Minnesota Football offseason defensive superlatives: Best upgrades, sleepers, and position battles
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Gopher Football is gearing up to start its 2024 season in under two months, following an offseason focused on revamping the roster. The team’s defense, led by Corey Hetherman in his first year, will be a major area of emphasis.
The 2023 season was plagued by injuries and lack of experience in the linebacker and safety positions, significantly impacting the team’s defense. In Joe Rossi’s final season at Minnesota, the defense allowed an average of 26.9 points per game, the highest during his tenure. The Gophers also struggled against the running game, conceding 1,856 rushing yards over 13 games, ranking third-worst in the Big Ten. Another area of concern from the previous season was the number of big plays allowed, as the team gave up 56 plays of over 20 yards and 27 over 30 yards.
While there are several aspects that need improvement in 2024, there are reasons for optimism, notably the experienced defensive line unit.
Here are some standout achievements for Minnesota’s defense as we enter July.
Best Transfer Addition
Cornerback
During his 31-game tenure at Bucknell, Robinson recorded 154 tackles, 25 pass breakups, and five interceptions. His exceptional performance during the 2023 season, where he tallied 50 tackles, including three for a loss, and three interceptions, caught the attention of Power 5 programs. Listed at 6-0 and 175 lbs, Robinson earned the highest defensive grade on the Bucknell team last season according to Pro Football Focus, with an impressive grade of 83.3.
His standout coverage skills were evident with an 86.6 coverage grade, ranking him among the top 10 FCS corners who played at least 50% of their team’s snaps. Additionally, he led the Patriot League in overall defensive grade and coverage grade among corners according to PFF.
Robinson also topped his conference in pass breakups with eight and defensive stops with 27, the latter being defined by PFF as tackles resulting in a “failure” for the offense.
In the upcoming 2024 season, it’s a toss-up between Walley and Robinson for who may perform better. Having two strong outside corners in a blitz-heavy Hetherman defense is certainly advantageous.
Biggest Position Upgrade
Defensive Line
The bar has been raised for the defensive line, and there’s no excuse for Minnesota to end up in the bottom four for sacks and bottom two in the Big Ten in 2024. They have six out of the eight players from the defensive line rotation last season returning, including Jah Joyner, one of the top pass-rushers of the Fleck era.
Joyner, in what’s likely his final season with Minnesota, is considered one of the best pass-rushers in the Big Ten. According to Pro Football Focus data, he ranked fifth in “pass rush win rate” among FBS rushers last season with an exceptionally high 23.1% win rate. This complements his outstanding 90.8 PFF pass-rush grade. However, there is still room for improvement as his performance against the run was below average, leading to a majority of his snaps being in pass-rushing situations. If he can enhance his run defense and reduce missed tackles, Joyner is poised for an All-Big Ten season in 2024.
As for rush end, Striggow is entering his second year as the full-time starter and his third year in significant playing time rotation. While he has proven himself as a well-rounded defensive end, the question for 2024 is whether he can reach another level in his pass-rushing game.
Deven Eastern will return for his second year as a defensive tackle starter, while Jalen Logan-Redding is transitioning inside, opening up more playing time for Anthony Smith. Smith, a redshirt freshman, has shown promise and is expected to share playing time with Joyner this season.
Additionally, the team has other players like LSU transfer Jaxon Howard, agile EDGE player Karter Menz, and experienced veterans Darnell Jefferies, Logan Richter, Lucas Finnessy, and Nate Becker.
Moving a step forward from the defensive line will be critical for Minnesota in 2024
Biggest Position Question Mark
Safety
Star safety Tyler Nubin leaves Minnesota as the program’s all-time leader in interceptions. Now, safeties coach Danny Collins faces the challenge of replacing Nubin’s impact and striving for much more consistent performances from the strong safeties.
During spring, the two starting strong safeties, Darius Green and Aidan Gousby, were limited in their activities due to their recovery from injuries sustained in 2023. Additionally, All-American Koi Perich had yet to join the team on campus. However, the situation will change significantly come August once all three players are back to full health and integrated into the squad. The spring served as a significant opportunity for young players like Coleman Bryson and Kerry Brown to make their mark.
Bryson, the MVP of the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl, patiently waited his turn last season as a free safety, behind the deserving Tyler Nubin. When Green and Gousby were sidelined, Nubin shifted to strong safety, providing Bryson the chance to see substantial playing time in the final four games.
There is a sense of optimism at the Gopher Football complex regarding freshman Kerry Brown, with the belief that he could contribute to Minnesota’s success sooner rather than later. Brown started in the bowl game as a true freshman and appeared comfortable with the speed of the game. If asked to pick a starter today, the slight preference would go to Bryson, but Brown is making a strong case for himself.
Although fans may desire to see local talent Koi Perich starting as a true freshman, it is important to moderate expectations in the short term. Had Perich enrolled in January, the situation might be different, but his arrival in the summer and the recovery from a track injury in late May will present challenges. While the path to securing a full-time position will be more demanding, it’s conceivable that he could earn a role on third downs or special teams.
The strong safety position will be up for grabs in the upcoming fall, but as of now, Gousby appears to have the edge in earning the initial opportunity. He is regarded as the superior coverage safety compared to Green based on their playing time last season, particularly in passing situations. Gousby’s considerable involvement in passing downs from the previous season gives him a notable advantage heading into the summer.
I anticipate that Jai’Onte McMillan, a transfer from TCU and a defensive back, will also be in the mix for playing time at both safety and nickel positions. If he demonstrates proficiency in coverage, he’s likely to secure a more significant role on the team.
Once all players in the defensive back group are fully fit, there should be a compelling competition for safeties coach Danny Collins to manage in August. Consistency, particularly in coverage, will be crucial for determining roles within the team.
Biggest Position Battle
Will linebacker
In 2024, the linebacker group has a clean slate under the guidance of new defensive coordinator and position coach, Corey Hetherman. This change was necessary following a 2023 season marred by injuries, leading to a decline in performance and consistency within the group.
Cody Lindenberg will be the starter, but whether he plays at the Mike or Will position depends on his accompanying teammate. As the leader of the 2024 defensive unit, Lindenberg will rival Joyner as the most talented player. I remain very optimistic about Lindenberg’s future, as he demonstrates clear NFL potential when on the field. I fully anticipate him to be the first Gopher linebacker drafted since Kamal Martin in 2020. He possesses every physical attribute necessary; it’s just a matter of staying free from injuries for Lindenberg.
The competition for the other linebacker position involves Maverick Baranowski, Dev Williams, Tyler Stolsky, and Matt Kingsbury. Williams missed the entire spring due to recovery from a corrective surgery, but he is expected to be part of the competition in the upcoming season.
Due to an injury to Lindenberg and inconsistent play from Ryan Selig, the reps were taken up by underclassmen Maverick Baranowski and Devon Williams last fall. Both were tested under challenging circumstances, resulting in moments of success and areas needing improvement, as expected for less experienced players. Currently, I have the most confidence in Baranowski out of the group, so I rank him first, but the situation is subject to change.
Hetherman must ensure more consistent productivity from these linebackers in the upcoming season.
Facing Most Pressure
New Defensive Coordinator – Corey Hetherman
I understand that the blame for last season’s performance is often directed towards the offense, but it’s important to remember that Minnesota experienced losses despite their offense scoring 26, 30, and 34 points in certain games. This occurred due to the team conceding 27, 37, and 49 points to Illinois, Northwestern, and Purdue, teams not typically recognized for their offensive prowess. Consequently, new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman needs to revamp the defense for the upcoming season.
During Hetherman’s tenure as the defensive play-caller at James Madison from 2019 to 2021, JMU’s defense consistently ranked among the nation’s best, securing top 10 positions in total defense and scoring defense each year. He was recognized as a 2020 AFCA 35 Under 35 honoree, with his defense ranking highly in various statistical categories such as rush defense, interceptions, total defense, pass efficiency defense, and scoring defense.
Hetherman was promoted to associate head coach before the 2021 season and was awarded the AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year.
While Hetherman has a track record of successful defenses at Maine and James Madison, he is now faced with his first challenge against Power Five competition in the Big Ten. With promising NFL prospects at every position, it is crucial for Minnesota to regain defensive consistency in PJ Fleck’s eighth year.
Sleeper Player Who Could Make A Big Impact
Defensive Tackle Deven Eastern
One Gopher player who deserves recognition and appreciation from fans and the media this off-season is the former highly-rated recruit from Shakopee.
Eastern made significant progress in his inaugural year as a starter at the three-technique position. Progress in the trenches, particularly for players adapting to their physical abilities and gaining required strength, is not always straightforward. By his third year last season, Eastern’s hard work began to yield results, despite encountering some injuries towards the end of the season. Achieving an above-average PFF grade (64.4) in his third year in the Big Ten is a promising indicator. It is anticipated that Eastern will have playing time at both defensive tackle positions this season, and a notable improvement from him would greatly benefit the entire defensive line.
The presence of a defensive tackle capable of applying pressure significantly enhances the performance of EDGE players like Jah Joyner and Danny Striggow. When a quarterback is unable to simply step up in the pocket to evade an edge rusher, the overall defense is positively impacted.
I am optimistic about Eastern’s potential for the 2024 season.
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