With his seventh year at head coach on the horizon, P.J. Fleck’s biggest challenge as the leader of the Golden Gophers might be this coming season. Minnesota has won nine games in two straight seasons and of course having that magical season in 2019 going 11-2 and defeating Michigan in the Outback Bowl.
What is one thing all three of those seasons had in common? Tanner Morgan was under center and leading the offense. That will not be the case this fall, Athan Kaliakmanis will be the one taking snaps this year. The good news for the sophomore who has had limited playing time is that the receiving corps is one of the best in the nation.
Daniel Jackson, Chris Autman-Bell, Corey Crooms, and Brevyn Spann-Ford are all seniors and are all incredibly talented pass catchers. This will be a big plus for this offense because it will also allow the run game to come to form with defenses focusing on the pass catchers, or at least the Gophers hope this is the case.
Along with Morgan, they will be losing three starting offensive lineman and their all time rushing leader Mohamed Ibrahim. Ibrahim rushed for 20 touchdowns last year along with over 1,600 yards. There are just too many holes to fill in this offense and some sort of regression is bound to happen. The pass catchers may just save the season for them though, they have the advantage on anyone they line up against this year.
So, if Kaliakmanis can find them and hit them and the run game can be effective, who knows? We could be looking at a dark horse in the Big Ten West.
Prediction: 7-5. I think they go into their two game stretch at the end of the season vs. Ohio State and then Wisconsin at 7-3. If they can steal one of those games, specifically the one against the Badgers, they may be playing in the Big Ten Championship game.
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