Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner looks healthy in team drills

Gophers linebacker Cody Poock intercepted Mitch Leidner's pass and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown on the very first play of Saturday's full team drill.

But Leidner completed several other strong throws and ran the ball when necessary, proving he's back to full health after undergoing left foot surgery in January.

Demry Croft got the second-team quarterback reps, but he's in competition with junior Conor Rhoda and freshman Seth Green, who enrolled early and went through spring practice. Green practiced with the veterans while the team's other true freshman quarterback, Mark Williams, worked with the newcomers.

The Gophers drew a large crowd along the sideline for the second practice of training camp and the first one open to the public. Coach Tracy Claeys liked his team's effort but wasn't too caught up in the results.

"Anybody can play in a T-shirt and shorts," he said. "It's good tomorrow that we get to put on some pads."

Junior defensive tackle Steven Richardson missed three games with calf injuries last season and had a back issue in spring practice. Now, he's on the second-string defense, with Andrew Stelter and Scott Ekpe both ahead of him.

"I don't have my starting spot, and I like it that way," Richardson said. "It gives us more competition, and it gives me a reason to continue fighting and not be complacent."

Instead of just lifting weights, this group focused on injury prevention, doing extra stretching and things such as abdominal workouts to limit back injuries.

The goal, Richardson said, is "to have a much more durable D-line because we were dropping like flies last year."

New offensive line coach Bart Miller is known for his intensity, and players from other position groups are raving about the work the offensive linemen have done with assistant strength and conditioning coach Kane Thompson.

The current first-team offensive line: Garrison Wright (left tackle), Connor Mayes (left guard), Tyler Moore (center), Vincent Calhoun (right guard) and Jonah Pirsig (right tackle).

"Their offseason was almost crazier than ours [on the defensive line]," Richardson said. "They have the endurance; the D-line has the strength. But they worked on strength this year, and they can definitely compete. They also have a little savage in them right now, which I like to see."

• Tight end Brandon Lingen was limited in practice. Claeys said he was just being cautious with Lingen coming off shoulder surgery.

• Several players switched numbers for this season, including Rodney Smith (1), Shannon Brooks (23), Melvin Holland Jr. (5) and Ray Buford (21), Jerry Gibson (9) and Wilson DeLattiboudere (88).