Gophers coach Jerry Kill said Tuesday that he anticipates offensive tackle Ben Lauer being able to play in Thursday's opener against TCU.
Lauer had a minor surgical procedure on his left knee early in training camp, but the 6-7, 310-pound junior is working his way back to full health.
During the Big Ten teleconference, Kill added a reminder that this will be a different offensive line, though.
"Right now, it's kind of unique," Kill said. "No matter how it lays out, in a lot of true aspects, four of our five, it'll be the first time they've started. We haven't decided on those things. We've got practice today, and we'll see how things go, how people move around, but I anticipate Ben playing."
At his weekly radio show with KFAN (100.3-FM), Kill clarified that to mean four players who haven't been full-time starters. That includes Jon Christenson who was a full-time starter in 2013 but hasn't been since he suffered a compound leg fracture that November. The others would be center Brian Bobek, right guard Connor Mayes and right tackle Jonah Pirsig.
Anyway, here's an educated guess at the starting offensive line: LT Josh Campion, LG Jon Christenson, C Brian Bobek, RG Connor Mayes and RT Jonah Pirsig, witch Lauer subbing off the bench.
