Gophers football: 8 observations from fall camp. What stood out?

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The Gophers’ offense mustered only 14 total plays for more than 30 yards last season, ranking 129th in the nation. Minnesota finished 8-5 in 2025, but that average of roughly one big play per game wasn’t remotely good enough — and has been a major focus in fall camp.

“We have to be an explosive offense,” head coach P.J. Fleck said Friday.

Minnesota backed it up by airing it out out during an open practice at Athletes Village on Friday, with quarterback Drake Lindsey completing a 55-yard touchdown to Hayden Moore and Jalen Smith’s one-handed catch on another Lindsey toss ended in a 40-yard connection.

“Are there explosive playmakers around us, maybe more than we have in the past? Absolutely,” Fleck said. “Is Drake developing? Absolutely. Got to take the next right step.”

Here are seven other observations from the first of three practices open to reporters before the season opener against Eastern Illinois at Huntington Bank Stadium on Sept. 3.

— Top cornerback John Nestor, the Gophers’ No. 1-rated defensive player last season, had a cast on his left hand during Friday’s practice, and projected No. 1 tight end Pierce Walsh was limited with the same left hand injury that sidelined him during spring practices.

Fleck said Walsh is expected to be full-go “soon.”

“It’s coming up,” he said. “But we are going to be a little bit more protective of him, but he’s in there playing, getting after it. He can do some things.”

Minnesota’s top three tight ends from 2025 are gone, and Walsh, of Downer’s Grove, Ill., is expected to fill a much bigger role this fall if he can get healthy.

— Darius Taylor is the clear-cut starting running back, but there is a pack of options behind the senior. Among the freshmen, Zeke Bates of Haverford, Pa., looks like a load, especially in the lower body, listed 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds. He is much bigger than ballyhooed El Paso, Texas, freshman Ryan Estrada (5-10, 190). Bates also arrived on campus in January, while Estrada joined in June.

A.J. Turner, a Marshall transfer who suffered a knee injury at the U last September, is back on the field but limited at the start of training camp.

— At Big Ten Media Days, Fleck alluded to Roman Voss’ potential to play multiple positions besides the tight end role he will primarily hold at the U. On Friday, the four-star high school quarterback lined up as a wildcat QB, a role Koi Perich dabbled in before transferring to Oregon.

“You can do a lit of things with (Voss),” Fleck said. “That’s going to be a lot of fun for coach (Greg) Harbaugh and the offense. (There’s) a long way to go before we anoint anybody, but I will say he’s a lot of fun to work with.”

At TE, Voss also made a nice snag of a 20-yard out route from backup quarterback Max Shikenjanski during a 7-on-7 segment.

— Four of the five offensive line spots appear to be locked in, but the right tackle battle between D.J. Shipp and Tennessee transfer Bennett Warren remains wide open. They regularly rotated Friday.

Lindsey talked about needing clear lines of communication between him and the line, so an early winner in that competition would be helpful.

“If it takes a week, if it takes three weeks, if we rotate, it’s up to them,” Fleck said. “I don’t pick the depth chart, players pick the depth chart. I just respond and make the decision when you have separated yourself from the other guy.”

— Safety Zach Harden sprinted more than 40 yards downfield and forced a fumble on running back TJ Thomas, an Elon transfer, during a team potion of practice.

“Tremendous,” Fleck shouted over the mic.

Harden’s hustle play stood out on a day when the defense didn’t force many takeaways, or bat down many passes. Linebacker Mason Carrier did have a pass breakup.

— Preseason Big Ten defensive player of the year Anthony Smith isn’t being coddled going into his graduate season. New defensive line coach C.J. Robbins was being pretty tough on him in a one-on-one conversation during practice.

— A third-and-long sub package featuring Smith, Karter Menz, Jaxon Howard, Emmanuel Karmo and California transfer TJ Bush was employed at times on Friday. That should be a dynamic group capable of getting to opposing QBs.

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