University of Minnesota Athletics

2019 Football Roster

gophers defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11)
Jersey Number 11

Antoine Winfield Jr.

  • Position:
    DB
  • Ht./Wt.:
    5-10 / 205
  • Hometown:
    The Woodlands, Texas
  • High School:
    The Woodlands
  • Letters:
    3
  • Class:
    Redshirt Sophomore
PRONUNCIATION

HONORS:
Academic All-Big Ten (2019, 2018, 2017)
CoSida Academic All-District (2019)
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2018-19)

Unanimous All-American (2019)
All-Big Ten First Team (2019)
Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year (2019)
Bronko Nagurski Award Finalist - Best Defensive Player in the Nation (2019)
Bronko Nagurski Award - Team MVP (2019)
Carl Eller Award - Outstanding Defensive Player (2019)

CAREER: Recorded 177 tackles (126 solo) • made seven tackles for loss and four sacks • finished career with three touchdowns (one punt return and two interceptions returned) • made nine interceptions and totaled 193 return yards • tied school single-season record (modern era) with seven interceptions in 2019 • forced two fumbles, recovered three and blocked one field goal.

2019 SOPHOMORE SEASON: Started all 13 games • led team with 88 tackles (62 solo), including 3.5 for loss and three sacks • tied a school single-season record (modern era) with seven interceptions • returned one interception for a touchdown • forced two fumbles. Game-by-Game: Broke up one pass and tallied four tackles against South Dakota State • sealed victory over Fresno state for the second straight year with an interception in the end zone during the second overtime • also had four tackles and one sack against Fresno State and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week • forced one fumble and made six tackles against Georgia Southern • led team with nine tackles against Purdue • intercepted one pass and made four tackles against Illinois • tallied 10 tackles including one sack against Nebraska • recorded two interceptions including a pick-six for 33 yards and three tackles against Rutgers • intercepted one pass and returned it for 30 yards and finished with six tackles against Maryland • named National and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording 11 tackles and two interceptions with 33 return yards against Penn State • led team with eight tackles at Iowa • forced one fumble, recorded a sack and led team with 11 tackles at Northwestern • made seven tackles against Wisconsin • totaled five tackles in Outback Bowl win against Auburn.

2018: Played in four games before missing the rest of the season with an injury • made 17 tackles, recorded one interception and recovered one fumble • returned three punts for 110 yards • granted a waiver request for a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA and has three years of eligibility (2019, 2020 and 2021) remaining. Game-by-Game: Took a 76-yard punt return (first punt return of his career) to the house for a touchdown and added five tackles against New Mexico State • recorded game-sealing interception in the end zone against Fresno State and tallied five tackles • recovered a fumble and tallied six tackles against Miami • notched one tackle against Maryland before leaving the game due to injury in the first quarter.

2017: Played in the first four games of the year, but then missed the final eight games with an injury • granted a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA. Game-by-Game: Notched seven tackles including a sack, made two pass breakups and blocked a field goal against Buffalo • recorded four tackles against Oregon State • tallied seven tackles against Middle Tennessee • registered two tackles against Maryland before leaving with an injury. 

2016 • FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in 12 games and started nine • recorded 52 tackles, broke up three passes, recovered one fumble and returned one interception 82 yards for a touchdown. Game-by-Game: Made his collegiate debut against Oregon State • made his first career tackle against Indiana State • saw action against Colorado State • made first career start at Penn State and made eight tackles and broke up one pass • notched three tackles against Iowa • made his first career interception and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown at Maryland (fifth longest interception return in program history) • also made five tackles, including one tackle for a loss at Maryland • notched six tackles against Rutgers • led team with seven tackles, recovered one fumble and broke up one pass at Illinois • made three tackles and recovered a late-game fumble to help seal a victory against Purdue • made 10 tackles at Nebraska • broke up one pass and made five tackles against Northwestern • totaled four tackles at Wisconsin. 

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended The Woodlands High School in The Woodlands, Texas • three-year letterwinner played both safety positions as the Highlanders compiled a 10-2 mark and a 6-0 record in conference play in 2015 • named Montgomery County Player of the Year • paced a defense that allowed only 7.4 points per game • as a senior, totaled 87 tackles, five forced fumbles and picked off a pair of passes • averaged 21 yards per punt return that included a 92-yard return for a touchdown • coached by Mark Schmid • ranked as a three-star prospect by ESPN, Scout and 247Sports and a two-star prospect by Rivals • ESPN ranked him as the No. 14 safety in Texas, while 247Sports had him at No. 20 among cornerbacks in the state.

PERSONAL:  Son of Antoine and Erniece Winfield • has two brothers (Austin and Ethan) • brother, Austin, is a defensive back for the Gophers • father, Antoine, played defensive back at Ohio State from 1995-98 and won the Jim Thorpe Award for the nation's top defensive back in 1998 • he then was a first round choice by the Buffalo Bills and went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL with the Bills and Minnesota Vikings and was a three-time All-Pro selection. 
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Ski-U-March Season Opener
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