The Gophers come off of a season that was somewhat of a disappointment. The offense was hit by injuries (specifically running back). Minnesota also lost a couple players to the transfer portal (Mar’Keise Irving and Ky Thomas). The offensive line also lost four of its five starters to graduation. The Gophers enter the season with an offense with a mix of veterans and young players. They have veterans back at key positions in quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and center. The Gophers also brought back Kirk Ciarrocca as their offensive coordinator. He was with Minnesota from 2017-2019, before having a pair of one year stints at Penn State and West Virginia. So, let’s take a more in depth look at what to expect of the Gophers offense come Week 1 of 2022.
Quarterback
The Gophers bring back quarterback Tanner Morgan in his sixth and final year in Minnesota. In 2021, Morgan is coming off of his second-best season, behind his 2019 performance. In 2021 Morgan had a completion percentage of 59.6, threw for 2,044 yards, ten touchdowns and nine interceptions. Morgan’s completion percentage, passing yards, and touchdowns were his second most in four seasons. He did throw a career high nine interceptions.
Morgan is now reunited with former Gopher offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca. He spent two seasons working with Morgan in 2018 and 2019. Morgan hasn’t come close to what he did in 2019 since Ciarrocca left. With him back in 2022 and a core of veteran wide receivers, don’t be shocked if Morgan puts up numbers around what he did in 2019. Although, if Morgan does struggle, don’t be shocked to see either Athan Kaliakmanis or Cole Kramer. Kramer is the veteran backup and has the only college playing experience on the team. Athan Kaliakmanis appears to be the front runner to start in 2023. So, either should be candidates to start in place of Morgan.
Running Back
The Gophers running back position sees the return of Mohamed Ibrahim for his fifth season. Also returning are running backs Trey Potts and Bryce Williams. All three are coming off of injuries. Ibrahim suffered a season ending Achilles injury in the season opener last year against Ohio State. Potts was injured in October against Purdue with an undisclosed injury. Williams had surgery on his left leg after being injured against Northwestern.
Last year Potts had 566 yards rushing (5.0 average) and six touchdowns. Williams had 205 yards (5.4 average) and three touchdowns last season. Both played in a few games but were very productive. Ibrahim in 2020 had 1,132 yards (5.4 average), 15 touchdowns on 201 carries in seven games. All three have been medically cleared and should be ready to go come the start of season barring any setbacks. While the offensive line is in a bit of a rebuild, if Ibrahim, Potts, and Williams are all healthy expect a two head monster coming out the backfield of Ibrahim and Potts. Williams should get some playing but will likely be third on the depth chart.
Wide Receiver
The Gophers boast a veteran receiving core lead by sixth year senior Chris Autman-Bell in his final season. To complement Autman-Bell are wide receivers Dylan Wright, Daniel Jackson, and Michael Brown-Stephens. In 2021 Autman-Bell had 36 catches for 506 yards and six touchdowns. Wright in his first season seeing action had 18 catches for 365 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson in his second year in Minnesota had 25 catches for 267 yards and a touchdown. Also, in his second season with the Gophers, Brown-Stephens had 23 catches for 392 yards and a touchdown.
This veteran core should give a boost to a passing game that has been playing second fiddle to the Gophers rushing attack the past couple seasons. It has been said Wright has the highest ceiling out of the four. He has a big season ahead of him to prove this to be true and claim the number one receiver spot for next season. If Wright and the other two can prove to be big receiving threats, it should not only help them, but Autman-Bell as well. Autman-Bell has been very consistent in his career averaging over 20 catches per season as well as over 370 yards per season. Though he hasn’t been a big scoring threat, with only 12 touchdowns in his four seasons with the Gophers, he should step up this year with no injuries and being the leading man this year.
Offensive Line
The Gophers offensive line took a hit, but not as big as one as you might think. They lost four of their five starters from last season with only senior center John Michael Schmitz returning. Schmitz is also on the watchlist for the Rimington Award. He will anchor an offensive line of new but experience linemen. Offensive linemen on the team looking to become starters this season will include guards Axel Ruschmeyer (senior) and Nathan Boe (senior), and tackles Aireontae Ersery (red-shirt sophomore), and J.J Guedet (red-shirt junior). Guard Axel Ruschmeyer is looking to secure one of the guard spots and has a little playing experience. In 2021 he started in three games and was a part of the Gophers jumbo package. Aireontae Ersery is looking to be one of the starting tackles but only started one game in 2021 and didn’t play a whole lot more.
The Gophers also have transfers in guard Chuck Filiaga (Michigan), guard Karter Shaw (Utah State), and tackle Quinn Carroll (Notre Dame). Chuck Filiaga looks to join Axel Ruschmeyer as the other guard while Quinn Carroll will pair with Aireontae Ersery as the other tackle.
While many would think the Gopher’s offensive line would take a step back, the drop off doesn’t seem to be as severe as one might think. John Michael Schmitz will anchor the offensive line paired with senior guard Axel Rushmeyer who has some decent playing experience. Transfers Chuck Filiaga and Quinn Carroll both have a lot of playing time and experience. The only concern is tackle Aireontae Ersery who has very little experience and will need to step up to help support the rest of the line. Expect some growing pains here as new and old players get used to their new roles, but don’t be surprised if after a few weeks if the offensive line’s chemistry is good.
Overall Outlook
The positions of quarterback and wide receivers look to be in good standing, barring the offensive line, the Gophers should have a great passing game. There are some concerns with the offensive line and the running game. If there are no setbacks for the running backs with their injuries, then they should be just as good as the quarterback and wide receivers positions.
Then comes the offensive line. Rebuilding a very good line is no easy task yet P.J Fleck has seemed to have done that. Bringing in a pair of transfers with playing experience and a couple of Gophers stepping up paired alongside a veteran senior at center, the offensive line doesn’t look to be in too bad of shape, all things considered. All-in-all expect a much-improved Gopher offense from the previous two seasons. While it may be a stretch to say that this team could return to what it was in 2019, it could come close to what that team accomplished.