Gophers rallying around assistant coach Mike Sherels

Gophers linebackers coach Mike Sherels has been through multiple surgeries this month and remains hospitalized because of an undisclosed medical condition.

The team and family are keeping details private, while the players press forward, determined to honor their beloved assistant coach.

"I'm just hoping for the best, obviously, for him and his family to get through everything he's been through," senior linebacker Nick Rallis said Saturday.

Rallis and fellow senior Jack Lynn have known the 31-year-old Sherels since he held an entry level position on the coaching staff. They saw him work his way into a graduate assistant position before taking over as linebackers coach in 2014.

As a player, Sherels came to the Gophers as a walk-on from Rochester John Marshall and became a two-time captain before graduating in 2007.

"He's a brother to me," Lynn said. "Growing up with two sisters, I never had that older brother. That's what he is to me."

Sherels has received an outpouring of support on social media with the hashtag #SherelsStrong. The players and coaches have been upbeat and focused at practice all week; Sherels wouldn't want it any other way.

"We get stronger as a team when situations happen like this," Lynn said. "It's a tough situation, but it's brought us closer."

One week into camp, Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner is very pleased with his surgically repaired left foot. He had extensive ligament damage repaired in December, but said he doesn't even think about it when he's playing — at least not since the first practice.

"I knew that after that one day that it was going to start getting better each day," he said. "And then the second day, I came out here it felt unbelievable, and I've felt great since.

"I've been really happy with where my foot's been this camp. I didn't even make it this far into camp last year without it just killing me already. To be able to throw on the run with no pain, and to be able to just flat-out run in general has been really great so far. I've just got to keep hoping it holds up here."

• Tight end Brandon Lingen will have his surgically repaired shoulder checked by a doctor this week, coach Tracy Claeys said. Lingen has yet to face contact in practice.