Minnesota’s eight-win season in 2025 has set the stage for a bigger question this fall: who matters most when the Gophers are trying to win games for PJ Fleck? In a ranking built around impact rather than raw talent, the answer lands at the most important spot on the field.
Drake Lindsey is No. 1.
That choice is about more than the fact that he’s the quarterback. It’s also about what he can mean to the offense as a returning signal-caller, with the kind of value that can lift the unit around him. His presence sits at the center of Minnesota’s chances because the burden of winning and losing leans more heavily on some positions than others, and quarterback is the one that carries the most weight.
The rest of the list underscores how the Gophers’ most indispensable pieces are spread across the roster. Corner John Nestor comes in at No. 8, followed by linebacker Maverick Baranowski at No. 7, center Ashton Beers at No. 6, safety Kerry Brown at No. 5, offensive lineman Greg Johnson at No. 4, running back Darius Taylor at No. 3 and defensive lineman Anthony Smith at No. 2.
Also in the mix are rush end Karter Menz, defensive back Aidan Gousby, receivers Javon Tracy and Noah Jennings, and defensive tackle Naquan Crowder, all part of the broader conversation about Minnesota’s key contributors this fall.
But at the top, the logic is simple: Lindsey’s value comes from the position he plays and the way he can raise the level of the offense around him.
In Other News...
Minnesota Needs These Transfer Additions To Deliver Right Away
Minnesota spent the offseason leaning hard into the transfer portal, adding 19 newcomers in hopes of retooling quickly and avoiding another slow start. Among that group, five names stand out as the ones most likely to matter right away: Noah Jennings, Bennett Warren, Naquan Crowder, T.J. Bush and Aydan West. Each arrives with a chance to help in a different way, and each comes in at a time when the Gophers need immediate answers more than long-term projects.
The next step is sorting out how much of that promise translates once the competition for starting roles gets serious. Jennings, Warren, Crowder, Bush and West all bring something the staff can work with, but the real test is how fast they can turn prior production and experience into something Minnesota can count on this fall. For a team that leaned so heavily on outside additions, the early returns from those five could tell a lot about how quickly the roster is ready to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Camp Is Turning Up Pressure On A Few Key Position Battles
Minnesotas preseason practices are starting to sort out a few of the roster races that always come with camp, and the defensive side of the ball offered an early reminder that the competition is real. Linebacker Matt Kingsbury and safety Mekhai Smith each came up with interceptions in practice, the kind of plays that can matter when coaches are trying to separate players who are all fighting for the same snaps.
Special teams is becoming just as interesting, with the Gophers evaluating kickers and Michigan transfer Beckham Sunderland drawing attention for a strong showing, while Brady Denaburg is still on the roster under a federal court injunction that granted him extra eligibility. There are also injury concerns around players such as John Nestor and Pierce Walsh, and new special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato is still getting acclimated to Minnesotas culture as the battles around him keep sharpening. [Read more 🡒]