.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
K
/ Football
Gophers Ready for NFL Draft
4/26/2023 2:59:00 PM | Football
If the Gophers have four players taken this year, it would give them 15 draft picks during the last four years and would be the most in school history since 1971-74, when Minnesota had 19 players picked
The 2023 NFL Draft will take place from April 27-29 in Kansas City and there will be a lot of former Gophers tuned in.
Minnesota has had 11 players selected in the last three drafts and more are hoping to hear their name called this week. If three players are selected this year then Minnesota would have 14 players drafted during a four-year span (2020-2023). That would be the most in school history since 1988-1991 when the Gophers also had 14 players taken. The current iteration of the NFL Draft is seven rounds, while the NFL Draft in the late 1980s and early 1990s had 12 rounds.
If the Gophers have four players taken this year, it would give them 15 draft picks during the last four years. The last time Minnesota had 15 players selected in four years was 1973-76. If the Gophers have five players taken this year, it would give them 16 draft picks during the last four years, which would be the most since 1972-75 when the Gophers had 17 players selected.
With one draft pick this year, the Gophers will have had an NFL Draft pick in the last five drafts (2020-2023), which will be the longest streak since 2004-2008. During that five-year stretch, the Gophers had eight players selected.
Headlining this year's class is All-American center John Michael Schmitz. If Schmitz is selected in the first round, he would be the first Gopher to be taken in the first round Since Rashod Bateman (2021 to Baltimore) and he would be the first Minnesota offensive lineman to be a first-round selection since center Brian Williams (1989 to New York Giants).
When Schmitz is drafted it will mark the first time that the Gophers have had offensive lineman drafted in consecutive drafts since 2001-2002 (tackle Adam Haayer was drafted in sixth round in 2001 by Tennessee and tackle Matt Anderle was drafted in the sixth round in 2002 by San Diego). Preceding Schmitz in the draft was former offensive line teammate Daniel Faalele who was a fourth-round selection by Baltimore in 2022.
Schmitz participated in the 2023 NFL Combine and so did former Gophers Mohamed Ibrahim, Jordan Howden and Terell Smith.
Ibrahim, who owns nearly every rushing record in school history, would become the first Minnesota running back drafted since David Cobb (fifth round in 2015 to Tennessee) if he hears his name called.
Minnesota has had success in recent years in having defensive backs drafted and Howden and Smith are hoping that streak of good fortune continues this weekend. Minnesota had defensive backs drafted in 2021 (Benjamin St-Juste to Washington in the third round) and 2020 (Antoine Winfield Jr. to Tampa Bay in the second round and Chris Williamson to New York Giants in the seventh round).
Other Gophers who participated in Minnesota's local pro day with aspirations of making it to the NFL are: Chuck Filiaga, Tanner Morgan, Axel Ruschmeyer, Thomas Rush, Mariano Sori-Marin and Matthew Trickett.
Minnesota has had 11 players selected in the last three drafts and more are hoping to hear their name called this week. If three players are selected this year then Minnesota would have 14 players drafted during a four-year span (2020-2023). That would be the most in school history since 1988-1991 when the Gophers also had 14 players taken. The current iteration of the NFL Draft is seven rounds, while the NFL Draft in the late 1980s and early 1990s had 12 rounds.
If the Gophers have four players taken this year, it would give them 15 draft picks during the last four years. The last time Minnesota had 15 players selected in four years was 1973-76. If the Gophers have five players taken this year, it would give them 16 draft picks during the last four years, which would be the most since 1972-75 when the Gophers had 17 players selected.
With one draft pick this year, the Gophers will have had an NFL Draft pick in the last five drafts (2020-2023), which will be the longest streak since 2004-2008. During that five-year stretch, the Gophers had eight players selected.
Headlining this year's class is All-American center John Michael Schmitz. If Schmitz is selected in the first round, he would be the first Gopher to be taken in the first round Since Rashod Bateman (2021 to Baltimore) and he would be the first Minnesota offensive lineman to be a first-round selection since center Brian Williams (1989 to New York Giants).
When Schmitz is drafted it will mark the first time that the Gophers have had offensive lineman drafted in consecutive drafts since 2001-2002 (tackle Adam Haayer was drafted in sixth round in 2001 by Tennessee and tackle Matt Anderle was drafted in the sixth round in 2002 by San Diego). Preceding Schmitz in the draft was former offensive line teammate Daniel Faalele who was a fourth-round selection by Baltimore in 2022.
Schmitz participated in the 2023 NFL Combine and so did former Gophers Mohamed Ibrahim, Jordan Howden and Terell Smith.
Ibrahim, who owns nearly every rushing record in school history, would become the first Minnesota running back drafted since David Cobb (fifth round in 2015 to Tennessee) if he hears his name called.
Minnesota has had success in recent years in having defensive backs drafted and Howden and Smith are hoping that streak of good fortune continues this weekend. Minnesota had defensive backs drafted in 2021 (Benjamin St-Juste to Washington in the third round) and 2020 (Antoine Winfield Jr. to Tampa Bay in the second round and Chris Williamson to New York Giants in the seventh round).
Other Gophers who participated in Minnesota's local pro day with aspirations of making it to the NFL are: Chuck Filiaga, Tanner Morgan, Axel Ruschmeyer, Thomas Rush, Mariano Sori-Marin and Matthew Trickett.
Pads On | Spring Football
Monday, March 30
Film Room: Maverick Baranowski
Friday, March 27
Change Our Best | Spring Football
Friday, March 27
Spring Ball Scenics
Friday, March 27