Five Gophers football questions entering training camp

Coach P.J. Fleck and his Gophers begin drills Wednesday in preparation for the Sept. 2 season opener against Ohio State. Here are five story lines to watch:

August 3, 2021 at 10:02PM
Gophers wide receiver Daniel Jackson (Aaron Lavinsky, STAR TRIBUNE/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

1. Who will emerge as a wide receiver threat opposite Chris Autman-Bell?

The Gophers are hopeful someone else emerges, with candidates including Daniel Jackson and Mike Brown-Stephens. A wild card: Texas A&M transfer Dylan Wright.

2. Will tight ends become more involved in the passing game?

At 6-7 and 270 pounds, Brevyn Spann-Ford remains a tantalizing target, but he caught only one pass last year. Ko Kieft is a devastating blocker and can be sneakily effective as a red zone target.

3. How much better will the defensive line be?

Nyles Pinckney, a graduate transfer Clemson, looked right at home during the Gophers spring game. Val Martin, a grad transfer from N.C. State, improves the Gophers' depth on the D-line.

4. Linebacker play will improve, right?

Mariano Sori-Marin will be joined by Abilene Christian transfer Jack Gibbens, who made 258 tackles in four seasons. The return of Braelen Oliver from a knee injury should provide a big boost.

5. Will the kicking game be a threat?

Transfers Matthew Trickett, the MAC special teams player of the year for Kent State in 2019, and Will Mobley, a three-year regular at Temple, were brought in to help bolster the kicking game.

about the writer

about the writer

Randy Johnson

College football reporter

Randy Johnson covers University of Minnesota football and college football for the Star Tribune, along with Gophers hockey and the Wild.

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