One of the advantages of writing a story for a website, as opposed to the actual printed newspaper, is the lack of strict space constraints. While a story for the print product might be limited to 600 words, a writer can stretch out a bit on the internet.
The start of college football's early signing period on Wednesday is a perfect example. With the Gophers signing 18 incoming freshmen, one transfer and three preferred walk-ons for the 2022 class and coach P.J. Fleck speaking for nearly an hour during the Signing Day Social and for 20 minutes in a news conference that followed, there were plenty of story lines available. Here are more of them:
Defensive line is a priority
The Gophers signed a pair of four-star defensive linemen in Anthony Smith of Shippensburg, Pa., and Trey Bixby of Eden Prairie, along with Jacksonville's Hayden Schwartz, a highly productive player whose father Bryan was an NFL linebacker. They'll bolster a group that will suffer heavy offseason losses, with stalwarts such as tackles Micah Dew-Treadway and Nyles Pinckney exhausting their eligibility and ends Boye Mafe and Esezi Otomewo likely headed to the NFL draft.
Don't be surprised if Fleck turns to the transfer portal for help at defensive tackle. The Gophers struck gold with Dew-Treadway and Pinckney, who've been steady performers in their Minnesota careers.
"We've got some young guys at the defensive tackle position within our program that I think are going to have a really good spring and need to have a really good spring,'' Fleck said. "… We're looking at some type of depth in there.''
Fleck also pointed to the Feb. 2 opening of the traditional signing period still being in play.
"We're always looking for playmakers and always looking for help up front,'' he said.