Gophers football is focused on developing new players within their program, starting with leaders like the team’s new quarterback Max Brosmer, among others.
Brosmer, a graduate transfer from New Hampshire, said Gophers fans will see a detail-oriented offense that scores points. The team is entering 2024 after finishing last year’s regular season with a 5-7 record. Minnesota managed to walk away from the postseason with a 30-24 victory over Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl.
“I’m just excited to number one, take it one play at a time,” Brosmer said. “I think that’s kind of my game, it’s meticulous and doing my best to keep my offense on track and on schedule.”
The last time the Gophers finished a regular season with five wins was Head Coach P.J. Fleck’s first season in 2017.
Brosmer said he and Offensive Coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. became “extremely close” over the past five months. The pair connected on a personal level, which Brosmer translates to the football field where Harbaugh will be in his ear through the helmet communication rule implemented this upcoming season.
Graduate Quinn Carroll said the offensive line is building a more dominant identity with a “heck of a backfield.” He complimented Brosmer’s abilities as a quarterback, saying Brosmer can “do it all.”
The Gophers finished last season ranked 122 out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total offense, according to the NCAA. Minnesota’s passing attack forced the team to rely on its running backs.
Former Gopher Athan Kaliakmanis, who transferred to Rutgers during the offseason, only surpassed 200 or more passing yards twice for Minnesota.
Carroll said he has been taking reps mostly at guard this offseason after starting all 26 games the last two seasons at right tackle. Even with both starting guards from last season returning, Martes Lewis and Tyler Cooper, the offensive line appears to be shuffled.
The Gophers added Offensive Tackle Aluma Nkele, who played 10 games at tackle for UTEP through the transfer portal. Nkele and redshirt freshman Phillip Daniels, along with others, will compete for the tackle position across the line from Aireontae Ersery.
When Carroll was asked about the Gophers being projected to win 5.5 games by sportsbooks like FanDuel, he said he does not read into that stuff, and that sentiment is echoed through the team.
“I only believe what we believe in as a team,” Carroll said. “We’re ready to go out and compete every single week. We want to win every single game, and we shouldn’t be thinking anything short of that.”
After Defensive Coordinator Joe Rossi left to take the same position at Michigan State, Fleck hired former Rutgers Linebackers Coach Corey Hetherman as his new defensive coordinator.
Fifth-year Defensive Lineman Danny Striggow said “violence” is what Hetherman’s defense will hang its hat on.
“We really talked about three things all offseason: excitement, swarm and violence,” Striggow said. “I think that’s going to be a big calling card of the defense.”
The Gophers return six defensive linemen who saw significant playing time last season. Minnesota added LSU transfer Jaxon Howard, Minnesota’s No. 1 ranked player for the class of 2023, to its defensive line.
Redshirt senior Jah Joyner, who led the team in sacks last season with 7.5, said the defensive line will take a new approach this season.
“In simple forms, (Hetherman) just wants us to get vertical, just be violent and attack upfield,” Joyner said. “That’s one of the biggest reasons why I came back, him changing up the defense for the D-line.”
Joyner said he plans to move around the defensive line more this year than years prior. His goal is to be a “double-digit sack guy” this season.
The Gophers’ season opener at Huntington Bank Stadium against North Carolina is a month and a half away, but Brosmer said the Gophers are taking a next-day mindset.
“Attack today and then attack the next day, and when you’re doing that, it’s really hard to focus on the games that are coming ahead,” Brosmer said. “Our next goal is to attack fall camp. We’re going to finish summer strong and attack fall camp.”
