Jared Weyler is part of the glue holding the Gophers offensive line together at midseason.

The 6-4, 305-pound Weyler opened the year on the bench but started at right guard for two games, when Vincent Calhoun was out with turf toe, and started the past two games at left guard. He can play center, too.

"That's really what my goal was for this year — to help the line any way I could," Weyler said. "I played all three interior positions in spring ball and then throughout camp, so really wherever we needed a fill-in. I've been proud to be that swing guy."

Weyler is a third-year sophomore from Dayton, Ohio. He suffered a torn ACL in 2014 and didn't play last season. But he started to emerge as one of the Gophers' top backup options this year during spring practice.

The Gophers are trying to limit Calhoun's reps, as he recuperates from the turf toe injury. So for now, Calhoun and Connor Mayes are rotating at right guard, and Weyler is anchoring the left guard spot.

"He's kind of banged up, but boy he's tough, and he comes to play every day," offensive coordinator Jay Johnson said. "He knows exactly what we're doing, and you can see it. He's been a great blessing for us and really gave us a bunch of stability there that we needed."