Minnesota Football: Gophers’ transfer class gets a failing grade

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Under head coach P.J. Fleck, the Minnesota Golden Gophers have had great success in the transfer portal over the years. Chris Williamson, Benjamin St.-Juste, Jack Gibbens, Jack Henderson, Elijah Spencer, and Ethan Robinson are all examples of transfer players who became impact players in maroon and gold.

This past offseason, Fleck and co. dug deep in the portal, taking nearly two dozen transfers.

The results? Far more misses than hits.

Quarterback

Transfer(s): Zach Pyron (Georgia Tech), Emmett Morehead (Old Dominion)

The Gophers went looking for a veteran quarterback to challenge redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey and provide a safety net for the season. Pyron came and went, transferring to South Alabama after failing to impress during spring camp. Morehead was then brought in but never saw the field, as walk-on Mike Shikenjanski served as the second-string quarterback. Morehead is now out of eligibility.

Running Back

Transfer(s): A.J. Turner (Marshall), Cam Davis (Washington)

Turner opened the season as the No. 2 running back behind Darius Taylor and rushed for 64 yards and one touchdown before suffering a season-ending leg injury in Week 3 against Cal. Davis stepped into a bigger role when both Taylor and Turner were sidelined but never did much with the opportunity, rushing for 109 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. Turner can return next season for his last year of eligibility.

Wide Receiver

Transfer(s): Javon Tracy (Miami Ohio), Logan Loya (UCLA), Malachi Coleman (Nebraska)

Tracy was hot and cold all season long, but he finished second on the team with 35 receptions for 439 receiving yards and a team-leading six touchdowns. Loya never found his footing, hauling in a mere 10 receptions for 61 yards. Coleman struggled to see the field through the first half of the season but saw his snaps increase significantly over the final six games. He finished the regular season with only five receptions for 83 receiving yards, but it is clear the Gophers see him as a much-needed deep threat in the passing game.

Tracy and Coleman can both return next season. Loya is out of eligibility.

Tight End

Transfer(s): Drew Biber (Purdue)

Biber was solid, figuring into the four-man rotation of tight ends that Minnesota utilized across formations on offense. He saw action in all 12 games and finished with 18 receptions for 136 receiving yards.

Biber is out of eligibility.

Offensive Line

Transfer(s): Marcellus Marshall (UCF), Kahlee Tafai (Washington), Dylan Ray (Kentucky), Jaden Ball (Purdue)

This position group was the biggest whiff of the offseason. For most of the season, Marshall and Ray constituted the right side of the offensive line at right guard and right tackle, respectively. The right side of the offensive line also happened to be the weakest side of the line. Marshall was even replaced at right guard by Tony Nelson for the final game of the regular season. Tafai and Ball never saw meaningful snaps.

Tafai and Ball can both return next season. Marshall and Ray are out of eligibility.

Defensive Line

Transfer(s): Steven Curtis (Illinois State), Rushawn Lawrence (Stony Brook), Mo Omonode (Purdue)

The Gophers needed depth on the defensive line. They didn’t find it in the transfer portal. Omonode never saw the field after being sidelined with a lingering injury from the previous year. Lawrence was part of the rotation at defensive tackle and saw action in all 12 games, recording 20 total tackles and one sack.

Curtis never saw the field but can return next season. Omonode might seek a medical redshirt.

Linebackers

Transfer(s): Jeff Roberson (Oklahoma State)

Another whiff on the defensive side of the ball. Roberson only ever saw action as a reserve, racking up all of four tackles in the seven games in which he saw the field. He is out of eligibility.

Secondary

Transfer(s): John Nestor (Iowa), Jaylen Bowden (NC Central)

Nestor was one of the few hits of this transfer class. He started 10 games for Minnesota, missing two due to injury. Nestor tallied 47 total tackles and six tackles for loss, and he led the team with six pass break-ups and five interceptions. He can return next season for his final year of eligibility.

Bowden never saw meaningful snaps but can return next season.

Special Teams

Transfer(s): Brady Denaburg (Syracuse), Tom Weston (Ouachita Baptist), Brody Richter (UCLA)

Recruited based on his relationship at Syracuse with Minnesota special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky, Denaburg has been a disaster as the starting kicker. His 66.7% field goal percentage is the worst in the Big Ten this season among all qualified kickers, and he was 2-of-7 from 40+ yards. Denaburg is now out of eligibility.

As the starting punter, Weston was okay. His 42.8 yards-per-punt average ranks 11th in the Big Ten. 20 of his 50 punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, which ties for second in the conference.

Richter did not see action as a punter and is now out of eligibility.

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