Plsek: Catching passes is fine, but I like to hit

Lincoln Plsek may be a tight end now, but he still thinks like a defensive lineman. He's caught a pass in each of his first two collegiate games, which he's happy to do, he said -- when he's not too busy playing real football.
"I like catching the ball, but knocking people down is pretty cool," the 18-year-old Gopher freshman said. "I like hitting linebackers, hitting defensive ends. Getting physical, (playing) hard, aggressive football, that's what I enjoy most."
That's the outlook that made Plsek an all-Texas defensive end at Waco's Reicher High, and the sort of mentality that Jerry Kill wants on his offensive line. Moving Plsek (it's prounounced PLEE-sheck) to offense was an easy call, coach Jerry Kill said, and activating him before the Northwestern game made perfect sense, too.
"He's a young man who has added some weight, who has gotten stronger as we've gone along," Kill said of the 265-pound Plsek. "He can handle the physical part right now, and he's only going to get stronger."
Plsek said he suspected his redshirt season might be sacrificed two weeks ago when he began getting more snaps with the starters. And by the end of that week, special teams coach Jay Sawvel told him he would be a blocker on the kickoff-return unit against Northwestern, "so that kind of gave it away," he said with a laugh.
He's fine with playing as a freshman. In fact, he's having a blast playing offense, he said.
"Other schools were looking at me as a defensive end, but I though it would be nice to make the change," Plsek said. "I had experienced (offense) during a 7-on-7 league over the summer in high school, and it was fun. It adds some excitement to the game, because I can still hit people like I like to do."