Story by
Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
Gophers football has thinner NFL draft class going into Pro Day
- Story byPioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
- Gophers football has thinner NFL draft class going into Pro Day
The Gophers' football program has been riding one of the strongest NFL draft streaks in the nation. Minnesota is one of only nine teams in the country to have a player selected in the opening two rounds since 2020.
That six-year streak is expected to come to an end in April.
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Minnesota will hold its Pro Day at the Larson Football Performance Center on Wednesday morning. Only one player — Deven Eastern — is projected to be selected at all in the seven-round event scheduled for April 23-25. And the 6-foot-6 and 320-pound defensive tackle from Shakopee likely won't hear his name called until the later rounds, if at all.
Eastern was the only U player this year to participate at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis . NFL.com gave Eastern a draft grade at the "bottom of a roster or practice squad."
Eastern was tied for sixth on the U with 38 total tackles and 2½ sacks in 13 games last season. He had an above-average overall grade of 67.3 and 14 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus last season.
The next tier of U prospects this spring appears to be a trio: linebacker Devon Williams, receiver Le'Meke Brockington and tight end Jameson Geers. They did not receive grades from NFL.com .
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Williams was the U's second-leading tackler (89) and was fourth in tackles for lost yards (8½) in 12 games. He had a 67.7 total grade and 13 pressures, per from PFF.
Brockington, who was on The Athletic's "Freaks List" for his impressive testing numbers, was the Gophers' leading receiver last year with 46 grabs for 484 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games. Before opting out of the Rate Bowl, he had a 71.3 mark from PFF.
Geers had 26 catches for 206 yards and four TDs in all 13 games last year. PFF gave him a 62.7 overall grade, 66.2 in the passing game and 52.0 in run blocking.
The U will have 11 other players set to work out Wednesday: tight end Drew Biber; defensive tackles Jalen Logan-Redding, Rushawn Lawrence and Nate Becker ; defensive backs Jai'Onte' McMillian and Darius Green; linebacker Derik LeCaptain; offensive linemen Dylan Ray, Marcellus Marshall and Aluma Nkele; and kicker Brady Denaburg.
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Last year, the Gophers had one of their deepest overall NFL classes under head coach P.J. Fleck. Offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery extended the U's top-end draft streak when he was taken 48th overall by the Houston Texans , followed by cornerback Justin Walley at 80th to the Indianapolis Colts and linebacker Cody Lindenberg at 222nd to the Las Vegas Raiders .
Minnesota had at least 11 players catch on with NFL teams in 2025, including Nick Kallerup , who won a Super Bowl with Seattle . That group also included Danny Striggow , Jack Henderson, Max Brosmer , Ethan Robinson, Tyler Cooper, Jay Joyner and Daniel Jackson.
Early look
With no draft-eligible quarterback in the mix Wednesday, Gophers to-be redshirt sophomore Drake Lindsey will likely throw to pass catchers during the on-field portion of the workout.
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Brosmer stepped into that role in 2024 and it helped introduce him to the Vikings, who signed him as an undrafted free agent. Lindsey should get a dry run this week before his first draft-eligible year comes in 2027.
Briefly
Wednesday's event also will include seven small-school participants: running back Jordan Nubin (Kent State/Minnesota); wide receivers Dashaun Ames (Minnesota Duluth), Dylan Wheeler (St. John's), Dawson Schaffer (Hamline); linebacker Ryan Sever (St. Thomas); and offensive linemen Jason Laliberte (St. Thomas) and Caydon Christensen (Concordia-St. Paul).
