Projecting the Gophers' offensive depth chart in 2024

Here's a way too early look at what the Minnesota offense might look like next season.

Author:
Nolan O'Hara for Bring Me The Sports
Publish date:
Jan 11, 2024 11:31 AM EST

In this story:

The 2023 college football season came to a close Monday night with Michigan beating Washington 34-13 in the College Football Playoff national championship game in Houston. That means it's time to look towards the 2024 season.

It figures to be an interesting one for the Gophers, who have several interesting new weapons, including New Hampshire transfer quarterback Max Brosmer and Ohio transfer running back Sieh Bangura, as well as several key returners, including star running back Darius Taylor and top receiver Daniel Jackson.

So, here's our way too early projection of the Gophers' offensive depth chart for the 2024 football season:

Quarterback

Max Brosmer
Drake Lindsay
Max Shikenjanski

Brosmer figures to be the starter for Minnesota after leading the FCS in passing yards per game (314.9) last season at New Hampshire while compiling 3,464 yards, 29 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also ran for five scores. Fresno State transfer Logan Fife figured to be the backup, but Fife backed out of his commitment on Jan. 7, leaving Minnesota with just Shikenjanski, a walk-on freshman in 2023, and Lindsay, an incoming freshman from Fayetteville, Ark., as potential backups. It seems likely the Gophers will turn back to the portal to find a backup to Brosmer.

Running back

Darius Taylor
Sieh Bangura
Marcus Major
Jordan Nubin

Taylor will return as the primary back for the Gophers in 2024 after a standout freshman season in 2023 in which he ran for 799 yards and five touchdowns in just six games played after being limited by injuries. He won't be the only capable rusher on Minnesota's roster, however, as the U added transfers Bangura and Major to bolster its backfield. Bangura ran for 811 yards and seven touchdowns for Ohio last season. In three seasons with the Bobcats, Bangura ran for 1,982 yards and 22 touchdowns. Major saw limited action at Oklahoma, rushing for 833 yards and eight touchdowns during his five-year tenure with the Sooners. And the Gophers will also return Nubin, who was impressive when injuries thrust him into the role of lead back in 2023. He was the team's second-leading rusher with 578 yards, and he also ran for three scores. The Gophers also like the two freshmen — Fame Ijeboi and Jaydon Wright — they're bringing in for the 2024 season.

Wide receiver

Daniel Jackson
Le'Meke Brockington
Elijah Spencer
Quentin Redding
Cristian Driver
Jaylen Varner
Kristen Hoskins
Kenric Lanier II

The Gophers will have multiple returners at receiver, including top receiver Jackson, who caught 59 passes for 831 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023. They did graduate their second-leading receiver in Corey Crooms Jr., but will return Brockington and Spencer, who both showed promise in limited action in the Gophers' pass-averse offense. Redding was primarily Minnesota's kick and punt returner this season, but could see some action as a receiver in 2024, potentially in the slot. The Gophers added Driver, the son of longtime Green Bay Packers star receiver Donald Driver, and Varner, who starred at Division II Emporia State in 2023, in the transfer portal to bolster their receiver corps. Hoskins, who did not see action in 2023, and Lanier, who redshirted in 2023 and played in the Quick Lane Bowl, should both be in the mix for Minnesota as well.

Tight end

Nick Kallerup
Jameson Geers
Frank Bierman
Pierce Walsh

Kallerup, who has one year of eligibility remaining, played in all 13 games for the U in 2023, and while he wasn't featured heavily as a pass-catcher — he caught three passes for 12 yards — he's an excellent blocker. He figures to be the team's top tight end. Geers played in 12 games and started two, catching his first career touchdown pass during the Gophers' Quick Lane Bowl victory over Bowling Green on Dec. 26. The U has little experience in the tight end room beyond those two, leaving plenty of room for someone else to work their way into the fold.

Left tackle

Aireontae Ersey
Jackson Hunter
Logan Purcell
Jackson Ruschmeyer

The Gophers are fortunate to lose only one starting offensive lineman from a year ago. Ersey is among those returners, having started all 13 games at left tackle in 2023. The two-year starter was the 11th-ranked tackle out of the 626 evaluated by Pro Football Focus. He allowed just two sacks — both coming against national champion Michigan — and nine pressures all season. He was graded even higher as a run blocker.

Left guard

Tyler Cooper
Greg Johnson
Ashton Beers
Nathan Roy

The Gophers also return Cooper, their starting left guard last season. Cooper didn't allow a sack in the 11 games he played and allowed just four pressures. He was the No. 63-ranked guard in 2023 of the 629 evaluated by Pro Football Focus. Johnson filled in for Cooper during the two games that he missed and played 11 total games in 2023. He also didn't allow a sack all season. He'll likely be the top backup for the Gophers at guard if he doesn't end up taking over for Nathan Boe at center.

Center

Greg Johnson
Brett Carroll
Ashton Beers
Nathan Roy

Boe at center is the only starting offensive lineman from 2023 that the Gophers will not return. Who Minnesota will insert there in 2024 is somewhat of a mystery. Moving Johnson from guard to center would make sense as he's familiar with the offense and showed ability to play on the interior last season as a true freshman. Carroll, an incoming freshman, is the No. 8-ranked center in the 2024 class and could potentially play right away. Beers made his way onto the field on special teams and could see some action on the line in 2024, although starting at center doesn't seem likely. Roy, an interior offensive lineman and incoming freshman who was the top-ranked recruit in Wisconsin's 2024 class, also projects as someone who could play right away. Johnson would appear to be the most likely candidate to start at center next season for the Gophers, but they have plenty of options at the position.

Right guard

Martes Lewis
Greg Johnson
Ashton Beers
Nathan Roy

Martes, a junior in 2023, made his first career start against Nebraska and started all 13 of the U's games overall at right guard. He allowed two sacks and 10 pressures last season and was ranked the No. 484 guard by Pro Football Focus.

Right tackle

Quinn Carroll
Jackson Hunter
Logan Purcell
Jackson Ruschmeyer

Carroll, a two-year starter at right tackle, will enter his last year of eligibility in 2024. Carroll allowed 25 pressures but just one sack in 2023 and was the No. 220 ranked tackle by Pro Football Focus.