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Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
Takeaways from Gophers spring football game
- Story byPioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
- Takeaways from Gophers spring football game
The Gophers' offense started slow in every game during the 2025 season, and this spring it was a big emphasis to break out of that funk in 2026.
On the second play of the spring game Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium, quarterback Drake Lindsey uncorked a 74-yard completion to Cincinnati transfer receiver Noah Jennings to get to the 2-yard line. The offense still struggled in the red zone, but on fourth down, running back Grant Washington capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run for the Gold team.
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The Gold team rode that fast start to a 31-7 win over Maroon to capture the newly created Prince Lombardi trophy.
Jennings, who emerged as a reliable target throughout open spring practices, finished the spring game with two catches for 84 yards, and the senior from Columbia, S.C., later added a 21-yard completion on a trick play. He was named co-offensive Most Valuable Player of the game.
"He's a really smooth player," head coach P.J. Fleck said. "He's got great hands. He's confident. When he got here, you start looking at him and he's a really raw athlete. This, again, is a developmental program. Bring him in, develop him and in four months, he has jumped so high."
Fellow transfer wideouts Perry Thompson (Auburn) and Zion Steptoe (Tulsa) each caught touchdown passes in the second half. Those two weren't as consistent as Jennings during spring ball, but Steptoe's day helped earn him co-offensive MVP honors.
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Lindsey was done after the opening two drives, the second ending with a made field goal. He finished 4 for 5 for 89 yards.
Good sign
Redshirt freshman kicker Daniel Jackson drilled a 51-yard field goal in the first half, which was encouraging after Minnesota was 2 for 7 from 40-plus yards last season.
Jackson is locked in a competition with Michigan transfer Beckham Sunderland for the U's starting job next fall. Sunderland didn't attempt a FG on Saturday.
Fleck mentioned the specialists as a particularly vital position to keep improving before fall camp.
More from Menz
Rush end Karter Menz won defensive MVP on Saturday and was credited with a team-high two sacks Saturday, building off the 5½ sacks the Horace, N.D. native had in the final seven games of 2025.
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Menz was one of the last players to sign with the Gophers in January
"It was a lot of thinking," he said about his decision after the Gophers' victory in the Rate Bowl. "Just what is best for me and best for the team. I love it here. I want to stay here."
Linebacker depth
Gophers coaches believe a half-dozen linebackers can play at the Big Ten level come September. With starter Maverick Baranowski held out, a few of them backed up the praise on Saturday.
Sophomore Nate Cleveland had a nice read to shoot the A gap and make a tackle for lost yards. It was one of the first splash plays from the defense in the opening half. He finished with a game-high 10 total tackles and a sack.
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Redshirt junior Matt Kingsbury was later credited with a sack to end a drive and finished with five tackles; sophomore linebacker Emmanuel Karmo jumped an out route for an interception early in the second half.
Interceptions galore
Four interceptions highlighted the second half. Besides Karmo's pick, safety Parker Knutson produced a takeaway that led to a 57-yard return.
The transfer from Southwest Minnesota State and Sartell, Minn., had 13 total interceptions during his 25-game career at the Division II school in Marshall, Minn.
Young defensive backs Jordan Lampkins and Naiim Parrish had the other two INTs.
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True freshman quarterback Brady Palmer of San Diego had three INTs, while Michael Merdinger had one. Merdinger, a transfer from Liberty, is competing with Max Shikenjanski for the QB2 role. Owen Lansu and Shikenjanski each had one TD toss.
Briefly
The Gophers' running game left a lot to be desired: 29 carries for 25 total yards. … The Gophers didn't give much live action to a handful of key veteran players Saturday, including top running back Darius Taylor, defensive end Anthony Smith, cornerback John Nestor and safety Kerry Brown. … Top guard Greg Johnson and a handful of others missed spring practices with injuries. … The 2026 regular season starts against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 3, followed by Mississippi State on Sept. 12 and Akron on Sept. 19. All three nonconference games will be at Huntington Bank Stadium.
