back for the 2019 season, but so will Brooks and Smith. Minnesota kicks off the 2019 season on Aug. 29 against South Dakota State and – among its four running backs – will return 1,328 career carries for 6,503 yards and 52 touchdowns. Those are eye-popping numbers and do not include receiver Seth Green, who added 282 yards and eight touchdowns as a wildcat quarterback in 2018.
Smith started the first two games of 2018, but missed the rest of the year with an injury. He rushed 24 times for 153 yards against New Mexico State and picked up 34 all-purpose yards against Fresno State before leaving the game with an injury early in the first quarter.
Smith has rushed 651 times (fifth all-time in school history) for 2,959 yards (seventh all-time in school history) in 39 games. He has scored 21 (2 in 2015; 16 in 2016 and 3 in 2017) career rushing touchdowns, which ranks tied for ninth in school history and his career long 70-yard rushing touchdown came at Maryland in 2016. He has 11 career 100-yard rushing games, which ranks eighth in program history and his career high is 153 yards, which he has reached twice (against New Mexico State in 2018 and against Purdue in 2016). Smith has 4,073 all-purpose yards (2,959 rushing, 451 receiving and 663 kick return) to rank seventh in school history.
Brooks returned from an injury sustained in February 2018 to play against Indiana last season. It was his first game action since Oct. 28, 2017, at Iowa. He rushed 22 times for 154 yards and one touchdown against the Hoosiers, but missed the rest of the season when he was injured early in the fourth quarter.
Brooks has rushed 358 times for 1,882 yards in 29 games, which ranks 18th all-time in program history. He has rushed for 18 career touchdowns (five career touchdowns are 37 yards or longer) and Minnesota is 12-2 when he scores a touchdown. His career long was a 75-yard rushing touchdown against Illinois in 2015.
As a redshirt freshman in 2018, Ibrahim rushed 202 times for 1,160 yards (second most ever for a Gopher freshman) and nine touchdowns. He rushed for more than 100 yards in five games to become the first freshman to do so since Laurence Maroney (five 100-yard games) in 2003 and he set a freshman single-game record with 224 yards against Georgia Tech (most by a Gopher in a single game since Maroney ran for 258 yards against Wisconsin in 2005) in the Quick Lane Bowl (12th-best rushing game in school history). Ibrahim ended the season with a 5.74 yards per carry average, which ranks fifth all-time in school history (minimum 200 carries). Despite playing in only 10 games last season (and in his career), he ranks 42nd on Minnesota's career rushing list with 1,160 yards.
Williams played in all 13 games in 2018 and started two. The true freshman rushed 117 times for 502 yards and four touchdowns. He gained 87 yards on 25 carries against Fresno State in relief of an injured Smith and then rushed 33 times for 141 yards against Miami. Williams rushed eight times for 50 yards and scored two touchdowns at Wisconsin, as the Gophers reclaimed Paul Bunyan's Axe for the first time since 2003.
SLINGING IT
Minnesota entered the 2018 season as the only team in the nation with all freshmen quarterbacks on its roster. It ended the year with two seasoned quarterbacks who etched their names into the Minnesota record book. Signal-callers Zack Annexstad and Tanner Morgan combined to pass for 2,678 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Annexstad and Morgan were a big reason why Minnesota averaged 28.9 points per game (tied for seventh most all time since 1955), scored 46 touchdowns (tied for fifth in school history since 1955), totaled 4,935 yards of offense (sixth most in school history since 1955), totaled 269 first downs (third most in school history since 1955) and threw for 2,714 yards (eighth most in school history since 1955, as Seth Green completed four passes for 36 yards).
Former Gopher Adam Weber, who started 50 career games at quarterback for Minnesota, owns the freshman passing records for yards (2,895) and touchdowns (24), but combined (2,678 yards and 18 touchdowns) Annexstad and Morgan came close to matching his totals.
Annexstad got the nod to start the season, and he became the first Gopher freshman quarterback ever to start and win the first three games of his career. His signature moment was a fourth-quarter comeback victory against Fresno State, which would finish the season No. 18 in the nation and with a 12-2 record.
Annexstad started seven games and played in eight last season and threw for 1,277 yards (third most ever for a Gopher freshman quarterback) and nine touchdowns (tied for third most ever for a Gopher freshman quarterback). He ended the year with a pass efficiency rating of 117.63, which ranks 11th all-time in school history for a career.
Annexstad, who battled an injury all season, threw for 135 yards and one touchdown in the first half at Nebraska, but was injured right before halftime. Morgan replaced an injured Annexstad for the second half at Nebraska and would throw for 214 yards in the second half.
Morgan started the remaining six games of the season and led Minnesota to 4-2 record in those games, which included victories against Indiana, Purdue, Wisconsin and Georgia Tech.
Morgan played in nine games last season and threw for 1,401 yards (second most ever for a Gopher freshman quarterback) and nine touchdowns (tied for third most ever for a Gopher freshman quarterback). He ended the season with a completion percentage of 58.55%, which ranks eighth in school single-season history. His pass efficiency rating of 147.62 ranks first in school history for a career and is second in school single-season history behind Asad Adbul-Khaliq (162.31 in 2003).
MINNESOTA MOVERS
Minnesota returns four offensive line starters from the Quick Lane Bowl in Blaise Andries, Curtis Dunlap Jr., Daniel Faalele and Connor Olson. The lone loss from the bowl game is center Jared Weyler who graduated and is putting his double major in Accounting and Entreprenuerial Management to good use in the business world.
In 2018, the offensive line blocked for a Minnesota offense that averaged 28.9 points per game (tied for second most in a season since 2005) and one that rushed for 23 touchdowns and threw for 20 touchdowns (first time since 2006 Minnesota reached 20 passing and rushing touchdowns in a season).
The line also played a significant role in why the Gophers scored 46 touchdowns (tied for fifth in school history since 1955), totaled 4,935 yards of offense (sixth most in school history since 1955), totaled 269 first downs (third most in school history since 1955) and threw for 2,714 yards (eighth most in school history since 1955).
MINNESOTA MADE
A trio of Gopher linebackers – Thomas Barber, Carter Coughlin and Kamal Martin – are prepping for their final season in the Maroon and Gold. Baber and Coughlin are legacy Gophers, while Martin is from Burnsville, Minn.
Coughlin, who was named Second Team All-Big Ten in 2018, has made 110 career tackles in 36 games and 30.5 of them (27.7%) have been a tackle for loss and 18.0 of them (16.3%) have been a sack. Coughlin already ranks ninth in career tackles for loss with 30.5 (Willie VanDeSteeg is first with 43.5) and fifth in career sacks with 18.0 (Karon Riley is first with 29.0). If Coughlin were to duplicate his 2018 season (15.0 TFLs and 9.5 sacks) he would end his career first in tackles for loss with 45.5 and second in sacks with 27.5.
Barber is the anchor of the defense and has a chance to notch his name in the Minnesota record book at well. He enters the upcoming season with 208 career tackles and is just 92 stops shy of reaching 300 for his career. Barber, who had 12 tackles in 2016, 115 in 2017 and 81 in 2018, would be the 11th Gopher ever to reach 300 career tackles and the first since 1999 Jim Thorpe Award winner Tyrone Carter (Carter ranks first in school history with 528 tackles from 1996-99). Barber has also recovered five career fumbles. One more will rank him tied for eighth in school history, while Stephen Thompson holds the school record as he recovered eight career fumbles from 1967-70.
Martin enters his final season having made 111 tackles in 37 career games. He has made 10.5 tackles for loss and totaled 2.5 sacks as a Gopher. In addition, he has two career interceptions and has forced two fumbles and recovered three.
UP FRONT
Minnesota lost a few members of the defensive line in offseason, but returns the following individuals who all saw game action in 2018: Mayan Ahanotu, Jamaal Teague, Esezi Otomewo, Boye Mafe, Noah Hickox, Tai'yon Devers, Winston DeLattiboudere and Sam Renner. In addition, the Gophers added Notre Dame graduate transfer Micah Dew-Treadway and junior college transfer Keonte Schad and welcomed newcomers Rashad Cheney and Logan Richter in January.
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
Minnesota has one senior – Chris Williamson – in the secondary this season, but the Gophers do return experience in the back end. Williamson shook off some early injuries and totaled 34 tackles in 11 games last year. However, 23 of those tackles – along with one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and four pass breakups – came in the final five games of the season.
Kiondre Thomas saw action in 10 games last season as a redshirt sophomore. He ended the season with 32 tackles (29 solo), one tackles for loss, one forced fumble and four pass breakups.
Jordan Howden was a true freshman walk-on in 2018 (he has since been awarded a scholarship) and played in all 13 games last season. He recorded 45 tackles, broke up three passes and made one interception.
Terell Smith played in 11 games as a true freshman in 2018 and did not disappoint. He notched 43 tackles (34 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and broke up eight passes.
SPECIAL TIMING
Minnesota lost two all-time greats with the graduation of long snapper Payton Jordahl and kicker Emmit Carpenter. Jordahl started 51 career games and snapped 507 times in his career (270 punt, 149 PATs and 88 FGs). He also made 10 tackles and recovered one fumble. Carpenter left Minnesota as the most accurate kicker in school history at 79.1 percent (made 53-of-67 field goals). He finished his career with 276 points, which ranked him second all-time in school history among kickers and all players.
Brady Weeks, who was ranked as the No. 1 long snapper in the nation, is already on campus and will participate in the spring.
The Gophers also signed highly ranked kicker Michael Lantz, but he will not arrive in Minneapolis until June. Minnesota has three kickers on its spring roster in Grant Ryerse, Brock Walker and Anders Gelecinskyj.
Jacob Herbers is back for his senior season. In 2018, he punted 51 times (fewest for the Gophers in a season since they punted 38 times in 2005) and averaged 41.24 yards per punt (13th most in school history). He did not attempt a punt in the final 101:48 of the season (final Minnesota punt of the season came at Wisconsin with 11:48 remaining in the second quarter). Herbers was a big reason why Minnesota yielded only 10 punt return yards on nine punt returns last season. Herbers also held on 23 field goal attempts and 43 point-after attempts last season.
Before the Gophers get started on changing their best, we take a look at some of the top spring storylines.
FINISHED
Minnesota fielded youngest team in the nation in 2018 as 58% of the team was freshmen and the Gophers were the only team in the nation with all freshmen quarterbacks on the roster. Minnesota started eight freshmen on offense in the Quick Lane Bowl. The Gophers finished the year strong, as they won three of their final four games and ended the year with a 7-6 record.
The Gophers beat Wisconsin for the first time since 2003 (first win at Wisconsin since 1994) and then topped the ACC's Georgia Tech 34-10 in the Quick Lane Bowl. The 24-point win was the largest margin of victory in a bowl game ever for Minnesota. The 2018 season also marked the first time ever that Minnesota ended regular season (Wisconsin) and bowl game (Georgia Tech) with wins.
In 2018, Minnesota averaged 28.9 points per game (tied for seventh most all time since 1955), scored 46 touchdowns (tied for fifth in school history since 1955), totaled 4,935 yards of offense (sixth most in school history since 1955), totaled 269 first downs (third most in school history since 1955) and threw for 2,714 yards (eighth most in school history since 1955).
Minnesota was 3-1 in its final four games (only loss was to Big Ten west champion Northwestern) of the season and averaged 31.5 points on offense, while allowing only 14.75 points per game on defense.
SENIORS
The Gophers have 12 seniors and one graduate student (Micah Dew-Treadway) on the roster. Minnesota has only three seniors on offense in Shannon Brooks, Tyler Johnson and Rodney Smith. On defense, the Gophers have seven seniors in Thomas Barber, Carter Coughlin, Winston DeLattiboudere, Tai'yon Devers, Kamal Martin, Sam Renner and Chris Williamson. Minnesota's two additional seniors are punters Jacob Herbers and Alex Melvin.
NEWCOMERS
The Gophers start spring practice on March 12 and will play their annual spring game on April 13. While Minnesota was one of the youngest teams in the nation last year, there are still quite a few new faces – players and coaches – on the sideline this spring. Minnesota welcomed a school-record 14 new student-athletes who enrolled in January. They are Solomon Brown (No. 7, DB), Cole Kramer (No. 14, QB), Jacob Clark (No. 15, QB), Micah Dew-Treadway (No. 18, DL), Keonte Schad (No. 19, DL), Kelvin Clemmons (No. 20, DB), Mike Brown-Stephens (No. 22, WR), Treyson Potts (No. 23, RB), Jason Williamson (No. 28, Ath), Brady Weeks (No. 37, LS), Rashad Cheney (No. 44, DL), JJ Guedet (No. 50, OL), Peter Udoibok (No. 84, WR) and Logan Richter (No. 96, DL). In addition, the Gophers have three new coaches in Maroon and Gold in Rod Chance (cornerbacks), Joe Harasymiak (defensive backs/safeties) and Jim Panagos (defensive line).
AN ALL-TIME GREAT
Tyler Johnson, who was named First Team All-Big Ten (first Gopher receiver to receiver that honor since 2009), is back in Dinkytown for his senior season. Johnson put the Big Ten on notice last year when he made 78 catches (second most in a season) for 1,169 yards (single-season school record) and 12 touchdowns (single-season school record). He had six 100-yard games, which tied for first in school history in a season and became the first Gopher ever to have four straight 100-yard games in Big Ten play.
Tyler Jonson's legacy as one of the best to ever wear the Maroon and Gold is already established, but he has a chance to leave as the school's most productive receiver ever. Johnson enters 2019 ranked all-time in career receiving yards with 1,987. Eric Decker is the school record holder with 3,119 career yards and is the only Gopher ever to eclipse 3,000 yards. Johnson will need 1,133 yards next season to break Decker's record and will need 1,013 yards to join him in Club 3,000. Johnson ranks tenth in school history with 127 catches and again will be chasing Decker who is the program standard with 227 career receptions. Decker's 84 catches in 2008 is the school record, so Johnson will need a monster season – 100 catches – to tie Decker's record. Johnson ranks fourth in school history with 20 receiving touchdowns. Ron Johnson (no relation) is first with 31 and is followed by Ernie Wheelwright (26) and Decker (24). If Johnson were to duplicate his 2018 season (78 catches, 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns) in 2019,
he would leave Minnesota as the program holder in receiving yards (3,156) and touchdowns (32) and would rank second all-time in catches (205).
Tyler Johnson will also enter 2019 having caught a pass in 23 straight games, which is tied for eighth in school history. Ron Johnson's record of 46 straight games is not reachable, but Tyler Johnson could finish second all-time (Decker and Tutu Atwell hold down second place with a catch in 34 straight games). Johnson has played in 36 career games (he missed the final two games of the 2017 season with an injury) and has nine 100-yard career games on his resume. The school record is 11 and is held by Decker and Atwell.
HERE THEY COME
It's no secret that Minnesota relied heavily on its freshmen in 2018. As they grew, the team improved and ended the season with a 7-6 record and won three of its final four games. The Gophers ended the season with resume-building wins at Wisconsin and against Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl. 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.
Autman-Bell saw his first action as a Gopher this year after redshirting last season. 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.
Douglas, who like Autman-Bell redshirted last season, caught nine passes for 87 yards and one touchdown in 2018. 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. The legacy Gopher (son of Omar Douglas) 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).
LOTS OF YARDS
In 2018, freshmen running backs Mohamed Ibrahim and Bryce Williams were heavily featured as upperclassmen Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith missed most of the season with injuries. Ibrahim and Williams certainly did not disappoint and played beyond their years. The duo combined for 1,662 yards and 13 touchdowns as Minnesota won four of its last six games.
Ibrahim and Williams will both be back for the 2019 season, but so will Brooks and Smith. Minnesota kicks off the 2019 season on Aug. 29 against South Dakota State and – among its four running backs – will return 1,328 career carries for 6,503 yards and 52 touchdowns. Those are eye-popping numbers and do not include receiver Seth Green, who added 282 yards and eight touchdowns as a wildcat quarterback in 2018.
Smith started the first two games of 2018, but missed the rest of the year with an injury. He rushed 24 times for 153 yards against New Mexico State and picked up 34 all-purpose yards against Fresno State before leaving the game with an injury early in the first quarter.
Smith has rushed 651 times (fifth all-time in school history) for 2,959 yards (seventh all-time in school history) in 39 games. He has scored 21 (2 in 2015; 16 in 2016 and 3 in 2017) career rushing touchdowns, which ranks tied for ninth in school history and his career long 70-yard rushing touchdown came at Maryland in 2016. He has 11 career 100-yard rushing games, which ranks eighth in program history and his career high is 153 yards, which he has reached twice (against New Mexico State in 2018 and against Purdue in 2016). Smith has 4,073 all-purpose yards (2,959 rushing, 451 receiving and 663 kick return) to rank seventh in school history.
Brooks returned from an injury sustained in February 2018 to play against Indiana last season. It was his first game action since Oct. 28, 2017, at Iowa. He rushed 22 times for 154 yards and one touchdown against the Hoosiers, but missed the rest of the season when he was injured early in the fourth quarter.
Brooks has rushed 358 times for 1,882 yards in 29 games, which ranks 18th all-time in program history. He has rushed for 18 career touchdowns (five career touchdowns are 37 yards or longer) and Minnesota is 12-2 when he scores a touchdown. His career long was a 75-yard rushing touchdown against Illinois in 2015.
As a redshirt freshman in 2018, Ibrahim rushed 202 times for 1,160 yards (second most ever for a Gopher freshman) and nine touchdowns. He rushed for more than 100 yards in five games to become the first freshman to do so since Laurence Maroney (five 100-yard games) in 2003 and he set a freshman single-game record with 224 yards against Georgia Tech (most by a Gopher in a single game since Maroney ran for 258 yards against Wisconsin in 2005) in the Quick Lane Bowl (12th-best rushing game in school history). Ibrahim ended the season with a 5.74 yards per carry average, which ranks fifth all-time in school history (minimum 200 carries). Despite playing in only 10 games last season (and in his career), he ranks 42nd on Minnesota's career rushing list with 1,160 yards.
Williams played in all 13 games in 2018 and started two. The true freshman rushed 117 times for 502 yards and four touchdowns. He gained 87 yards on 25 carries against Fresno State in relief of an injured Smith and then rushed 33 times for 141 yards against Miami. Williams rushed eight times for 50 yards and scored two touchdowns at Wisconsin, as the Gophers reclaimed Paul Bunyan's Axe for the first time since 2003.
SLINGING IT
Minnesota entered the 2018 season as the only team in the nation with all freshmen quarterbacks on its roster. It ended the year with two seasoned quarterbacks who etched their names into the Minnesota record book. Signal-callers Zack Annexstad and Tanner Morgan combined to pass for 2,678 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Annexstad and Morgan were a big reason why Minnesota averaged 28.9 points per game (tied for seventh most all time since 1955), scored 46 touchdowns (tied for fifth in school history since 1955), totaled 4,935 yards of offense (sixth most in school history since 1955), totaled 269 first downs (third most in school history since 1955) and threw for 2,714 yards (eighth most in school history since 1955, as Seth Green completed four passes for 36 yards).
Former Gopher Adam Weber, who started 50 career games at quarterback for Minnesota, owns the freshman passing records for yards (2,895) and touchdowns (24), but combined (2,678 yards and 18 touchdowns) Annexstad and Morgan came close to matching his totals.
Annexstad got the nod to start the season, and he became the first Gopher freshman quarterback ever to start and win the first three games of his career. His signature moment was a fourth-quarter comeback victory against Fresno State, which would finish the season No. 18 in the nation and with a 12-2 record.
Annexstad started seven games and played in eight last season and threw for 1,277 yards (third most ever for a Gopher freshman quarterback) and nine touchdowns (tied for third most ever for a Gopher freshman quarterback). He ended the year with a pass efficiency rating of 117.63, which ranks 11th all-time in school history for a career.
Annexstad, who battled an injury all season, threw for 135 yards and one touchdown in the first half at Nebraska, but was injured right before halftime. Morgan replaced an injured Annexstad for the second half at Nebraska and would throw for 214 yards in the second half.
Morgan started the remaining six games of the season and led Minnesota to 4-2 record in those games, which included victories against Indiana, Purdue, Wisconsin and Georgia Tech.
Morgan played in nine games last season and threw for 1,401 yards (second most ever for a Gopher freshman quarterback) and nine touchdowns (tied for third most ever for a Gopher freshman quarterback). He ended the season with a completion percentage of 58.55%, which ranks eighth in school single-season history. His pass efficiency rating of 147.62 ranks first in school history for a career and is second in school single-season history behind Asad Adbul-Khaliq (162.31 in 2003).
MINNESOTA MOVERS
Minnesota returns four offensive line starters from the Quick Lane Bowl in Blaise Andries, Curtis Dunlap Jr., Daniel Faalele and Connor Olson. The lone loss from the bowl game is center Jared Weyler who graduated and is putting his double major in Accounting and Entreprenuerial Management to good use in the business world.
In 2018, the offensive line blocked for a Minnesota offense that averaged 28.9 points per game (tied for second most in a season since 2005) and one that rushed for 23 touchdowns and threw for 20 touchdowns (first time since 2006 Minnesota reached 20 passing and rushing touchdowns in a season).
The line also played a significant role in why the Gophers scored 46 touchdowns (tied for fifth in school history since 1955), totaled 4,935 yards of offense (sixth most in school history since 1955), totaled 269 first downs (third most in school history since 1955) and threw for 2,714 yards (eighth most in school history since 1955).
MINNESOTA MADE
A trio of Gopher linebackers – Thomas Barber, Carter Coughlin and Kamal Martin – are prepping for their final season in the Maroon and Gold. Baber and Coughlin are legacy Gophers, while Martin is from Burnsville, Minn.
Coughlin, who was named Second Team All-Big Ten in 2018, has made 110 career tackles in 36 games and 30.5 of them (27.7%) have been a tackle for loss and 18.0 of them (16.3%) have been a sack. Coughlin already ranks ninth in career tackles for loss with 30.5 (Willie VanDeSteeg is first with 43.5) and fifth in career sacks with 18.0 (Karon Riley is first with 29.0). If Coughlin were to duplicate his 2018 season (15.0 TFLs and 9.5 sacks) he would end his career first in tackles for loss with 45.5 and second in sacks with 27.5.
Barber is the anchor of the defense and has a chance to notch his name in the Minnesota record book at well. He enters the upcoming season with 208 career tackles and is just 92 stops shy of reaching 300 for his career. Barber, who had 12 tackles in 2016, 115 in 2017 and 81 in 2018, would be the 11th Gopher ever to reach 300 career tackles and the first since 1999 Jim Thorpe Award winner Tyrone Carter (Carter ranks first in school history with 528 tackles from 1996-99). Barber has also recovered five career fumbles. One more will rank him tied for eighth in school history, while Stephen Thompson holds the school record as he recovered eight career fumbles from 1967-70.
Martin enters his final season having made 111 tackles in 37 career games. He has made 10.5 tackles for loss and totaled 2.5 sacks as a Gopher. In addition, he has two career interceptions and has forced two fumbles and recovered three.
UP FRONT
Minnesota lost a few members of the defensive line in offseason, but returns the following individuals who all saw game action in 2018: Mayan Ahanotu, Jamaal Teague, Esezi Otomewo, Boye Mafe, Noah Hickox, Tai'yon Devers, Winston DeLattiboudere and Sam Renner. In addition, the Gophers added Notre Dame graduate transfer Micah Dew-Treadway and junior college transfer Keonte Schad and welcomed newcomers Rashad Cheney and Logan Richter in January.
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
Minnesota has one senior – Chris Williamson – in the secondary this season, but the Gophers do return experience in the back end. Williamson shook off some early injuries and totaled 34 tackles in 11 games last year. However, 23 of those tackles – along with one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and four pass breakups – came in the final five games of the season.
Kiondre Thomas saw action in 10 games last season as a redshirt sophomore. He ended the season with 32 tackles (29 solo), one tackles for loss, one forced fumble and four pass breakups.
Jordan Howden was a true freshman walk-on in 2018 (he has since been awarded a scholarship) and played in all 13 games last season. He recorded 45 tackles, broke up three passes and made one interception.
Terell Smith played in 11 games as a true freshman in 2018 and did not disappoint. He notched 43 tackles (34 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and broke up eight passes.
SPECIAL TIMING
Minnesota lost two all-time greats with the graduation of long snapper Payton Jordahl and kicker Emmit Carpenter. Jordahl started 51 career games and snapped 507 times in his career (270 punt, 149 PATs and 88 FGs). He also made 10 tackles and recovered one fumble. Carpenter left Minnesota as the most accurate kicker in school history at 79.1 percent (made 53-of-67 field goals). He finished his career with 276 points, which ranked him second all-time in school history among kickers and all players.
Brady Weeks, who was ranked as the No. 1 long snapper in the nation, is already on campus and will participate in the spring.
The Gophers also signed highly ranked kicker Michael Lantz, but he will not arrive in Minneapolis until June. Minnesota has three kickers on its spring roster in Grant Ryerse, Brock Walker and Anders Gelecinskyj.
Jacob Herbers is back for his senior season. In 2018, he punted 51 times (fewest for the Gophers in a season since they punted 38 times in 2005) and averaged 41.24 yards per punt (13th most in school history). He did not attempt a punt in the final 101:48 of the season (final Minnesota punt of the season came at Wisconsin with 11:48 remaining in the second quarter). Herbers was a big reason why Minnesota yielded only 10 punt return yards on nine punt returns last season. Herbers also held on 23 field goal attempts and 43 point-after attempts last season.
Painting the Axe
Saturday, December 06
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Wisconsin
Wednesday, December 03
Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, December 03
Brady Palmer Highlights
Wednesday, December 03