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Photo by: Kyle Zedaker
2020 Vision: Quarterbacks
6/11/2020 10:12:00 PM | Football
Minnesota has five players on its roster who have taken a snap at quarterback
Quarterback. Field general. Signal-caller.
Whatever you call it, it's the most important position in the game. It's the one person who has the ball in his hands nearly every snap and the play of the quarterback is critical for a team's overall success. Minnesota has six quarterbacks on its roster and they are all capable to helping the Maroon and Gold.
Tanner Morgan has started the last 19 games at quarterback for the Gophers. Minnesota is 15-4 with Morgan as the starter and the Kentucky native is viewed as one of the top returning quarterbacks in the nation heading into the 2020 season.
Morgan set school single-season records last year in passing yards, touchdown passes, completion percentage, passing yards per game, touchdown-interception ratio and pass efficiency rating. He has also thrown a touchdown pass in 14 straight games, which is a school record.
The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree was named All-Big Ten Second Team last season and was also a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award and The Manning Award. He also played the best game in Big Ten history last season by any quarterback who attempted 15 or more passes when he completed 21-of-22 passes (95.45%) for 396 yards and four touchdowns. Morgan also completed 18-of-20 passes (90%) against Penn State last season to become the second quarterback in the last 20 years (Florida State's Jameis Winston in 2013) to complete at least 90% of his passes (minimum 20 passes) in two games.
Zack Annexstad was primed to battle Morgan for the starting role in training camp last season before suffering a season-ending injury just a few days after starting practice. Annexstad, who is an Academic All-Big Ten performer, was named Minnesota's starting quarterback prior to the 2018 season and led the Gophers to a 3-0 record to start the season. He started the first seven games of the season, but was hampered by an injury during the second half of the year. He played in eight total games as a freshman and completed 97 passes for 1,277 yards (third most all-time for a Minnesota freshman) and nine touchdowns (tied for third most all-time for a Minnesota freshman).
Cole Kramer played in three games last season as a true freshman. He made his Minnesota and collegiate debut at Rutgers and saw action against Maryland. He also played final two offensive snaps at Iowa in relief of an injured Morgan. He enrolled at Minnesota in January 2019 after attending Eden Prairie High School. He threw for 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior for the Eagles and passes for 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior, as he led Eden Prairie to an undefeated state championship season.
Jacob Clark played in one game for Minnesota last season as he made his Minnesota and collegiate debut against Maryland. His only pass attempt was a 39-yard completion that led to a Minnesota rushing touchdown. Clark enrolled at Minnesota in January 2019 after attending Rockwall High School in Texas. He threw for 6,232 yards and 60 touchdowns in 23 varsity games for the Yellowjackets, which included 3,295 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior.
Junior Johnny Santaga is Minnesota's equivalent to a utility baseball player. The Green Bay, Wis., native can play quarterback, running and special teams for the Gophers. He has yet to action at quarterback or running back, but was a Quad Team member last season. The Academic All-Big Ten standout played in 11 games last year and made three tackles on special teams. He also was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year after serving as the opponent's starting quarterback many times during practice.
Samuel Pickerign has already earned his undergraduate degree from Minnesota, but will only be a junior next season for the Gophers. He has yet to see game action, but serves a critical role for the Maroon and Gold singling in plays during the game. He is also a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
Seth Green is listed as a receiver on the roster, but has seen a decent amount of time lined up as a wildcat quarterback for the Gophers. Green has rushed 105 times for 381 yards and 13 touchdowns lined up as a quarterback. He has also proven to be a capable passer, as he has also completed 5-of-6 career passes for 37 yards and three touchdowns. Green has also received the team's Tony Dungy Award for character and community service in 2019 and 2018.
Whatever you call it, it's the most important position in the game. It's the one person who has the ball in his hands nearly every snap and the play of the quarterback is critical for a team's overall success. Minnesota has six quarterbacks on its roster and they are all capable to helping the Maroon and Gold.
Tanner Morgan has started the last 19 games at quarterback for the Gophers. Minnesota is 15-4 with Morgan as the starter and the Kentucky native is viewed as one of the top returning quarterbacks in the nation heading into the 2020 season.
Morgan set school single-season records last year in passing yards, touchdown passes, completion percentage, passing yards per game, touchdown-interception ratio and pass efficiency rating. He has also thrown a touchdown pass in 14 straight games, which is a school record.
The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree was named All-Big Ten Second Team last season and was also a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award and The Manning Award. He also played the best game in Big Ten history last season by any quarterback who attempted 15 or more passes when he completed 21-of-22 passes (95.45%) for 396 yards and four touchdowns. Morgan also completed 18-of-20 passes (90%) against Penn State last season to become the second quarterback in the last 20 years (Florida State's Jameis Winston in 2013) to complete at least 90% of his passes (minimum 20 passes) in two games.
Zack Annexstad was primed to battle Morgan for the starting role in training camp last season before suffering a season-ending injury just a few days after starting practice. Annexstad, who is an Academic All-Big Ten performer, was named Minnesota's starting quarterback prior to the 2018 season and led the Gophers to a 3-0 record to start the season. He started the first seven games of the season, but was hampered by an injury during the second half of the year. He played in eight total games as a freshman and completed 97 passes for 1,277 yards (third most all-time for a Minnesota freshman) and nine touchdowns (tied for third most all-time for a Minnesota freshman).
Cole Kramer played in three games last season as a true freshman. He made his Minnesota and collegiate debut at Rutgers and saw action against Maryland. He also played final two offensive snaps at Iowa in relief of an injured Morgan. He enrolled at Minnesota in January 2019 after attending Eden Prairie High School. He threw for 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior for the Eagles and passes for 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior, as he led Eden Prairie to an undefeated state championship season.
Jacob Clark played in one game for Minnesota last season as he made his Minnesota and collegiate debut against Maryland. His only pass attempt was a 39-yard completion that led to a Minnesota rushing touchdown. Clark enrolled at Minnesota in January 2019 after attending Rockwall High School in Texas. He threw for 6,232 yards and 60 touchdowns in 23 varsity games for the Yellowjackets, which included 3,295 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior.
Junior Johnny Santaga is Minnesota's equivalent to a utility baseball player. The Green Bay, Wis., native can play quarterback, running and special teams for the Gophers. He has yet to action at quarterback or running back, but was a Quad Team member last season. The Academic All-Big Ten standout played in 11 games last year and made three tackles on special teams. He also was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year after serving as the opponent's starting quarterback many times during practice.
Samuel Pickerign has already earned his undergraduate degree from Minnesota, but will only be a junior next season for the Gophers. He has yet to see game action, but serves a critical role for the Maroon and Gold singling in plays during the game. He is also a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
Seth Green is listed as a receiver on the roster, but has seen a decent amount of time lined up as a wildcat quarterback for the Gophers. Green has rushed 105 times for 381 yards and 13 touchdowns lined up as a quarterback. He has also proven to be a capable passer, as he has also completed 5-of-6 career passes for 37 yards and three touchdowns. Green has also received the team's Tony Dungy Award for character and community service in 2019 and 2018.
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