Hank Ekpe ready for senior season, breakout year or not

Looking back to last season, the Gophers' biggest breakout players, in some order, were: KJ Maye, Cody Poock, Shannon Brooks, Rodney Smith, Brandon Lingen, Rashad Still, Tyler Moore, Julian Huff and KiAnte Hardin.

None of them ranked No. 1 on my list of "Five potential breakout stars," heading into the season. At this point of training camp, I thought that would be Hank Ekpe. He was a junior, who'd been limited with a sinus infection as a sophomore. He had a great spring game, and afterward, then-coach Jerry Kill talked about his NFL potential.

Ekpe played all 13 games last season and started 11 times. He made 11 tackles, including 2.5 sacks.

Ho hum.

The Gophers managed just 22 sacks as a team, led by Jack Lynn (4) and Steven Richardson (3.5), who would have had more if he hadn't missed three games with a calf injury.

As for Ekpe, nobody is hyping him now. But he gives the Gophers a senior starter at defensive end, opposite junior Gaelin Elmore. Depth is a concern at end, as the team needs to replace Theiren Cockran and Alex Keith.

But the team should be considerably deeper at defensive tackle with Richardson, Scott Ekpe, Andrew Stelter, Merrick Jackson, Gary Moore and Shoobee Timms.

"I feel that numbers don't always tell the full story," Hank Ekpe said. "A lot of times with our scheme, the defensive line, we're in our gap, and we might not make the play. But at the end of the day, we might have either caused the play to go to a linebacker or a DB. So it's all about just being in the right position. You can't be selfish."

That's not to say Ekpe isn't hungry for more sacks after seeing his totals go from 1.5 to 2.5 the past two years.