Is Darius Taylor a darkhorse All-America canidate in 2024?

With the transfer portal closed and rosters basically set, preseason rankings and predictions are beginning to roll out. Phil Steele, a long-time college football writer, recently released his All-BIG10 predictions for the upcoming season, so let’s take a look at which Gophers he is eyeing to have good seasons in 2024 and others who could outplay his projections. 

All-Americans

Aireontae Ersery

Steele projected two Gophers to reach All-American status, which has happened two other times in the P.J. Fleck tenure, being 2019 and 2022. The first selection he has being an All-American is Left Tackle Aireontae Ersery. Ersery followed up his solid 2022 season with a huge breakout year in 2023, where he was first-team All-Big Ten. Ersery could see himself being one of the top linemen taken off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft if he is able to continue improving on an already impressive college career. For him, All-BIG10 is looking like an expectation for 2024, but reaching All-American status could skyrocket his draft stock for his future NFL career. 

Dragan Kesich

The other Gopher that Steele has as an All-American is kicker Dragan Kesich. Kesich had a huge year for Minnesota in 2023, as he finished as the BIG10 kicker of the year and was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award. Kesich will see himself as a top NFL kicking prospect in 2025, as he has a huge leg and the accuracy to back it up. Both of these predictions should not come as too much of a surprise, as both were All-BIG10 First-Teamers a season ago, and both should continue to build on their success going into 2024.

All-Big Ten

Daniel Jackson

Steele is predicting five Gophers, in addition to Ersery and Kesich, to receive All-BIG10 Honors in 2024. Starting with Jackson, he was All-BIG10 second team a season ago and enters 2024 with a more experienced passer and a more consistent run game. Both of these factors will be huge for Jackson next season, as he should finish up as one of the top receivers in the BIG10 and has the ceiling of being an All-BIG10 first team caliber player. 

Justin Walley

Walley has been one of Minnesota’s most consistent players over his career at the cornerback position. He has never missed a game for the Gophers and has been a shut down option since he stepped on the field his Freshman year. Walley was named to the 247sports Freshman All-American team and he finished 2023 as an All-BIG10 Honorable Mention, but should continue to develop strongly, just as he has throughout his time in Minnesota. His continued growth as a player tells me that being an All-BIG10 player next season is an expectation, with being an NFL Draft pick as the next step in his career. 

Danny Striggow

Striggow is coming off his best year as a Gopher and back-to-back All-Big Ten Honorable Mention seasons. Striggow now has a consistent starting spot within the D-Line and a healthy linebacking core behind him, which should both aid in him making the jump out of the Honorable Mention territory. One thing that may make it more difficult for Striggow is the emergence of Jah Joyner and the amount of D-Line depth that the Gophers have in 2024. With more players to spread the wealth to, it could reflect poorly on his statistics while still playing at a higher level than past years. 

Cody Lindenberg

Lindenberg is coming off an injury-riddled 2023, after also being an Honorable Mention in 2022. The All-BIG10 talent is there for Lindenberg and shines when he plays, but being able to stay on the field has been a small problem of late. If he can stay healthy in 2024, he should be the clear-cut leader of the defense and All-BIG10 would be an expectation. It would also go a long way in helping him hear his name get called next Spring.

Mark Crawford

The Aussie has given P.J Fleck stability and consistently solid play at the Punter position through his time in Minnesota. After being an Honorable Mention a year ago, plus Iowa’s stud Punter Tory Taylor moving on to the NFL, Crawford could be in line for an All-BIG10 spot, and could even make a run for BIG10 Punter of the Year as well. 

Who was left off?

Darius Taylor

Absolutely no idea how Taylor was left off of Steele’s list of potential All-BIG10 players. Taylor is coming off a season where he was an Honorable Mention, despite playing in only 6 games. In addition to this, he will have lighter boxes against him with the addition of experienced passer Max Brosmer and an Offensive Line that suffered no huge losses. If Taylor is able to stay healthy in 2024, I would be shell-shocked if he does not produce at an All-BIG10 level. 

Jah Joyner

The other player that came to mind when looking at Steele’s list was Jah Joyner. Joyner has established himself as a premier pass rusher in the BIG10, as he comes off a season with a team-high 7.5 sacks. I would be willing to bet that his number goes up next year, as he will also benefit from a new defensive scheme and consistent linebacking play. He was also an Honorable Mention a year ago, and joins the others as a player who should see All-Big Ten as an expectation. 

Koi Perich

Now am I not calling for Koi Perich to make an All-Big Ten team, but if he is able to get some consistent playing time there could definitely be a case for him to make an All-Freshman team. At the moment Perich is not likely to be the week one starting safety, but he is lurking behind the other inexperienced safeties and his talent may be too big to not have him on the field.