As Nebraska enters a crucial fifth season underneath head coach Scott Frost in 2022, we determined to have a look at the place issues stand with the Huskers’ 12 opponents popping out of spring practices.

At this time, we proceed with Minnesota, which is seeking to as soon as once more contend for a Huge Ten West Division title in its sixth season underneath head coach P.J. Fleck.

Andy Greder of the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press gave us his ideas on the Golden Gophers heading into the summer time and fall camp…

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1. Will the passing sport get again on observe?

In concept, Minnesota’s passing assault ought to be thought-about among the many Huge Ten’s finest with the return of two key sixth-year seniors in quarterback Tanner Morgan and high large receiver Chris Autman-Bell.

However given how that component has been basically non-existent from the Golden Gophers’ offense the previous two seasons, there may be a whole lot of work to be accomplished for UM to appreciate that potential.

Fleck fired former offensive coordinator Mike Sanford Jr. in December after two dismal passing seasons in 2020 and ’21. Minnesota hardly tried to stretch the sphere underneath Sanford when it even tried to throw the ball in any respect.

The Gophers ran it on 70 p.c of their snaps final season, and their 257 move makes an attempt ranked 127th nationally, forward of solely the three service academies.

In an effort to rekindle some punch again within the passing sport, UM introduced again Kirk Ciarrocca, who was its OC from 2017-19. That included guiding Morgan to by far his finest collegiate season in his record-setting 11-2 marketing campaign in 2019.

Minnesota hopes that Ciarrocca can choose up the place he left off and that Morgan will profit from upgrades at receiver sufficient to present some semblance of stability to the Gophers’ play-calling.

2. Rebuilding the offensive line

Minnesota maintained its place as one of many high speeding groups within the Huge Ten final season regardless of being decimated by accidents at working again.

The rationale was that its offensive line was as massive, bodily, and efficient as any within the convention.

Now the Gophers should exchange 4 starters – three that moved onto the NFL – in addition to their high tight finish from final season, leaving them with out 5 of their high six blockers from 2021.

Middle John Michael Schmitz, who might be an early frontrunner for the Rimington Trophy this season, returns to anchor the unit. Minnesota additionally added two switch guards in Michigan’s Chuck Filiaga and Notre Dame’s Quinn Carroll, the top-ranked recruit in Minnesota in 2019.

The Gophers have some expertise again at deal with, together with Aireontae Ersey and J.J. Guedet, who each began at Nebraska in 2020 when UM was down 30-plus gamers as a result of COVID.

However Minnesota misplaced a wealth of expertise and expertise up entrance from final season, and the brand new faces on the o-line nonetheless have a protracted strategy to go to keep away from a major drop-off this fall.

3. Reloading the defensive entrance seven

Identical to the offensive line, Minnesota was left having to interchange the vast majority of its defensive entrance going into spring practices.

The Gophers noticed six of their high eight snap-count gamers on the d-line from final season transfer on, together with two NFL draft picks in ends Boye Mafe and Esezi Otomewo.

Minnesota is banking on a brand new wave of gamers to take the reins in 2022, led by guys like Austin Booker, Thomas Rush, and Trill Carter, who confirmed loads of flashes this spring.

UM additionally added two key transfers in Clemson’s Darnell Jefferies and Vanderbilt’s Lorenza Surgers, who arrived within the spring and are anticipated to push for beginning jobs within the fall.

Greder: “It is actually a type of issues the place P.J. has had Scott Frost’s quantity over the past couple of years.

“Return to the sport in Lincoln in 2020 when the Gophers had 30-plus guys out with COVID and received, after which did the identical factor right here in Minnesota final yr.

“I haven’t got a ton of data on the Cornhuskers, however simply given the observe report, I might see it staying the identical.”

Greder: “I would in all probability put the over/underneath of wins possibly within the 8.5 vary. I feel they are going to do nicely this yr. They’ve a whole lot of expertise again on each side of the ball.

“I talked lots in regards to the guys they’re lacking up entrance on each side of the ball, however there are a whole lot of talent guys again, and I feel that is going to bode nicely for them. I feel their security duo of Tyler Nubin and Jordan Howden might be going to be top-of-the-line within the Huge Ten.

“They have some guys on the sting and a whole lot of talent guys again. We did not even point out Mo Ibrahim, who was the Huge Ten Working Again of the 12 months in 2020. He is again this yr.

“So I’d say that 8-9 vary. I feel it is actually going to return all the way down to the rivalry video games for the Gophers. P.J. has overwhelmed the Badgers and gotten the Axe two of the final 4 years, however he has by no means overwhelmed the Hawkeyes.

“That one actually sticks with workers, with the state, with the gamers, with everyone, that they are 0-5 in opposition to the Hawkeyes. That was clearly an enormous motive why they did not go to Indy final yr.

“So in the event that they’re in a position to break up these video games once more, I feel they will be proper within the combine and possibly have a shot to go to Indy once more.”