The Gophers moved true freshman Gaelin Elmore from tight end to defensive end this week, and it sounds like the Somerset, Wis., native is on the fast track for playing time.
"He won't redshirt," coach Jerry Kill said Friday. "I think he's learning pretty quick, and that gives us a lot of size. He's growing every day."
The 6-6 Elmore is listed at 258 pounds, but Kill said he has gained at least 8 pounds already.
Elmore played tight end in a run-heavy offense at Somerset High School and led the team with seven receptions last year. On defense, he led the whole state of Wisconsin with 28 tackles for a loss.
He is the first Wisconsin native in several years to turn down a scholarship offer from the Badgers and head to Minnesota. Elmore has the skill set to play tight end, but the Gophers are deeper at that position than at defensive end.
Junior defensive end Theiren Cockran had 7½ sacks and 10 tackles for a loss last year, and senior Michael Amaefula has started 26 consecutive games at defensive end, despite making just one tackle for a loss last year.
Alex Keith (five tackles for a loss), Hank Ekpe (one) and Ben Perry (one) were the top defensive end replacements. Robert Ndondo-Lay, a spring standout, has been working at tackle, so Elmore will spice up the defensive end competition.
"He could have played tight end; I don't think there's any question about that," Kill said. "But Gaelin's up to 266-267 [pounds], somewhere in there. … He's a big man, and he'll get bigger."
