Minnesota is heading toward fall camp with a familiar question hanging over the offense: who’s ready to jump from useful piece to real difference-maker?
That kind of leap is what fans were dreaming about last year with Maverick Baranowski and Drake Lindsey. Now, with PJ Fleck and his staff about a month away from opening camp, there are four players I’m higher on than the general consensus when it comes to impact this fall.
TJ Thomas is one of the names that jumps out first.
Minnesota made one of its last portal additions in January when it brought in the Elon tailback, and Thomas showed right away why he was worth the look. As a true freshman in 2024, he was named an FCS Freshman All-American after putting up 696 total yards and six total touchdowns. Over two seasons at Elon, he piled up 1,952 total yards as a runner, receiver, and return man, and he still has multiple years left to play in Minneapolis.
His arrival wasn’t seamless, though. Thomas was still working back from upper-body surgery after an injury last fall, and once he was cleared late in spring, he started stacking consistent plays. The skill set is obvious: speed, versatility, and a burst this offense needs in its skill group.
That matters because Minnesota’s tailbacks haven’t exactly been elite at making defenders miss. According to Pro Football Focus, the Gophers’ backs broke 72 tackles in 13 games in 2024, which was the fewest missed tackles forced by Minnesota since 2018. The year before, they broke only 61 tackles in 13 games, a figure that ranked among the bottom three in the Big Ten.
Darius Taylor doesn’t have that problem when he’s on the field. The issue has been availability. That’s where Thomas can carve out real value.
He’s not being projected here as a 20-carry-a-game Big Ten back, and that’s not the point. If he can hit the edge in outside zone and turn those runs into chunk plays, that’s useful football. He’s also in the mix with true freshman Ryan Estrada to be Minnesota’s change-of-pace and scat back, though Thomas enters that competition with a clear head start.
There’s a path for him to become RB2 and settle into 8-10 touches per game. And don’t overlook special teams: he’s also a likely candidate to handle kick or punt returns, which lines up with Phil Steele naming him a third-team All-Big Ten preseason selection.
Noah Jennings is another player I keep coming back to.
At this point, I’ve been writing about Jennings since the spring and making the case that he has already earned trust in Dinkytown since arriving on campus. Still, it feels like plenty of people aren’t buying in yet. If you want the full version of why I’m so high on him, I wrote that elsewhere, but the short version is simple: Jennings has put himself in a position to matter.
In Other News...
One Early Medved Practice Trend Should Excite Gophers Fans
Niko Medveds first few practices at Minnesota have already offered a glimpse of the style he wants to build, and the early read is a promising one for Gophers fans. The session observed by the media looked fast, active and heavily involved, with Jaylen Crocker-Johnson and Grayson Grove drawing notice as solid contributors while the staff kept the group moving through a brisk workout.
Kyan Evans, one of the transfers expected to factor in quickly, also stood out for how naturally he fit into the flow of practice. He looked confident working within the system and carried himself like a player who already understands what Medved is asking on both ends, which matters for a roster still taking shape while Malachi Palmer, Winters Grady and Blake Nixon were sidelined by injuries. [Read more 🡒]
Niko Medved Just Raised The Pressure On Minnesota's Next Season
Niko Medved is already talking like a coach who knows the schedule will be a measuring stick, and the upcoming 2026-27 non-conference slate is shaping up that way. Minnesota is expected to play 12 games before Big Ten play begins, with five high-major opponents in the mix, a setup that should tell plenty about where the Gophers stand after a summer of getting on the floor together.
Medved said the team just finished a four-week summer practice run with most of the roster active, and he liked what he saw in terms of depth, size and experience compared with last season. There are still a few bumps in the way, with Blake Nixon working back from a winter injury and Winters Grady and Malachi Palmer dealing with minor ankle issues, but the schedule is nearing completion and an announcement should follow once the last contracts are signed. [Read more 🡒]