Under P.J. Fleck, Minnesota has built a reputation for finding diamonds in the transfer portal.
In recent years, the Gophers have turned incoming transfers into high-impact players-guys like Chris Williamson, Benjamin St.-Juste, and Jack Gibbens didn’t just fill holes, they elevated the program. But this past offseason, Fleck and his staff cast a wide net, bringing in nearly two dozen transfers in hopes of reloading the roster.
The results? Let’s just say the hit rate didn’t quite match the ambition.
Quarterback: A Swing and a Miss
The Gophers went into the offseason needing a steady veteran presence under center-someone to push redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey and provide a safety net. Instead, they got a revolving door.
Zach Pyron arrived from Georgia Tech but didn’t last long. After a spring camp that didn’t inspire confidence, he transferred out to South Alabama before ever taking a real snap in maroon and gold.
That left Emmett Morehead, a late addition from Old Dominion, as the fallback. But Morehead never saw the field, and by season’s end, it was walk-on Mike Shikenjanski holding the clipboard as the No.
- Morehead is now out of eligibility, and Minnesota still finds itself searching for long-term answers at quarterback.
Running Back: Injuries Derail Promising Depth
This room had potential. A.J.
Turner, coming off a solid stint at Marshall, opened the year as the No. 2 behind Darius Taylor and looked like a capable change-of-pace back. But a season-ending leg injury in Week 3 against Cal cut his year short after just 64 rushing yards and one touchdown.
That opened the door for Cam Davis, a Washington transfer, to take on a bigger role. But Davis never quite found his rhythm, finishing with just 109 yards and two scores on 34 carries.
Turner still has a year of eligibility left, and if healthy, he could be a factor in 2026. Davis, however, didn’t do enough to secure a long-term role.
Wide Receiver: One Bright Spot, One Potential, One Disappointment
This was one of the few positional groups that saw real upside from the portal. Javon Tracy, from Miami (Ohio), was inconsistent but productive.
He finished second on the team with 35 catches for 439 yards and led the squad with six touchdowns. While not a game-breaker, Tracy was a reliable red zone target and showed flashes of being a go-to guy.
Logan Loya, the UCLA transfer, never really got going. Just 10 catches for 61 yards on the year, and he’s now out of eligibility.
Meanwhile, Nebraska transfer Malachi Coleman had a slow start but came on late. He only logged five catches for 83 yards, but his snap count increased over the final six games, and the coaching staff clearly sees him as a vertical threat worth developing.
Both Tracy and Coleman are eligible to return, and their continued growth could be a key storyline heading into next season.
Tight End: Solid, If Unspectacular
Drew Biber, a Purdue transfer, didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he played a meaningful role in Minnesota’s four-man tight end rotation. He appeared in all 12 games and posted 18 receptions for 136 yards. In a system that often leans on multiple tight end sets, Biber’s reliability was valuable-even if his eligibility clock has now run out.
Offensive Line: The Biggest Miss
If there’s one group where the portal strategy fell flat, it’s the offensive line-particularly the right side. Marcellus Marshall (UCF) and Dylan Ray (Kentucky) were penciled in as starters at right guard and right tackle, respectively.
But instead of shoring up the trenches, they became a weak link. Marshall was eventually benched for Tony Nelson in the final game of the regular season, and Ray never quite stabilized the edge.
Kahlee Tafai (Washington) and Jaden Ball (Purdue) barely saw the field. Tafai and Ball are eligible to return, but if Minnesota wants to reestablish its identity in the trenches, it’ll need more than just returning bodies-it needs production.
Defensive Line: Depth That Didn’t Deliver
Minnesota needed help on the defensive front, and the portal didn’t provide it. Mo Omonode (Purdue) was sidelined all year with a lingering injury and never saw the field. Steven Curtis (Illinois State) also didn’t crack the rotation.
Rushawn Lawrence (Stony Brook) was the lone contributor among the group. He played in all 12 games and recorded 20 tackles and one sack. Serviceable, but not the kind of impact that moves the needle in the Big Ten.
Curtis could return next year, and Omonode might pursue a medical redshirt, but neither is a guaranteed fix.
Linebacker: Another Miss
Jeff Roberson came in from Oklahoma State with hopes of carving out a role in the linebacker room. Instead, he spent the season as a reserve, appearing in seven games and tallying just four tackles. He’s out of eligibility, and his time in Minneapolis will go down as a quiet footnote.
Secondary: A Lone Star
There was one true standout from this transfer class, and his name is John Nestor. The Iowa transfer stepped in and became a difference-maker in the secondary.
He started 10 games, missed two due to injury, and still managed to lead the team in pass breakups (6) and interceptions (5). Add in 47 total tackles and six tackles for loss, and you’ve got a player who made a real impact.
Nestor can return next year, and if he does, he’ll anchor a secondary that sorely needs consistency. Jaylen Bowden (NC Central) didn’t see meaningful action but is also eligible to return.
Special Teams: A Mixed Bag
Brady Denaburg, brought in from Syracuse, was supposed to stabilize the kicking game. Instead, he struggled mightily, finishing with a 66.7% field goal percentage-the worst among qualified Big Ten kickers. He went just 2-for-7 from 40+ yards and is now out of eligibility.
Punter Tom Weston (Ouachita Baptist) was more steady. His 42.8-yard average ranked 11th in the Big Ten, and 20 of his 50 punts landed inside the 20-yard line-good for second in the conference. Not elite, but serviceable.
Brody Richter (UCLA) didn’t factor into the kicking or punting game this season.
The Verdict
Minnesota rolled the dice with a massive transfer haul, but the gamble didn’t pay off. Outside of a few bright spots-Tracy at receiver, Nestor in the secondary, and Weston on special teams-most of the additions either underperformed, got injured, or never saw the field.
The transfer portal remains a powerful tool, but this cycle was a reminder that quantity doesn’t always equal quality. For Fleck and his staff, the challenge moving forward is clear: be more selective, more strategic, and more successful in identifying players who can make an immediate impact. Because if the Gophers want to climb back into Big Ten contention, they’ll need more hits-and far fewer misses-next time around.