The Gophers have had several missing pieces from their secondary this season but should be closer to full strength for Saturday's game at Maryland.
KiAnte Hardin showed what a difference he makes last week, when he returned from a three-game suspension against Iowa, delivering seven tackles and interception.
"KiAnte's a really good player, so yeah, it makes a huge difference just because he's played for one thing," defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel said. "He played last year a lot, and he's extremely talented, so getting him back was a huge deal."
Ray Buford, back from his suspension, was with the first team nickel package. But the Gophers were still missing reserve safety Duke McGhee (concussion). And Antonio Shenault, who'd filled in for Hardin and Buford as a starting cornerback, was out sick for the Iowa game.
McGhee and Shenault are both back practicing this week, as is starting safety Antonio Winfield Jr., who suffered an unspecified injury against Iowa. Throw in the two senior mainstays -- cornerback Jalen Myrick and safety Damarius Travis -- and the Gophers should be back at full strength for Maryland.
"This is the first time since really like the first game that we've really had more of our depth at corner like we hoped to," Sawvel said. "And we get Duke [McGhee] back this week, so it's better having more depth at safety, too."
