Jonathan Celestin, Rodney Smith, and Steven Richardson will join Coach Fleck.
B1G MEDIA DAYS AROUND THE CORNER
July 11, 2017
The 2017 football season is right around the corner, which means Big Ten Football Media Days are even closer. This year, the conference will hold its annual media days on July 24-25 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and Convention Center in Chicago.
Representing the Gophers will be head coach P.J. Fleck, senior defensive tackle Steven Richardson, senior linebacker Jonathan Celestin and junior running back Rodney Smith.
Fleck was named head football coach at the University of Minnesota on Jan. 6, 2017 and is the 30th head coach in the program's history. Fleck came to Minnesota after spending four years as the head coach at Western Michigan, where he was 30-22 overall and 21-11 in the Mid-American Conference. While leading the Broncos, Fleck authored one of the most memorable turnarounds in college football history. The Broncos were 1-11 in his first year in 2013, but ended last season with a No. 12 ranking, a 13-1 record, a conference championship and a berth in the Cotton Bowl.
Fleck, 36, is one the youngest and brightest minds in the game. He was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016 and last season he led the Broncos to their first MAC Championship since 1988.
Richardson is a menacing force for the Gophers. The Chicago native started 11 of 13 games last season and notched 31 tackles. Despite seeing numerous double-teams, he led the team with 11 tackles for loss and added seven sacks. Richardson, who was also named Academic All-Big Ten, was honored with All-Big Ten Third Team laurels.
For his career, Richardson has made 80 tackles (40 solo) in 36 career games. He has 25 career tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. Richardson has also forced four career fumbles, recovered three fumbles and broke up three passes.
Celestin, who was a high school teammate of Smith's at Mundy's Mill in Georgia, played in all 13 games and started 10 last season. His 80 tackles ranked second on the team and he added seven tackles for loss. He also totaled 2.5 sacks and broke up four passes. Celestin was also named Academic All-Big Ten last season.
Celestin has played in 37 career games and has made 139 tackles, which included 14 tackles for loss. He has also broken up five career passes and forced three fumbles.
Smith emerged as a complete back in 2016 when he rushed 240 times (tenth most in school history in a single season) for 1,158 yards (16th most in school history in a single season) and 16 touchdowns (third most in school history in a single season). Smith, who started 12 of 13 games last season, became the 20th Gopher ever to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. In addition, he caught 23 passes for 188 yards and returned eight kickoffs for 263 yards, which included a 94-yard touchdown against Rutgers. Smith recorded 1,609 all-purpose yards (12th most in school history in a single season) and scored 17 touchdowns (tied for second in school history in a single season) and tallied 102 points (tied for third most in school history in a single season). Smith was named All-Big Ten Third Team by league coaches and media and was named Offensive MVP of the Holiday Bowl after scoring one touchdown and recording 132 all-purpose yards.
For his career, Smith has rushed 397 times for 1,828 yards in 25 games. His 1,828 yards is tied for 19th all-time in school history. He has scored 18 (2 in 2015 and 16 in 2016) career rushing touchdowns, which ranks tied for 16th in school history. He enters the 2017 season with 155 consecutive carries without a fumble (last fumble was against Iowa in 2016).
B1G MEDIA DAYS AROUND THE CORNER
July 11, 2017
The 2017 football season is right around the corner, which means Big Ten Football Media Days are even closer. This year, the conference will hold its annual media days on July 24-25 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and Convention Center in Chicago.
Representing the Gophers will be head coach P.J. Fleck, senior defensive tackle Steven Richardson, senior linebacker Jonathan Celestin and junior running back Rodney Smith.
Fleck was named head football coach at the University of Minnesota on Jan. 6, 2017 and is the 30th head coach in the program's history. Fleck came to Minnesota after spending four years as the head coach at Western Michigan, where he was 30-22 overall and 21-11 in the Mid-American Conference. While leading the Broncos, Fleck authored one of the most memorable turnarounds in college football history. The Broncos were 1-11 in his first year in 2013, but ended last season with a No. 12 ranking, a 13-1 record, a conference championship and a berth in the Cotton Bowl.
Fleck, 36, is one the youngest and brightest minds in the game. He was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016 and last season he led the Broncos to their first MAC Championship since 1988.
Richardson is a menacing force for the Gophers. The Chicago native started 11 of 13 games last season and notched 31 tackles. Despite seeing numerous double-teams, he led the team with 11 tackles for loss and added seven sacks. Richardson, who was also named Academic All-Big Ten, was honored with All-Big Ten Third Team laurels.
For his career, Richardson has made 80 tackles (40 solo) in 36 career games. He has 25 career tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. Richardson has also forced four career fumbles, recovered three fumbles and broke up three passes.
Celestin, who was a high school teammate of Smith's at Mundy's Mill in Georgia, played in all 13 games and started 10 last season. His 80 tackles ranked second on the team and he added seven tackles for loss. He also totaled 2.5 sacks and broke up four passes. Celestin was also named Academic All-Big Ten last season.
Celestin has played in 37 career games and has made 139 tackles, which included 14 tackles for loss. He has also broken up five career passes and forced three fumbles.
Smith emerged as a complete back in 2016 when he rushed 240 times (tenth most in school history in a single season) for 1,158 yards (16th most in school history in a single season) and 16 touchdowns (third most in school history in a single season). Smith, who started 12 of 13 games last season, became the 20th Gopher ever to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. In addition, he caught 23 passes for 188 yards and returned eight kickoffs for 263 yards, which included a 94-yard touchdown against Rutgers. Smith recorded 1,609 all-purpose yards (12th most in school history in a single season) and scored 17 touchdowns (tied for second in school history in a single season) and tallied 102 points (tied for third most in school history in a single season). Smith was named All-Big Ten Third Team by league coaches and media and was named Offensive MVP of the Holiday Bowl after scoring one touchdown and recording 132 all-purpose yards.
For his career, Smith has rushed 397 times for 1,828 yards in 25 games. His 1,828 yards is tied for 19th all-time in school history. He has scored 18 (2 in 2015 and 16 in 2016) career rushing touchdowns, which ranks tied for 16th in school history. He enters the 2017 season with 155 consecutive carries without a fumble (last fumble was against Iowa in 2016).
