Gophers football: Which young players are stepping up?

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PHOENIX — Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck uses bowl games as a bridge.

“It’s a celebration of the (2025) season. … The seniors and everything they’ve given to this program and really start building toward 2026,” Fleck said last week. “Every bowl game we’ve ever been associated with, that is the approach we’ve taken: to be 1-0 (in the bowl) and to continue to prepare.”

After the team arrived in Arizona on Sunday, Fleck shared with the Pioneer Press a handful of young, unsung players who have stood out during practices for Friday’s Rate Bowl against New Mexico.

These types of players are showcased the first week after the regular-season finale. The Gophers routinely give veterans much-needed rest and turn over the keys to underclassmen until prep for the Lobos hits full swing.

Looking ahead, Fleck’s top-of-mind position is linebacker. It’s a group he mentioned at points during the season, too.

“I think Ethan Stendel has done a tremendous job on defense; I know he’s young,” Fleck said. “Mason Carrier had a great bowl prep. Nate Cleveland. I love the future at linebacker in our program.”

Stendel is a true freshman from Caledonia; Cleveland is a true freshman from Hoffman Estates, Ill.; and Carrier is a redshirt freshman from Detroit Lakes. The trio played primarily on special teams: Carrier (12 games), Stendel (10) and Cleveland (seven).

The Gophers have had five receivers express plans to enter the transfer portal in January, and a sixth, senior Le’Meke Brockington, is a candidate to opt out of the bowl game. He had team highs in receptions (46) and yards (439) along with four touchdowns.

“I thought Bradley Martino had a really good bowl prep,” Fleck said. “We were a little bit limited on the receiving corps, so it was good for Bradley to dip into that piece a little bit.”

Martino didn’t play in a game this fall, but he stands 6-foot-3 and is a four-star prospect from Naples, Fla., who competed in the Navy All-American Bowl.

Gophers offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh said two young offensive lineman — redshirt freshman Brett Carroll and true freshman Kaveon Lee — were playing with the first unit during a bowl practices. Then they were called out during a meeting with the entire offense.

“So, we have their play up there (on the screen) where, OK they do something really well in the play before, and then, OK, we’re critiquing them and coaching them on the next play,” Harbaugh said. “I think that’s beneficial in this time of the year.”

Fleck also mentioned D.J. Shipp, a true freshman from Eastvale, Calif. Shipp didn’t play in a game, neither did Lee, but Carroll, a well-regarded center prospect, played in two.

Going in to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl last year, Fleck boosted offensive tackle Nathan Roy, who played in the win against Virginia Tech and used that as a springboard to start all 12 games at left tackle last season.

Next season, the Gophers’ defensive line will lose senior tackles Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding and need young players to step up. The list of potentials includes Riley Sunram, a 6-5, 300-pound redshirt freshman from Kindred, N.D., and Jaylin Hicks, a 6-3, 260-pound redshirt freshman from Harlem, N.Y. Sunram and Hicks each got got a taste in eight games.

“Some of the young lineman who have actually played — D-lineman — have stepped up in a big way,” Fleck said.

Fleck also mentioned safety Zach Harden, a 6-1 true freshman from Eatonton, Ga., who saw the field in 10 games last season.

“He did a really good job,” Fleck said.

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