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University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Photo by: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Three Former Gophers Set For Monday Night Football
11/2/2020 4:21:00 PM | Football
Johnson, Winfield and Coughlin face off tonight
Three former University of Minnesota football players will take center stage this evening on Monday Night Football when the New York Giants host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The visiting Buccaneers boast two former Gophers in Antoine Winfield Jr., and Tyler Johnson, while the Giants have one in Carter Coughlin.
Winfield, who was a Unanimous All-American last season at Minnesota, is one of the frontrunners for NFL Rookie of the Year. The former Gopher was drafted by Tampa Bay in the second round with the 45th overall pick. He has made 37 tackles (25 solo) in seven games this year and has forced one fumble and has one interceptions. Winfield has also broken up four passes and notched two sacks.
Winfield was named All-Big Ten First Team and was also the Big Ten's Defensive Back of the Year after recording 88 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. He also tied a school modern-era, single-season record with seven interceptions in 2019 en route to being named one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is presented to the best defensive player in the nation.
Winfield recorded 177 tackles in his career and also scored three touchdowns, as he returned two interceptions for scores and also returned a punt for a touchdown. He finished his career with seven tackles for loss and four sacks. The ball found Winfield often as he had nine career interceptions, recovered three fumbles and blocked one field goal.
Johnson, who is the most prolific receiver in Minnesota history, was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fifth round with the 161st pick. This year, he has seven receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns for the Buccaneers.
He played in 49 games at Minnesota and made 213 career catches (second in school history) for 3,305 yards (first in school history) and 33 touchdowns (first in school history). Johnson caught a pass in 36 straight games, which is the second longest streak in school history and had a school-record 16 career 100-yard games. His seven 100-yard receiving games in 2019 were also a school record and he tied a school record in 2018 with four straight 100-yard receiving games (first Gopher ever to notch four consecutive 100-yard receiving games in conference play). He had three career games (2019 Georgia Southern, 2018 Miami, Ohio and 2017 Michigan State) with three receiving touchdowns, which is a school record.
In 2019, Johnson set single-season school records in receptions (86), receiving yards (1,318) and receiving touchdowns (13). He averaged 101.4 receiving yards per game and caught a touchdown in the final seven games of the season. In 2018, Johnson made 78 catches for 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns. Johnson is the only receiver in school history to have two 1,000 yard seasons and was named All-Big Ten First Team in 2018 and 2019.
Johnson's final collegiate game was played in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium, which is home to the Buccaneers. Johnson torched Auburn's defense with 12 catches for 204 yards and two touchdowns as he was named Outback Bowl MVP.
Coughlin has seen action mostly on special teams for the Giants this season and has totaled one tackle in five games played. He was taken in the seventh round with the 218th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Coughlin was named All-Big Ten Second Team in 2018 and 2019 and finished his career with 159 tackles. He is third all-time in school history with 22.5 career sacks and is fourth in school history with 40 tackles for loss. He also forced seven fumbles and recovered one in his career.
Coughlin started all 13 games last season and recorded 49 tackles, including a team leading 9.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks. He forced two fumbles and recovered one fumble as well.
The visiting Buccaneers boast two former Gophers in Antoine Winfield Jr., and Tyler Johnson, while the Giants have one in Carter Coughlin.
Winfield, who was a Unanimous All-American last season at Minnesota, is one of the frontrunners for NFL Rookie of the Year. The former Gopher was drafted by Tampa Bay in the second round with the 45th overall pick. He has made 37 tackles (25 solo) in seven games this year and has forced one fumble and has one interceptions. Winfield has also broken up four passes and notched two sacks.
Winfield was named All-Big Ten First Team and was also the Big Ten's Defensive Back of the Year after recording 88 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. He also tied a school modern-era, single-season record with seven interceptions in 2019 en route to being named one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is presented to the best defensive player in the nation.
Winfield recorded 177 tackles in his career and also scored three touchdowns, as he returned two interceptions for scores and also returned a punt for a touchdown. He finished his career with seven tackles for loss and four sacks. The ball found Winfield often as he had nine career interceptions, recovered three fumbles and blocked one field goal.
Johnson, who is the most prolific receiver in Minnesota history, was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fifth round with the 161st pick. This year, he has seven receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns for the Buccaneers.
He played in 49 games at Minnesota and made 213 career catches (second in school history) for 3,305 yards (first in school history) and 33 touchdowns (first in school history). Johnson caught a pass in 36 straight games, which is the second longest streak in school history and had a school-record 16 career 100-yard games. His seven 100-yard receiving games in 2019 were also a school record and he tied a school record in 2018 with four straight 100-yard receiving games (first Gopher ever to notch four consecutive 100-yard receiving games in conference play). He had three career games (2019 Georgia Southern, 2018 Miami, Ohio and 2017 Michigan State) with three receiving touchdowns, which is a school record.
In 2019, Johnson set single-season school records in receptions (86), receiving yards (1,318) and receiving touchdowns (13). He averaged 101.4 receiving yards per game and caught a touchdown in the final seven games of the season. In 2018, Johnson made 78 catches for 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns. Johnson is the only receiver in school history to have two 1,000 yard seasons and was named All-Big Ten First Team in 2018 and 2019.
Johnson's final collegiate game was played in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium, which is home to the Buccaneers. Johnson torched Auburn's defense with 12 catches for 204 yards and two touchdowns as he was named Outback Bowl MVP.
Coughlin has seen action mostly on special teams for the Giants this season and has totaled one tackle in five games played. He was taken in the seventh round with the 218th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Coughlin was named All-Big Ten Second Team in 2018 and 2019 and finished his career with 159 tackles. He is third all-time in school history with 22.5 career sacks and is fourth in school history with 40 tackles for loss. He also forced seven fumbles and recovered one in his career.
Coughlin started all 13 games last season and recorded 49 tackles, including a team leading 9.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks. He forced two fumbles and recovered one fumble as well.
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