2023 College Football Catalog: Previewing the Minnesota Golden Gophers
Josh Frey
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Just like the NFL season is right around the corner, college campuses are preparing to welcome back their football squads for the fall season. As the summer progresses we will be taking a look into how many of the FBS college football programs fared in 2022, what they did during the offseason, and how they can find success during the 2023 season. To get things started, we’re staying in Minnesota and taking a look at the Golden Gophers.
Overview
2022 Results
- W vs. New Mexico State, 38-0
- W vs. Western Illinois, 62-10
- W vs. Colorado, 49-7
- W @ Michigan State, 34-7
- L vs. Purdue, 10-20
- L @ (24) Illinois, 14-26
- L @ (16) Penn State, 17-45
- W vs. Rutgers, 31-0
- W @ Nebraska, 20-13
- W vs. Northwestern, 31-3
- L vs. Iowa, 10-13
- W @ Wisconsin, 23-16
- W vs. Syracuse, 28-20 (Pinstripe Bowl)
Overall Record: 9-4 (5-4)
2022 All-Big 10 Members
- RB Mohamed Ibrahim (Coaches and Media First-Team)
- C John Michael Schmitz (Coaches and Media First-Team)
- DB Tyler Nubin (Coaches and Media Second-Team)
- IOL Axel Ruschmeyer (Coaches and Media Third-Team)
- IOL Chuck Filiaga (Coaches Third-Team)
- LB Mariano Sori-Marin (Coaches Third-Team)
Recent Vikings Draft Picks
- DL Esezi Otomewo (2022 Draft: R5, P165)
Every one of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Draft Picks
2023 NFL Draft Selections
- R2, P57: C John Michael Schmitz (New York Giants)
- R5, P146: DB Jordan Howden (New Orleans Saints)
- R5, P165: DB Terell Smith (Chicago Bears)
2023 Schedule
- 8/31 vs. Nebraska
- 9/9 vs. Eastern Michigan
- 9/16 @ North Carolina
- 9/23 @ Northwestern
- 9/30 vs. Louisiana
- 10/7 vs. Michigan
- 10/21 @ Iowa
- 10/28 vs. Michigan State
- 11/4 vs. Illinois
- 11/11 @ Purdue
- 11/18 @ Ohio State
- 11/25 vs. Wisconsin
Notable Additions
- RB Darius Taylor (four-star recruit, No. 348)
- RB Sean Tyler (transfer portal, Oklahoma State)
- WR Corey Crooks (transfer portal, Western Michigan)
- WR Elijah Spencer (transfer portal, Charlotte)
- LB Chris Collins (transfer portal, North Carolina)
- LB Ryan Selig (transfer portal, Western Michigan)
- DB Jack Henderson (transfer portal, Southeastern Louisiana)
- DB Tr’Von Jones (transfer portal, Elon)
- DB Craig McDonald (transfer portal, Auburn)
- DB Rowan Zolman (transfer portal, Maryland)
Recruit rankings and transfer info via 24/7 Sports
Notable Losses
- QB Tanner Morgan (UDFA, Pittsburgh Steelers)
- RB Mohamed Ibrahim (UDFA, Detroit Lions
- WR Mike Brown-Stephens (transfer portal, USF)
- WR Dylan Wright (transfer portal, TCU)
- C John Michael Schmitz (NFL Draft, New York Giants)
- IOL Chuck Filiaga (eligibility)
- IOL Axel Ruschmeyer (eligibility)
- DL Trill Carter (transfer portal, Texas)
- LB Mariano Sori-Marin (eligibility)
- LB Thomas Rush (eligibility)
- LB Donald Willis (transfer portal, Western Michigan)
- LB Braelen Oliver (transfer portal, Georgia Tech)
- DB Jordan Howden (NFL Draft, New Orleans Saints)
- DB Terell Smith (NFL Draft, Chicago Bears)
- DB Michael Dixon (transfer portal, Rutgers)
- DB Beanie Bishop (transfer portal, West Virginia)
Keys to 2023
Replacing Core Pieces on Offense
The Minnesota Gophers will look rather different on the offensive side of the ball than they have over the past few years. QB Tanner Morgan is out after six years with the program, although Athan Kaliakmanis showed some positive flashes in limited playing time during the 2022 season.
However, the real trouble comes in the backfield and the trenches. There is no replacing a running back like Mohamed Ibrahim, who rushed for over 1600 yards and scored 20 times for the Gophers last year. Additionally, the interior offensive line has to replace all of Chuck Filiaga, John Michael Schmitz, and Axel Ruschmeyer this year.
Establish a Pass Rush
The Gophers are one of the stoutest defenses in the entire nation, allowing just 13.8 points per game last season, but they need to find a way to rush the passer. They didn’t have a single player record five or more sacks, and ever since losing Boye Mafe to the NFL back in 2022, they have not been able to find a true pass-rusher to lead the program.
They didn’t do much in terms of recruiting or in the transfer portal to change that this year, so it’s going to depend on unsung players to step up and lead the way.
Weathering a Tough Schedule
The 2023 schedule looks much tougher overall than the 2022 schedule for the Gophers. After a 9-4 season last year and Pinstripe Bowl victory, it could be tough to replicate this type of success. A season ago, Minnesota benefited from not having to play either Michigan or Ohio State, and now, they have both programs back on the schedule, including a road game against the Buckeyes.
Additionally, the non-conference schedule could provide some trouble as well. North Carolina should be a high-flying offense with Drake Maye still at QB, so the Gophers will have to find a way to slow them down in order to win that game while the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 6-7 campaign out of the Sun Belt after going 13-1 back in 2021.
Prediction
- W vs. Nebraska
- W vs. Eastern Michigan
- L @ North Carolina
- W @ Northwestern
- W vs. Louisiana
- L vs. Michigan
- W @ Iowa
- W vs. Michigan State
- L vs. Illinois
- W @ Purdue
- L @ Ohio State
- L vs. Wisconsin
Overall Record: 7-5 (5-4)
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.