Minnesota’s search for the next safety to carry the load starts with a simple reality: Koi Perich is gone.
That leaves the Gophers sorting through a group that looks deep enough to survive, and maybe even thrive, under P.J. Fleck and defensive coordinator Danny Collins.
Safety has been a reliable spot in this program for years, with Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Howden, and Tyler Nubin all eventually making it to Sundays. The next wave is already on campus, and the battle is wide open.
The most established name in the mix is Kerry Brown. Even though Perich drew plenty of attention, Brown was actually Minnesota’s top safety last season.
He finished fourth on the team with 56 total tackles, added four tackles for loss, four pass break-ups, and picked off two passes. Collins values players who can move around, so Brown is likely to bounce between free safety, strong safety, and maybe even nickel depending on the week.
Veteran experience also comes from Aidan Gousby, a fifth-year senior who has spent much of his time contributing on special teams. He showed last season that he can handle more than that, starting the final two games at cornerback and holding up well. With the coaching staff apparently comfortable with the cornerback group, Gousby has spent fall camp getting work at strong safety and nickel while battling redshirt junior Garrison Monroe.
Monroe, a Shakopee native, has mostly been a special teams piece through his first three seasons. He also missed nine games last year because of injury, but he was healthy for spring practice and looks like a real candidate to matter in the secondary this fall. Fleck was clearly encouraged by what he saw in April, saying:
“[Garrison Monroe] looks like a completely different player than he looked like in November, and that’s strictly a credit to him, Coach Collins, and his dedication to film study. He’s playing faster and way more confident. He’s making a lot of plays.”
The buzziest name in the room is sophomore Zack Harden. He already made himself part of the conversation when he posted “My Turn!!”
on Twitter the same day the news broke that Perich had entered the transfer portal. So far, he’s backing up the confidence.
The staff liked him enough last fall not to protect his redshirt, and he ended up appearing in 11 games, mostly on special teams.
Harden has also been working all over the secondary in camp, getting reps at free safety, strong safety, and nickel. The talent is obvious, but he still has to prove he can handle the speed and avoid the mistakes that come with limited college experience. Fleck didn’t hide his excitement after an open practice this fall:
“…I’m telling you, Zack Harden [is] one of the more under talked about players on our football team. Relentless, he’s tough.
He’s [an] unbelievable teammate. He’s passionate about football, loves football.
He’s a great student of the game.”
“…He’s relentless in the way he pursues. He is very very violent in the way he tackles.
He can cover. He’s long.
So I’m looking forward to special things from him.”
There are also a pair of transfers in the mix for depth: Lehigh’s Mekhai Smith and Southwest Minnesota State’s Parker Knutson. Neither looks like a likely starter this fall, but both give Minnesota more options at safety or nickel, which matters in a room where versatility is the whole game.
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The Gophers first test comes against Eastern Illinois, and Lindseys role will be one of the central threads to watch as the season begins. Fleck also reflected on his own tenure, with this fall marking his 10th season in charge, a reminder that Minnesota is not only entering another campaign but doing so with a veteran coach and a quarterback carrying a bigger spotlight. [Read more 🡒]