The transfer portal officially opens on December 9, but activity for the Gophers has already begun as bowl practices kick off. Starting Monday, several graduate transfers from Minnesota entered the portal, with more expected to follow.
The movement in the transfer portal this cycle is not unexpected—Minnesota needs to comply with the upcoming 105-man roster limits—and P.J. Fleck mentioned that this is simply part of the landscape of college football now.
“When the portal opens, you always anticipate players entering it. You may even know who is likely to enter, as some have already indicated their intentions. It’s just the reality of college football—an ever-evolving situation.”
Fleck also noted that while everything is constantly changing, it’s important to be prepared for those changes.
“We’re actively engaged with the portal to address some gaps in our roster. We’ve just signed a strong class of high school players that we’re excited about bringing into our program, and we’re thrilled about the many players who have committed to staying. Retaining your top players is a significant win these days, and I believe we’re doing a great job in that regard.”
Fleck stated that Minnesota plans to add a significant number of players from the portal this month.
“We’re looking to sign between 10 to 15 transfers. The exact number is still uncertain and will depend on who stays and leads the program as we build our team for 2025.”
Here’s a list of Gopher players who have entered the portal:
Safety Craig McDonald
The former Minnehaha Academy standout is back in the portal for the third time in his career after previously entering in October. He started at Iowa State, then transferred to Auburn for one season, and spent the last two years at Minnesota. McDonald played six games in 2023, mostly on special teams, and registered two tackles this past season. As a graduate transfer, he has two years of eligibility remaining.
Defensive Tackle Luther McCoy
Senior defensive tackle Luther McCoy joined Minnesota as part of the 2021 recruiting class but had limited impact across his four years. He was named an Academic All-Big Ten selection in the last two seasons and recorded just one tackle during his time with the Gophers.
Defensive Lineman Hayden Schwartz
Florida native Hayden Schwartz joined Minnesota in the 2022 recruiting class but faced significant injuries throughout his career. After redshirting in 2022, he missed most of 2023 due to injuries and appeared in only one game this past season.
Running Back Sieh Bangura
Tailback Sieh Bangura transferred to Minnesota from Ohio in the 2024 offseason. During his time at Ohio, he earned a Pro Football Focus grade of over 75 in each season in the MAC, forcing 60 missed tackles and gaining 1,094 yards after contact over two seasons. However, he struggled to find his place in the Big Ten, playing in only a few games this season with just four carries as Darius Taylor and Marcus Major handled the majority of the workload. Bangura has two years of eligibility left.
Running Back Jordan Nubin
I will always remember the “Jordan Nubin game” in 2023, where he rushed 40 times for 204 yards against Michigan State, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. He finished the season with 127 carries for 578 yards after a challenging year for the running back position due to injuries. With more health in 2024, Nubin took on a more limited role as a third-down back and kickoff returner. He has one final season to play elsewhere.
Linebacker Tyler Stolsky
The Portage (Mich.) native joined the Gophers as a walk-on before the 2022 season and made a significant impact as a redshirt freshman on special teams, also starting twice due to injuries. In 2023, he recorded 26 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack, but only played 14 defensive snaps this past fall with Cody Lindenberg, Maverick Baranowski, and Dev Williams healthy ahead of him. Stolsky has two years of eligibility remaining.
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