Since PJ Fleck took over as the head coach of the Golden Gophers, Minnesota has won seven bowl games without losing one. In fact, they have only missed going to a bowl game twice — Fleck’s first season and the 2020 COVID-shortened season. Despite that, his teams have only finished a season in the Top 25 once, and that was in 2019.
The past two seasons have seen the Gophers finish 8-5 overall and 5-4 in conference play. This season, Fleck has Minnesota’s record at 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten. They have beaten Washington, Michigan and Iowa, but lost to both Purdue and Indiana on the road.
The biggest difference to Minnesota’s coaching staff for this season was probably the firing of co-offensive coordinator Matt Simon after last season. When UCLA played the Gophers two years ago, Simon shared co-offensive coordinator duties with Greg Harbaugh, Jr. Harbaugh was promoted to offensive coordinator for the 2025 season.
After firing Simon, Fleck did hire two former Gophers as offensive assistants. He added Mohamed Ibrahim to be the team’s running backs coach and Isaac Fruechte to be the wide receivers coach.
When the Bruins hosted Minnesota in 2024, Corey Hetherman was the Minnesota defensive coordinator. Hetherman left Fleck’s staff after that season for the same position at the University of Miami. Fleck filled the opening by promoting Danny Collins from safeties coach. It looks like Collins uses the same 4-2-5 defensive scheme Hetherman used, though Collins did start a 4-3 defense against Iowa two weeks ago. I won’t be surprised if he does the same thing this week.
Let’s look at Minnesota’s special teams personnel.
Special Teams
Fifth-year kicker Luke Drzewiecki will handle field goal duties for Minnesota. While sophomore Daniel Jackson did handle those duties against Eastern Illinois, Drzewiecki has handle the kicking against all other teams. Drzewiecki has been perfect. He is 15-for-15 on field goal attempts, and his longest was a 60-yarder. He is 14-for-14 on extra points.
Senior Beckham Sunderland will handle kickoff duties for the Gophers. Sunderland has put 36 of 44 kickoffs into the end zone for a touchback. He is averaging 64.29 yards per kickoff.
Australian punter Tom Weston is Minnnesota’s punter. He has punted 41 times for an average of 42.76 yards per punt. Weston had had 15 punt fair caught while 18 have landed inside the 20. Eight of his punts have gone for more than 50 yards and his longest punt went for 60 yards.
Speaking of punts, fifth-year receiver Javon Tracy is the Gophers’ primary punt returner. He’s returned 21 punts for an average of 16.48 yards per return. He’s a very dangerous returner, having returned two punts for touchdowns, and his longest was an 87-yard return. Braiden Stevens and Mason Carrier have each returned one punt this season.
Freshman receiver Quayd Hendryx is Minnesota’s main kickoff returner. He has returned 11 kickoffs for an average of 23.27 yards per return. His longest was a 42-yard return. Ryan Estrada has returned one kickoff for 11 yards.
Go Bruins!!!
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