This feels like the fastest football season ever.
It really feels like the season was just kicking off a couple of weeks ago. Turns out, it was nearly 3 months ago and Saturday is Senior Day for Gopher Football. The seniors get to close out their last home game with a chance to notch a special win over #4 Penn State.
The season has just 2 weeks left before the team learns their bowl game destination and the fanbase engagement will be entirely dependent on where they get to go. Another trip to Detroit and I suspect significant apathy. Getting a big win (or two) to finish the season and get a trip to Nashville or Charlotte and there may be some intrigue in more than just the transfer portal in December.
16 seniors on this year’s roster are playing in their last home game as a Gopher. There will be several more who will also be playing their last home game as a Gopher. The reality of college football today is that you are never just losing your seniors, a new offseason period of fretting about who will hit the transfer portal is more important than who are the incoming freshmen recruits.
Some of these seniors have had great Gopher careers.
- Daniel Jackson is one of the program’s all-time leading receivers. He currently is 5th all-time in yards, will likely pass Tutu Atwell for 4th and an outside shot at catching Ron Johnson for 3rd.
- Justin Walley has been a fixture at corner for years and along with Jackson, may hear his name called in this spring’s NFL Draft.
- Mark Crawford and Dragan Kesich have had excellent careers punting and kicking for Minnesota. Despite some ugly special teams seasons, those two have been great.
- Max Brosmer, Jack Henderson, Ethan Robinson and Elijah Spencer were incoming transfers who impactful in their time here.
- Tyler Cooper and Quinn Carroll have combined for over 50 starts along the offensive line, their experience will also be missed.
- Danny Striggow has had a really nice senior season while Darnell Jefferies and Logan Richter have been key rotational players for a couple of seasons.
Aireontae Ersery isn’t a senior but is certainly leaving early for the NFL Draft, leaving a big hole at left tackle for the Gopher offense.
But the real question is…who else will leave? We will obviously bring transfers in to help supplement the roster, but who is going to leave is a huge question mark.
Will Darius Taylor leave for a bigger program? This year’s offensive line struggled to open holes for him and next year’s line is not projected to be a strength. Will some of the guys along the defensive line get offers they cannot refuse for their final season or two? Koi Perich will almost certainly be getting calls and unmatched offers from schools in the mix for the college football playoff. Should we be worried about him?
I don’t lie awake worrying about these things, nor should anybody outside the football offices. Ultimately I’m grateful for the football season, for what the seniors brought to this program and the opportunities still out there for this team.
Can the Gophers take their seniors out on a high note while ruining Penn State’s season?
Can this team go to Madison, win the Axe and ruin Wisconsin’s season?
Can they get to a fun bowl game?
It is all still out there for this team. Grateful for this season and these seniors. Excited to see this season play out.