After last night I decided to review the recruiting of defense in the Fleck era and see where the Gophers are at in terms of players that have been in the program for multiple years. We knew PJ had to work on overall talent on the roster when he got here and I think we would all agree he has the offense on the right track with better recruiting on that side of the ball and results to support. Defense has been a challenge to create the depth needed to avoid the lack of depth we witnessed last night. COVID 19 certainly doesn't help and probably kept Teague on the sideline. I was generous in adding T Smith based on his limited snaps, but what I discovered is only 30% of the defensive players signed in the 2017 and 2018 classes had meaningful minutes last night - see the asterisks. I also lined-thru players not on the roster. We know 2017 was a challenge to get a class together based on the timing of the Fleck hire so that is a factor as well. So in year four depth continues to be an issue on defense. I agree with what some have said...if nothing else this year needs to include heavy doses of playing time for the 2019 and 2020 defensive players. On paper at least those players appear to rate higher in terms of recruiting rankings and talent vs. PJ's first two classes. Over the last few years Fleck has tried to fill holes with transfers and there has been some success there, but the core defensive recruiting is still a work in progress. I don't know how only a 30% impact from the 17 and 18 classes compares to other programs, but seems low to me. With those who are still here and playing I would say potentially only Mafe is an All-BIG potential.
Hopefully the 2019 and 2020 classes - along with some good signs we are seeing in the 2021 class - create the base we need to build the defense.
Thoughts?
2017
DE Boye Mafe*
DTMalcolm Robinson
DB Justus Harris*
DTRoyal Silver
DTAustin Schirck
DBAdam Beck
DBK Handy-Holly
DBRey Estes
DE Esezi Otomewo*
LB Trenton Guthrie
DT Noah Hickcox
2018
DBCJ Smith
DEAlex Reigelsperger
LB Braelen Oliver
DEMayan Ahanotu
LB Thomas Rush*
LB Josh Aune*
LB Mariano Sori-Marin*
DEAbi Okonji
DB Terell Smith*
DT Elijah Teague
DB Benny Sapp
DT Logan Richter
Hopefully the 2019 and 2020 classes - along with some good signs we are seeing in the 2021 class - create the base we need to build the defense.
Thoughts?
2017
DE Boye Mafe*
DT
DB Justus Harris*
DT
DT
DB
DB
DB
DE Esezi Otomewo*
LB Trenton Guthrie
DT Noah Hickcox
2018
DB
DE
LB Braelen Oliver
DE
LB Thomas Rush*
LB Josh Aune*
LB Mariano Sori-Marin*
DE
DB Terell Smith*
DT Elijah Teague
DB Benny Sapp
DT Logan Richter
