Lindenberg Seeing Dividends of Hard Work
by Ameer Eldomiatti, Student Assistant
11/11/2022
Cody Lindenberg looks the part and now he is playing it too.
The Anoka, Minn., native stands 6-3 and checks in at 235 pounds. With his moppy blonde hair hidden under his helmet, No. 45 – a true linebacker number – surveys the opposing Nebraska offense before sacking Husker quarterback Chubba Purdy.
Lindenberg ended the Nebraska game – a 20-13 road win for the Gophers – with a team-high eight tackles in what has become a breakout season for the local product.
Lindenberg, who made his first start of the season two weeks ago in a 31-0 win against Rutgers, has navigated a winding path to get to this point.
He was thrust into a starting linebacker spot as a true freshman during the COVID shortened 2020 season and played in three games in 2021 before missing the rest of the season with an injury.
All of this happened after he finished his standout prep career at Anoka High School where he did not play that much at linebacker. As a senior for the Tornadoes, Lindenberg finished fourth on the team in tackles, but he also led the team in receiving with 30 receptions for 506 yards and four touchdowns. In a do-it-all role, he added 233 passing yards and rushed for 150 yards as well.
“It was not pretty at the beginning,” said defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, referring to the start of Lindenberg's college career. “He was unsure of things.”
Lindenberg, who grew up a Gopher fan, is now third on the team in both tackles with 39 and tackles for loss with 4.0. He has made 27 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack in the last four games as he has seen more action.
“I think it’s been a tremendous leap,” said Lindenberg. “Obviously 2020 was an odd year for everybody. I did not play a ton of linebacker in high school, but being able to learn from Coach Rossi and older guys in the room has helped me tremendously.
“There’s going to be hard days, not that they’re bad, but they are going to be hard. You have to just keep going, keep pushing, and lean on your teammates as well. I think that has helped me tremendously.”
Lindenberg’s teammates have noticed how rapidly he has improved as a player and as a leader. They have witnessed firsthand the work – required and un-required – that he has done to improve his game and earn playing time.
“He is one of the hardest workers and most dedicated guys we have on this team,” said standout safety Tyler Nubin who has 42 tackles this season. “He holds himself to an incredibly high standard, so when you do that, nobody can tell you that you’re good enough because he’s never good enough in his eyes.”
Lindenberg feels that as he continues to receive more playing time that he is becoming much more confident in his abilities.
“Coming in and learning the playbook as a freshman, it takes a good amount of energy in itself without learning having to play linebacker in the Big Ten as well,” he said. “I think keeping my head down every day and working hard, once you master your defense, everything can fall in place and then when you don’t have to think you can just execute the game.”
With three games remaining during the regular season, Lindenberg has gained the trust of the team and is now a big reason why Minnesota is allowing only 14.22 points per game.
He has overcome a lot to get to this point, but he is not satisfied and neither is Rossi, who knows he has a budding star on his hands.
“He’s earning a lot of credibility,” said Rossi. “And here is the scary thing, there is way more there.”
