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Gophers QB Max Brosmer Rewarded for Big Week at East-West Shrine Bowl Practice
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- Gophers QB Max Brosmer Rewarded for Big Week at East-West Shrine Bowl Practice
Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota Athletics
The Minnesota Gophers had an up and down season in 2024 . Last year's rollercoaster ride should have been predictable. On offense alone, the Golden Gophers underwent by far the biggest changes of the PJ Fleck era, thanks solely to QB Max Brosmer and the trust he quickly earned from a head coach who — in his 8 years at Minnesota — has never really trusted any of his previous quarterbacks.
In 2024 , Max Brosmer finished with a top 5 passing season in Minnesota Gophers history. He completed 268 of his 403 passes (66.5%), easily the most accurate season of any Golden Gopher QB ever. That efficiency produced 2,828 yards (3rd most ever), 18 touchdowns (8th most ever) and just 8 interceptions.
Thank you, 16 🚣〽️
Max Brosmer 2024 Season Tape pic.twitter.com/Q76ArcDKLq— RTB GOPHERS (@RTBGophers10) December 28, 2024
Max Brosmer named to 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl All-Practice Team
That earned Brosmer some NFL Draft steam , along with a spot in the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl, which takes place tonight on NFL Network. But even more important than the game itself, many times, is the week of practice that takes place leading up to the annual college football All-Star game.
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There are NFL scouts and NFL Draft experts everywhere, picking apart and digesting every move. Over the week, we've seen some highlights of Max firing darts and there have been multiple reports mentioning his accuracy, football brain and overall consistency. Then, Thursday morning, he was the only quarterback listed on the West Shrine Bowl All-Practice Team, putting a stamp on a great week.
The 2025 Shrine Bowl West All-Practice Team 🔵
💫 @maxtbro , @GopherFootball
💫 @just_tahj , @TexasTechFB
💫 @juicew3lls , @OleMissFB
💫 @therealjconyers , @TexasTechFB
💫 @PierceHollin , @RFootball
💫 @timothyjmckay , @PackFootball
💫 @jordan50OTF , @TerpsFootball
💫 @A_Hassanein91 ,… pic.twitter.com/kXs8qDTwOJ— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) January 30, 2025
All of the things coming out of Texas regarding Brosmer is unsurprising. He will continue to climb draft boards for the next two months, up until the draft. He will impress every team that gives him a chance, not just on the field, but on the whiteboard, in the classroom and outside the facilities, too.
How Brosmer changed Minnesota Gophers football under PJ Fleck forever
As mentioned previously, Max Brosmer is responsible for completely changing the mindset of PJ Fleck offensively last season. How did Max earn that kind of trust from such a run-happy head coach? He proved he could take care of the football and complete passes at such a high rate that moving the football through the air became a no-brainer decision.
| Year |
PassAtt |
Rank(FBS Teams) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
31.7 |
58th (134) |
| 2023 |
24.0 |
123rd (133) |
| 2022 |
21.6 |
126th (131) |
| 2021 |
19.8 |
127th (130) |
In 2021 , the Gophers passed the ball just 19.8 times per game. Only Navy, Army and Air Force averaged less passes per game that season. The next year, they jumped up to 21.6 passes per game, good for 6th least in the nation. Even in 2023, after Fleck finally lost Mo Ibrahim, only 10 teams passed less than the Gophers' 24.0 attempts per game.
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Then… Max Brosmer showed up. In 2024, during Brosmer's only season wearing maroon and gold, the Minnesota Bombin' Gophers threw the ball a whopping 31.7 times per game. That number was good for No. 58 in the country, easily within the top-half of the most pass-happy teams in the country.
Related: Minnesota Gophers Offer Donovan McNabb's Son
This week is just another step for Brosmer, who will have to put whatever doctorate degree he earned a while back on hold. He'll probably have a professional football career to worry about for at least another season or two. I wouldn't be surprised if it is much longer than that, either. Here is more of what those at the East-West Shrine Bowl are saying and learning about the former New Hampshire FCS QB.
Making it look easy! @maxtbro ➡️ @konata_b @GopherFootball | @Pitt_FB | #ShrineBowl pic.twitter.com/eSneXhurHz
— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) January 28, 2025
Watch out for Minnesota QB Max Brosmer in the 2025 NFL Draft
Elite Ball Placement 🎯
( @SSN_Gophers / @GopherFootball )
pic.twitter.com/RhHYEMZ0pF— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) January 28, 2025
Throughout the first practice, @GopherFootball QB Max Brosmer really caught my eye.
Was ripping throws, dropped one into the bucket in the back of the end zone in 7v7 for #Colorado WR LaJohntay Wester, who couldn't hold on.
Heck of a throw. pic.twitter.com/FCGCMFCfja— Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) January 26, 2025
Not on the ground in Dallas for the @ShrineBowl , but sources close to College Football Network told me that Max Brosmer was "tearing it up" today. pic.twitter.com/mq3KAtBwX3
— Oliver Hodgkinson (@ojhodgkinson) January 27, 2025
