2018 SPRING PREVIEW: QUARTERBACKS
March 20, 2018
Season Tickets // Schedule // Roster
The Gophers will have their third spring practice today and there will be more than a few eyes on the quarterbacks.
Minnesota enters the 2018 season with six quarterbacks on its roster, but none of them have thrown a pass for the Gophers and only one - Seth Green - has seen any game action. In addition, Minnesota does not have an upperclassmen in the quarterback room, as Green, who will be a redshirt sophomore next season is the most tenured of the group.
Green played in one game last season, as he made his collegiate debut in relief action in a 34-3 win against Middle Tennessee. He redshirted in 2016 and was named the Offensive Work Team Player of the Year. Green spent his senior season at Allen High School in Allen, Texas, and helped lead the Eagles to a 14-1 record and a berth in the state championship game. He completed 81 passes for 1,481 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed 99 times for 865 yards and 10 scores. Prior to his family moving to Texas, Green played three years at East Ridge High School in Woodbury, Minn. Green led the Raptors to a 9-2 record as a junior and to the state quarterfinals and completed 142 passes for 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed 107 times for 551 yards and five scores.
Vic Viramontes signed with Minnesota last December and enrolled at the school in January. Viramontes has three years of eligibility and Minnesota and was a four-star recruit by ESPN. He was ranked No. 37 in ESPN JC50 and was the No. 1 junior college dual-threat quarterback by 247Sports composite rankings. Viramontes spent last season at Riverside Community College in Riverside, Calif., and led the team to a 10-2 record. He threw for 1,868 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for a state-leading 1,346 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was named 2017 First-Team California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) All-American, CCCAA Offensive Player of the Year and SCFA Central Division Offensive Player of the Year.
Tanner Morgan enrolled at Minnesota in January 2017 and then redshirted last season. He had a standout high school career in Kentucky prior to becoming a Gopher. He played his junior and senior seasons at Ryle High School after playing his first two years at Hazard High School. As a senior, he passed for 2,747 yards and 27 touchdowns as Ryle finished with a 12-1 record and reached the 6-A state quarterfinals. He also rushed for 320 yards and five touchdowns en route to being named a finalist for Kentucky's Mr. Football award. He ended his high school career as one of only a few Kentucky high school quarterbacks to pass for more than 10,000 yards in his career.
Samuel Pickerign redshirted last season, but was named Academic All-Big Ten in his first year with the Gophers in 2017. He graduated from Minnehaha Academy in 2016 and as a senior for the Redhawks, he completed 48-of-82 passes for 980 yards and 14 touchdowns. Pickerign, who also lettered in track and basketball, averaged 36 yards per punt for Minnehaha Academy as well.
Jon Santaga redshirted last season for the Gophers and was a defensive back. He was moved to quarterback, which he played in high school, prior to spring practice this year. Santaga earned All-Fox River Classic Conference honors at quarterback his senior season at Green Bay Notre Dame after throwing for 1,999 yards with 21 touchdowns.
Zack Annexstad is a true freshman who enrolled at Minnesota in January 2018. He was a three-star recruit and was ranked as the No. 45 pro-style quarterback in his class. Annexstad attended IMG Academy in Brandenton, Fla., and completed 63-of-112 passes for 940 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior as his team finished the season undefeated. Annexstad's brother, Brock, is a receiver for the Gophers and his father, Scott, played at Minnesota from 1982-83 and then saw time with Kansas City and Washington in the NFL.
March 20, 2018
Season Tickets // Schedule // Roster
The Gophers will have their third spring practice today and there will be more than a few eyes on the quarterbacks.
Minnesota enters the 2018 season with six quarterbacks on its roster, but none of them have thrown a pass for the Gophers and only one - Seth Green - has seen any game action. In addition, Minnesota does not have an upperclassmen in the quarterback room, as Green, who will be a redshirt sophomore next season is the most tenured of the group.
Green played in one game last season, as he made his collegiate debut in relief action in a 34-3 win against Middle Tennessee. He redshirted in 2016 and was named the Offensive Work Team Player of the Year. Green spent his senior season at Allen High School in Allen, Texas, and helped lead the Eagles to a 14-1 record and a berth in the state championship game. He completed 81 passes for 1,481 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed 99 times for 865 yards and 10 scores. Prior to his family moving to Texas, Green played three years at East Ridge High School in Woodbury, Minn. Green led the Raptors to a 9-2 record as a junior and to the state quarterfinals and completed 142 passes for 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed 107 times for 551 yards and five scores.
Vic Viramontes signed with Minnesota last December and enrolled at the school in January. Viramontes has three years of eligibility and Minnesota and was a four-star recruit by ESPN. He was ranked No. 37 in ESPN JC50 and was the No. 1 junior college dual-threat quarterback by 247Sports composite rankings. Viramontes spent last season at Riverside Community College in Riverside, Calif., and led the team to a 10-2 record. He threw for 1,868 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for a state-leading 1,346 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was named 2017 First-Team California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) All-American, CCCAA Offensive Player of the Year and SCFA Central Division Offensive Player of the Year.
Tanner Morgan enrolled at Minnesota in January 2017 and then redshirted last season. He had a standout high school career in Kentucky prior to becoming a Gopher. He played his junior and senior seasons at Ryle High School after playing his first two years at Hazard High School. As a senior, he passed for 2,747 yards and 27 touchdowns as Ryle finished with a 12-1 record and reached the 6-A state quarterfinals. He also rushed for 320 yards and five touchdowns en route to being named a finalist for Kentucky's Mr. Football award. He ended his high school career as one of only a few Kentucky high school quarterbacks to pass for more than 10,000 yards in his career.
Samuel Pickerign redshirted last season, but was named Academic All-Big Ten in his first year with the Gophers in 2017. He graduated from Minnehaha Academy in 2016 and as a senior for the Redhawks, he completed 48-of-82 passes for 980 yards and 14 touchdowns. Pickerign, who also lettered in track and basketball, averaged 36 yards per punt for Minnehaha Academy as well.
Jon Santaga redshirted last season for the Gophers and was a defensive back. He was moved to quarterback, which he played in high school, prior to spring practice this year. Santaga earned All-Fox River Classic Conference honors at quarterback his senior season at Green Bay Notre Dame after throwing for 1,999 yards with 21 touchdowns.
Zack Annexstad is a true freshman who enrolled at Minnesota in January 2018. He was a three-star recruit and was ranked as the No. 45 pro-style quarterback in his class. Annexstad attended IMG Academy in Brandenton, Fla., and completed 63-of-112 passes for 940 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior as his team finished the season undefeated. Annexstad's brother, Brock, is a receiver for the Gophers and his father, Scott, played at Minnesota from 1982-83 and then saw time with Kansas City and Washington in the NFL.
