Brandon Kirksey has been reinstated to the Gophers' roster as expected, coach Jeff Horton said Sunday, and will play Saturday against Illinois.
     Horton believes he will get one of Kirksey's best games, too, after the junior captain served a one-game suspension for a locker-room blowup following Minnesota's 52-10 loss to Ohio State.
     "They've got a lot of guys from St. Louis, where he's from, so that's a big game to him. I think he'll really rebound and play well," Horton said. "He's a good kid. Just needs to channel all that energy into getting ready this week."