The Gophers won't release their official depth chart until closer to the Sept. 1 season opener against Oregon State. But with practice starting Friday, here's what my crystal ball says the two-deep will look like for Game 1, or at least by the Oct. 1 Big Ten opener at Penn State.
OFFENSE
QB Mitch Leidner (Sr.)/Demry Croft (So.) or Conor Rhoda (Jr.)
Note: I expect Seth Green to redshirt this season and battle Croft for the starting job next spring.
RB Shannon Brooks (So.)/Rodney Smith (So.)
WR Drew Wolitarsky (Sr.)/Hunter Register (Rs-Fr.)
WR Rashad Still (So.)/Melvin Holland Jr. (So.)
WR Eric Carter (Jr.)/Adam Mayer (Rs-Fr.) or Matt Morse (Rs-Fr.)
Note: Not much buzz about Isaiah Gentry in summer workouts. Mayer and Morse are both walk-ons who've drawn praise for their consistent improvement.
TE Brandon Lingen (Jr.)/Nate Wozniak (Jr.)
LT Garrison Wright (Jr.)/Chad Fahning (Jr.)
LG Connor Mayes (Jr.)/Quinn Oseland (Rs-Fr.)
C Tyler Moore (So.)/Jared Weyler (So.)
RG Vincent Calhoun (Jr.)/Jared Weyler (So.)
RT Jonah Pirsig (Sr.)/Donnell Greene (So.) or Nick Connelly (Rs-Fr.)
Note: The 6-7, 345-pound Greene transferred from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.
DEFENSE
DE Gaelin Elmore (Jr.)/Julien Kafo (So.)
DE Hank Ekpe (Sr.)/Winston DeLattiboudere (Fr.)
Note: The Gophers have big questions at DE, which is why they plan to compensate with more 3-4 packages, showcasing their array of rush linebackers. See below.
DT Steven Richardson (Jr.)/Andrew Stelter (So.)
DT Scott Ekpe (Sr.)/Merrick Jackson (Jr.) or Gary Moore (So.)
Note: Moore redshirted last year after playing as a true freshmen. Gophers surprisingly deep at DT.
LB Jonathan Celestin (Jr.)/Julian Huff (So.)
LB Cody Poock (Jr.)/Nick Rallis (Sr.) or Jaylen Waters (Rs-Fr.)
LB Jack Lynn (Sr.)/Carter Coughlin (Fr.) or Kamal Martin (Fr.)
Note: The coaching staff regularly mentions Coughlin AND Martin as true freshmen who could play immediately, rushing off the edge as Julian Huff did last year.
CB Jalen Myrick (Sr.)/Ray Buford (Fr.)
CB KiAnte Hardin (So.)/Antonio Shenault (So.)
*CB (Nickel packages) Antoine Winfield Jr. (Fr.) or Kiondre Thomas (Fr.) or Coney Durr (Fr.)
Note: The Gophers are very high on all three of these incoming freshmen DBs.
S Damarius Travis (Sr.)/Eric Amoako (Sr.) or Duke McGhee (Jr.)
Note: Amoako is a graduate transfer from Houston Baptist (previously Oregon).
S Ace Rogers (Sr.)/Adekunle Ayinde (Jr.) or Jacob Huff (So.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Emmit Carpenter (So.)/Ryan Santoso (Jr.)
Note: Santoso will be the primary punter and handle long field goals. That's the plan at least.
KR Jalen Myrick (Sr.)/Shannon Brooks (So.)
P Ryan Santoso (Jr.)/Jacob Herbers (Fr.)
PR KiAnte Hardin (So.)/Rodney Smith (So.)