Grading PJ Fleck and the Gophers’ offseason

The modern college football offseason timeline continues to be very fluid, but many programs have started spring practice. With the coaching carousel officially cooled off… for now, I thought there was not time better than the present to look at the Gophers’ roller coaster of an offseason and give an overall grade for how everything shook out.

QB1: Replacing Athan Kaliakmanis with Max Brosmer

Ultimately after a disappointing 2023 season from the Gophs’ QB1 position, I was under the belief that bringing in a veteran QB to compete with Athan should happen, but I had doubt that P.J. Fleck would opt to move on from a player that he’s spent so much time and resources developing. Ultimately, I think there are much bigger issues with Minnesota’s offensive philosophy, but Max Brosmer is objectively a much more accomplished and experienced. I have to give Fleck credit for identifying a problem and getting creative with a solution.

There has been plenty of QB talent at the FCS level and the fact that Brosmer led the entire division in passing yards should give Gophers’ fans hope and intrigue. There also should be reason for skepticism, for every Carson Wentz or Joe Flacco there is a Case Cookus or Cole Kelly. But most recently, seeing Cam Ward make the jump from Incarnate Word (FCS) to Washington State, the blueprint is there, it’s just up to Brosmer to prove that he’s legit.

• Grade: B

DC: Replacing Joe Rossi with Corey Hetherman

The biggest surprise of the Gophers’ offseason was when long-time DC Joe Rossi left Dinkytown for East Lansing in the same role under new Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith. It took about one month to bring in Rutgers LB coach Corey Hetherman as the new defensive coordinator of Minnesota football. 39-year-old, Hetherman is a true football guy, having acted as a player coach in the European football league and he earned his stripes going all the way up the coaching ranks from D3 to Big Ten. He has rubbed shoulders with a lot of Fleck’s “guys” most notably Greg Schiano, but also Joe Harasymiak. As much as he looks like he was born to be a defensive coordinator, he is still a relative unknown as a major conference coordinator. The fact that Fleck to a risk and didn’t promote within does deserve a mention, but losing one of the best coordinators in the country cannot be a net positive.

• Grade: C-

Retaining Darius Taylor, Justin Walley, etc.

The biggest “win” of the Gophers’ offseason might’ve been keeping all of the big stars on their roster. In the transfer portal era, it’s not always a guarantee that your talented underclassmen will return. 14/15 starters with eligibility remaining opted to return for the 2024 season, instead of entering the portal. Most notably star freshman RB Darius Taylor did not leave and he decided that Minnesota is the place that he wants to play college football for the 2024 season. That is a statement that many Gophers’ fans did not think had any chance of being true during the season. He would’ve had the chance to play virtually anywhere in the country and that reason alone should count as Fleck and the Gophers’ biggest victory of the offseason.

• Grade: A+

Early Transfer Portal window

While Brosmer is the clear top highlight of the Gophers’ early transfer portal window, they also added seven other scholarship players, while losing eight from their 2023 roster. Most notably Bucknell, CB Ethan Robinson likely has the best chance of starting, while RBs Sieh Bangura (Ohio) and Marcus Major (Houston) and WRs Jaylen Varner (Emporia State) and WR Cristian Driver (Penn State) could all play a serious role as offensive weapons with Brosmer.

Overall, I think Fleck and his staff improved their roster, but there were certainly some areas where I think they could’ve attacked, like offensive and defensive line, which were quite underwhelming last season. There is certainly some merit to thinking development of your own linemen could result in more success, but some depth in both areas could’ve been a major help to this roster. There are some exciting additions, but still major question marks heading into the late window and 2024 season.

• Grade: B-

2024 High School recruiting class

If retaining Darius Taylor was the biggest win of the offseason, officially signing the No. 1 OVR high schooler in MN Koi Perich is a razor close No. 2. Behind Perich, there is a talented OL trio of Nathan Roy, Riley Sunram and Brett Carroll, and the 2023 Arkansas State high school player of the year per, MaxPreps QB Drake Lindsey. This class still has some of the best top-end talented recruited under PJ Fleck. Minnesota will unfortunately never be a destination for the elite of the elite players, but Koi Perich, Drake Lindsey and Nathan Roy are about as close to blue-chip as the Gophers will get. There is some exciting talent from top to bottom in this class and I believe that it could be Fleck’s best since arriving in Minnesota, coming at a time that he needs it most.

• Grade: A-

Overall Thoughts

Losing one of the best defensive coordinators within the conference and replacing your QB is never a good way to start an offseason. The personnel decision that the program has made are very sound and clearly well thought out. This was a pivotal offseason for Fleck and I think he took risks where he needed to make them.

• Grade: B