Will this experienced group be an upgrade over a solid 2023 unit?
We finally get to the defense as the season is just a week away from kicking off. Looking first at the defensive line where the Gophers have a lot of talent and maybe one of the best defensive line coaches in the country.
2023
Starter: Danny Striggow (rush end), Jalen Logan-Redding (strong side end), Kyler Baugh (DT), Deven Eastern (DT)
Depth: Anthony Smith, Jah Joyner, Logan Richter, Chris Collins
This group was better in 2023 than they were in the 22 season, especially at getting pressure on the quarterback. As usual, the defensive line is more of a rotation than a strict starting 4. There are a lot of names who contributed last season, many of them were returning for their second full year playing and an increase in production was expected.
Striggow and Joyner were your two primary rush ends and they combined for 13.5 sacks last year. Striggow started 12 games, had 6 sacks and finished 7th on the team in tackles (1st among defensive linemen). Joyner, in his second season of playing regularly, had 7.5 sacks and forced 2 fumbles while technically coming off the bench. It was a significant jump in production for both of these guys and they both earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors.
On the other end was Logan-Redding who was a second-year starter and was also solid. From 2022 to 2023 he increased his tackles, sacks, TFLs and overall consistency. Chris Collins also played on the strong side. The grad transfer from North Carolina managed to get an interception against his old team and finished with 18 tackles and a fumble recovery.
On the inside, it was anchored by Baugh and Eastern. Baugh, in his final year with the program after transferring in from Houston Baptist, finished with 41 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and 3 sacks. Eastern, in his first year of seeing significant action, started all 13 games as a redshirt sophomore and finished with 28 tackles.
Logan Richter and Anthony Smith also saw action. Richter as a 6th year senior and Smith as a redshirt freshman.
A very solid season from the line in 2023, can they take another step forward in 2024?
2024
Starter: Striggow, Joyner (strong side), Logan-Redding (DT), Eastern (DT)
Depth: Jaxon Howard (DE), Smith (DE), Richter (DT), Jefferies (DT)
This unit is an exciting one heading into the new season. Almost everybody is back with the addition of some exciting talent and some shuffling of positions.
Starting again at end will be Striggow but Joyner is potentially moving over to start on the strong-side. Smith, after getting his first year of experience last year will be a key part of the rotation and these three are guys I have complete confidence in. Last, but not least, is Jaxon Howard. The former Robbinsdale Cooper product who went to LSU for a year and has decided to transfer back to Minnesota. He is just a true sophomore, so his impact may be delayed for a season, but there is reason to be very excited about his talent for the next couple of seasons at rush-end.
Inside we have Eastern returning at one tackle and likely Logan-Redding is sliding inside at the other tackle to replace Baugh. As part of the rotation, Richter is back for what feels like his 10th season (seriously, wasn’t he recruited by Brewster?) and then Darnell Jefferies, a Clemson transfer last year missed the entire season due to injury, looks to make an impact for the program this year inside.
So many returners…
Upgrade/Downgrade
This group is the biggest reason to be excited about the defense in 2024. So many impact players are returning, plus depth, plus some young talent.
Joyner and Striggow are potential All-Big Ten players again, anchoring both ends. Smith is a young, strong-side end who may have a breakout season and there is very good reason to be excited about Howard for the next few years. On the inside, I’m expecting that Eastern could also have a breakout season and there are experienced players throughout that rotation.
Do we have 8 guys who are unblockable and going to be early draft picks? No. But this unit is balanced, experienced and deep. It should be a very good unit that is the heart of the Gopher defense in 2024. I’m confident in calling this another upgrade with a worst-case-scenario that they are neutral.