Three Gophers wide receivers announced they are transferring, just days after the final game of the season.
Junior Rashad Still, redshirt sophomore Hunter Register and redshirt junior Melvin Holland Jr. announced on Twitter they are leaving the program.
“I just felt like I needed to go a new direction,” Register said. “It wasn’t anything specific … [Still and I] both made the decisions on our own.”
Still caught two receptions in the 2017 season for 68 yards in 10 games played.
Holland Jr. caught two passes for eight yards in his redshirt freshman year — 2015 — with the Gophers. He didn’t play receiver after that, but also played on special teams, notching one tackle this year.
Register caught one pass for six yards in the Indiana State game last year and didn’t play wide receiver this season. He played on special teams, notching three tackles in nine games played.
Register said it was too early to decide on a new team for next year.
“I just put it [up], so I got some coaches that started following me and stuff on Twitter,” Register said Monday. “And I’ve been messaging some people.”
The three leaving athletes make four Minnesota players seeking out a different team since the season ended on Saturday. Quarterback Demry Croft announced he would transfer from the Gophers earlier in the week.
Last season, running back James Johannesson, defensive linemen Gaelin Elmore, kicker Andrew Harte and offensive linemen Tyler Moore and Connor Mayes, along with several others, transferred.
Cornerback Ray Buford, defensive back Dior Johnson and defensive lineman Tamarion Johnson left the team after facing expulsion for an alleged sexual assault, while cornerback KiAnte Hardin was expelled for the alleged sexual assault. Running back Carlton Djam left the team following an upheld one year suspension.
Leading receiver Tyler Johnson, caught 35 passes for 677 yards and seven touchdowns this year and will be a junior in 2018. Phillip Howard, a redshirt freshman, had the second most production among the wide receivers with 11 catches for 132 yards in 11 games played.
With three receivers transferring, and one senior — Eric Carter — graduating, the Gophers have three receivers committed in the current 2018 recruiting class, and the Gophers have 13 on the roster who will return next year to fill the gap.
Minnesota finished 9-4 last season after upsetting Washington State in the Holiday Bowl. This year, the team ended 5-7 and will not make an appearance in a bowl game.