Minnesota Football: 3 Way-too-early 2022 Breakout Candidates

Now that we’re previous the halfway level of Minnesota soccer spring follow, it’s formally time to foretell which Golden Gophers will escape in 2022?

The Minnesota soccer program is coming off one more profitable season underneath fifth-year head coach, P.J. Fleck. Exterior of their spectacular 9-4 document, it was additionally this system’s fourth nine-win season since 1904, and simply the seventh time in historical past the crew completed with six or extra wins in opposition to Large Ten opponents (6-3).

Additionally they took dwelling their first Assured Price Bowl win at school historical past after knocking off the West Virginia Mountaineers 18-6.

Most significantly, despite the fact that the Golden Gophers completed simply outdoors of the AP High 25 final yr, they’ve nonetheless managed to enhance every season underneath Fleck’s reign. With all indicators pointing to Minnesota persevering with to ‘Row the Boat’ into 2022.

In truth, since Fleck first arrived in Minneapolis, the crew has put collectively a formidable profitable proportion of .603 (35-23), which is the very best of any Minnesota head coach since Bernie Bierman within the Forties.

Minnesota soccer might be with out notable starters on each side of the ball in 2022, together with offensive sort out Daniel Faalele, in addition to beginning edge rushers Boye Mafe, and Esezi Otomewo.

Though, the Gophers nonetheless have a great deal of expertise left on the roster, and much more than coach Fleck was capable of reel in by means of the switch portal.

With a lot fluctuation throughout the board, you possibly can anticipate there to be some breakout gamers rising for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2022. Three of that are starting to take kind already.

No. 3 – Jah Joyner, EDGE​

It’s no secret that Minnesota soccer had among the best defenses within the nation final season. The Gophers ranked within the high 5 nationally by way of complete protection, permitting simply 279 yards per sport (third in CFB), and 17.3 factors per sport (seventh in CFB).

Though two of the crew’s most dependable starters, Boye Mafe and Esezi Otemowo, have moved on to the NFL, they have been answerable for 10 of the crew’s 25 sacks on the yr, and are anticipated to be taken early on within the 2022 NFL Draft.

Not solely are two of the Golden Gophers’ Senior Bowl invitees departing from this system however they’re additionally forsaking nearly 1,000 open snaps. That means that there at the moment are two obtrusive holes on each side of the defensive position, and a large alternative for considered one of these younger guys to step up.

Whereas there may be positive to be a ton of competitors for taking part in time earlier than the beginning of the common season, there’s an excellent likelihood that we see a model new face enter into the fold.

NEXT: No. 3 – Vicious Edge Rusher

In comes Jah Joyner.

Thomas Rush completed final season second on the crew in sacks with 5.5 and is more likely to turn out to be this system’s main go rusher in 2022. Exterior of that, it’s about as open because it will get, and despite the fact that Minnesota soccer did add Vanderbilt switch Lorenza Surgers, and Clemson switch Darnell Jefferies. Jah Joyner is the younger up-and-comer who’s obtained essentially the most reward and simply has essentially the most potential to interrupt out in 2022.

Regardless of enjoying in simply 4 video games as a real freshman in 2021, on a restricted snap depend nonetheless, Joyner proved to be one of many extra athletic gamers on the sphere in Minnesota’s win over West Virginia within the Assured Price Bowl and even got here away along with his first profession sack by the tip of the sport.

And from simply watching his tape in highschool, he clearly has no issue getting after the quarterback.

Joyner has critical potential to turn out to be a harmful go rusher within the Large Ten, and at 6’5″, 250-pounds, he simply has the scale, size, and athleticism to take the sport over at defensive finish. He’s additionally the one Golden Gopher with a bodily profile most much like that of Mafe and Otemowo. Moreover, he gained Spring Sport MVP in 2021 and has garnered a ton of reward from coach Fleck since his arrival in 2020.

Popping out of highschool, Joyner was a three-star recruit and the seventh-rated participant within the state of Connecticut. Whereas he could not have as a lot expertise as others on the place, he’s actually going to have the chance to show himself in 2022, and he may simply carry all the required intangibles to emerge as a day one starter.

NEXT: No. 2 – Deep Risk Receiver

No. 2 – Dylan Wright, WR​

After enjoying in simply 5 video games in 2020 with Texas A&M, and three video games the yr earlier than as a real freshman, Dylan Wright formally transferred over to P.J. Fleck’s squad in 2021, the place he noticed way more motion straight out of the gate.

Enjoying in 12 video games, Wright completed with 365 receiving yards on simply 18 catches together with two touchdowns and a team-high 20.3 yards per reception. Solidifying himself as one of many high deep threats within the Large Ten, and some of the explosive younger receivers in school soccer.

Earlier than committing to Texas A&M in 2018, Wright was a top-100, four-star recruit, and an Below Armour All-American at West Mesquite Excessive College in Texas. Rating because the twelfth vast receiver in his class, and the eleventh general prospect within the state of Texas, per 247Sports.

Whereas his numbers from final yr may not leap off the web page in comparison with different elite Large Ten vast receivers, it was additionally his first full season experiencing professional enjoying time, with a wholly new program and offensive scheme, nonetheless.

So, with three extra years of eligibility awaiting him in Minnesota, and a crew in determined want of extra manufacturing on the receiver place, I anticipate his numbers to skyrocket in 2022.

Particularly since he’s the one Golden Gopher on the roster that has the scale, physicality, and elite leaping capability to dominate contested-catch eventualities and 50/50 balls. Simply check out how he moss’d Ohio State defensive again, Lejond Cavazos, in Minnesota’s season opener final yr.

With Minnesota soccer’s two main ball carriers from 2021 now departing from this system, and the remainder coming off main accidents, it feels quite secure to imagine that the Golden Gophers will lean somewhat extra on the passing sport subsequent season, particularly in the event that they need to enhance on their abysmal 162.0 passing yards and 0.9 receiving touchdowns per sport in 2021. Each of which rank outdoors of the highest 100.

So, there’s a really life like likelihood that Dylan Wright will see extra targets in 2022 and will very nicely emerge as among the best deep threats in CFB.

NEXT: No. 1 – Lockdown Nook

No. 1 – Justin Walley, CB​

Exterior of studs like Mafe, Otemowo, and Gibbens, Minnesota soccer can be dropping their high defensive again from a yr in the past in Coney Durr. With the Baton Rouge native ending his remaining season in maroon and gold with 40 tackles, 5 go breakups, 1.5 sacks, and one fumble restoration.

Nevertheless, slotting in straight behind Durr by way of manufacturing final yr was cornerback Justin Walley, who performed in all 13 video games, and began within the remaining six, ending with 29 tackles, 7 go breakups, one interception, 1 pressured fumble, and two fumble recoveries. That was adequate to earn him the very best true freshman grade in school soccer with 76.7, per Professional Soccer Focus, and a True Freshman All-American by way of 247Sports.

Walley was additionally named the Large Ten Freshman Participant of the Week following Minnesota soccer’s clutch efficiency in opposition to the Wisconsin Badgers to cap off the season.

So, Justin Walley feels just like the participant most poised for a breakout marketing campaign in 2022 as he takes over Durr’s position as Minnesota soccer’s lockdown nook for the foreseeable future.

In highschool, Walley was an SI All-American candidate, and Mr. Soccer within the state of Mississippi. Scouts described him as a lean and fluid participant with unbelievable quickness, coordination, physique management, and ball-tracking capability, all of which was on full show in 2021.

The Gophers nonetheless have among the best security duos within the Large Ten with Tyler Nubin and Jordan Howden. However they are going to want someone to step up at cornerback in the event that they hope to construct off their 9-4 document from a season in the past, and Justin Walley feels primed to tackle this position coming off his sensational freshman season with Minnesota soccer.

Regardless of being only a three-star recruit in 2020, and the Thirteenth-ranked prospect out of Mississippi, he’s simply turn out to be among the best younger defensive backs within the Large Ten, if not all of faculty soccer. Anticipate him to demolish the already excessive expectations these have set out for him in 2022.