Minnesota’s 2024 outgoing transfers have taken a wide range of paths, and two weeks into the season, the picture is starting to come into focus. Some are already in starting roles, some are contributing in reserve spots, and others are still waiting for a chance to get on the field - or even to land on a roster.
At the top of the list is Phillip Daniels, who landed at Ohio State and has already carved out a starting job at right tackle. He played 58 of the 65 snaps at the position in his weekend outing, posting a 68.3 PFF grade. Daniels missed seven snaps because of an injury and appears to be out this week.
Martin Owusu is also making his mark as a starter, lining up at defensive tackle for Fresno State. The junior had seven tackles against USC and added six more against Sacramento State.
Alex Elliott has settled in at North Dakota State, where he sits second on the depth chart at strongside linebacker. Through three games, he has been involved in seven tackles, including a five-tackle performance against Fordham.
David Amaliri is starting at defensive end for Lindenwood and has produced through three games with a sack, two tackles for loss and 10 total tackles.
Luther McCoy is at Hawaii and has been in on six tackles through three games.
A few other former Gophers are contributing, even if they are not locked into full-time starting roles. Coleman Bryson is second on the depth chart at free safety for North Carolina and made an impact in the win over TCU with a pass deflection and a couple solo tackles.
Terrence McWilliams is also listed second at his spot, working as a wide receiver for Louisville. He has caught two passes for 16 yards through two games.
Tyler Stolsky moved to West Virginia after an excellent season at FAU and is now a backup middle linebacker as a senior. He has been in on three tackles through two games.
Not everyone has gotten onto the field yet. Jaydon Wright remains on the UL-Monroe roster, but he still has not played in the two seasons he has been in the program.
Kristen Hoskins is on the roster for his final season after appearing in 11 games last year and producing 125 total yards, but he has not played this season. Hayden Schwartz is at Montana as a fifth-year defensive end, though he was hurt just before the season started and has not played yet.
A separate group of former Gophers is no longer showing up on rosters. Tyler Williams did not play for South Florida last year as a senior and is not currently listed on the USF roster.
Jeremiah Finlay’s social media does not show a destination since leaving Minnesota, and it does not look like he has been on a roster anywhere since departing Minneapolis. Nathan Jones was at Abilene Christian last year for his redshirt junior season and played a lot of special teams, but he is not on the roster for his fifth season.
Zander Rockow had eight carries at UST last year before ending up off the roster by the end of the season. Jordan Nubin wrapped up his career at Kent State last year, playing his fifth and final season and rushing for 253 yards on 79 carries.
In Other News...
Gophers Suddenly Have A Bigger Problem Than One Bad Loss
P.J. Fleck did not spend much time sugarcoating Minnesotas 38-13 loss to Mississippi State, and for good reason. The Gophers were flagged too often, missed too many tackles and never found enough rhythm on offense, even as Fleck said he liked the game plan overall. The bigger concern may be that the problems were spread across the operation, from the offensive line to the defensive line rotations, leaving Minnesota with a lot more to clean up than just one ugly result.
Anthony Smith is part of that broader conversation, too, after moving around positionally and still making only a limited statistical impact through two games. Flecks comments suggested the staff is still searching for the right combinations and the right answers, which is not what any team wants to be doing in early September. The loss itself stung, but the unfinished business around personnel and execution may be the more telling issue for a Gophers team trying to steady itself quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Minnesota Just Reached A Crucial Moment In The Malik Olajuwon Race
Minnesota has already added one piece to its 2027 class with Isaiah Santos' verbal commitment, and the Gophers are still pressing for more perimeter help as they chase four-star shooting guard Malik Olajuwon out of Texas. Olajuwon turned heads over the summer, climbing in the recruiting rankings and picking up MVP honors at a tournament, the kind of run that tends to sharpen interest from high-major programs looking for scoring and shot-making on the wing.
Now comes the part that matters for Minnesota. Olajuwon is set to transfer to IMG Academy for his senior year, and he has adjusted his official visit schedule, a sign that the recruitment is moving into a more serious phase. For a Gophers staff trying to build momentum in the class, the timing is important, and the next move in this one could tell a lot about where Minnesota really stands. [Read more 🡒]
Minnesota Has A Big Chance To Build Momentum Before Big Ten Play
Minnesota gets a useful early-season checkpoint Saturday morning when the Golden Gophers host Akron at 11:00 a.m. CST on the Big Ten Network. It is the first meeting between the programs, and for a Gophers team trying to settle in before Big Ten play arrives, the matchup offers a chance to keep stacking good work at home while sorting out what looks sustainable and what still needs polishing.
Junior quarterback Drake Lindsey remains a focal point as Minnesota tries to keep the offense moving, while linebacker Maverick Baranowski continues to give the defense an experienced presence in the middle of it all. Games like this are less about the name on the opponents helmet than what the Gophers can learn about themselves, and Saturday gives them one more chance to build confidence before the schedule gets heavier. [Read more 🡒]