David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Plenty of Room on U Football Bandwagon Right Now

Posted on August 25, 2026August 25, 2026 by David Shama

In regard to wins and losses in 2026, the Golden Gophers football team isn’t generating much buzz from the media. A middle of the pack finish in the 18-team Big Ten and middling bowl game is a common prognostication.

Athlon Sports magazine projects an 11^th place finish. Lindy’s Sports publications and Cleveland.com project 10^th in the standings.

Those are authoritative sources and so too is RJ Young from Foxsports.com who detailed all 138 FBS football teams last week and ranked Minnesota, 8-5 last season, at No. 59 in the nation. Mississippi State, who the Gophers play at home in their second game of the year, was 5-8 in 2025 but is ranked No. 52. Wisconsin, who Minnesota meets in the season finale, is No. 49 after finishing 4-8 last season.

Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach, writing for ESPN.com recently, projected the college football playoff and bowl teams. Schlabach forecasts Minnesota playing Arizona State in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas. Bonagura didn’t include the Gophers among teams destined for postseason play.

Most authorities researched by this writer aren’t so pessimistic as Mr. Bonagura and project a bowl game for Minnesota. There are college football media that have the Gophers among the top 50 teams in the nation, and The Athletic’s Chris Vannini ranks Minnesota No. 39.

But it’s a ho-hum outlook across the board from media gurus. Why?

Well, the Gophers play in the Big Ten Conference that arguably is the best in college football. Minnesota figures to be an underdog in its games against Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State and Washington. Toss ups in the 12-game regular season schedule look like Mississippi State, Northwestern, UCLA and Wisconsin. The most certain wins appear to be FCS Eastern Illinois and Akron in nonconference games, and Purdue in the Big Ten. And remember the Gophers play five of their conference games on the road.

Then, too, there is history. Coach P.J. Fleck, entering his 10^th season in Minneapolis, has a track record of winning about half his Big Ten games. The overall records for the last five seasons are: 9-4 twice, 8-5 twice and 6-7 once—or an average of 8 wins per year.

The sports books set Minnesota’s win total for 2026 at 6.5. Fleck said neither he nor his team pay attention to the sports books. …”Our kids are focused on being 1-0 every single day. Finding a way to get better. Today (Monday) was a great practice. This team’s been really fun to coach because whatever you put in front of them, they knock down. …”

When pressed for a Gopher season prediction last week by friends, this writer forecasted 7-6. Give me an asterisk on that. The view here is the Gophers could finish anywhere from 5-7 to 9-4 including a bowl win.

Injuries will be significant in determining the final record. If the Gophers are fortunate enough to have their starters (particularly a half dozen or so of the key players) stay out of the medical tent this team could roll to success. Then, too, key injuries to opponents could give the Gophers an edge against quality teams not foreseen right now.

Here’s something that doesn’t get valued enough and was sourced by ESPN. The Gophers retain about 68% of their overall returning production from the 2025 season, or the 7th-highest percentage in the FBS. Fleck brings back about 71% of his production on offense and 65% on defense.

A valued college football source told Sports Headliners this is Fleck’s most talented team, partially because of returning quarterback Drake Lindsey. He could take a big step in year two as the starter, ranking with the better passers in college football.

Gopher running back Darius Taylor — Darius Taylor photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Darius Taylor, injury plagued in the past, is a big play threat running from scrimmage and catching a pass in space. The running back room looks intriguing with newcomers including Ryan Estrada who Fleck praised yesterday in front of reporters.

New receivers coach Isaac Fruechte is likely to get more production out of that group than in the past to help Lindsey. Targets of watch include Jalen Smith, who was the offensive MVP of the Rate Bowl last December, and Cincinnati transfer Noah Jennings who wears jersey No. 13 like 2019 All-American WR Rashod Bateman. Fleck has compared the two.

The Gophers probably have two future NFL players in left tackle Nathan Roy and left guard Greg Johnson. Veteran center Ashton Beers is a tough player and will be productive, too. Right guard and tackle are concerns but there’s probably more talent and depth than last year.

It will be a surprise if Anthony Smith, who led the Big Ten in sacks last season, isn’t an All-American. Fellow edge defenders Karter Menz, TJ Bush Jr. and Jaxon Howard figure to make things difficult for opposing quarterbacks when they try to pass.

Some combos of those players may at times play in the middle of the line. A big physical presence is needed in the middle to stop runners. Theorin Randle, Riley Sunram and Naquan Crowder are names to watch develop as regulars on the interior. Don’t be surprised if Forest Lake freshman Howie Johnson gets in the rotation.

More star power is at linebacker with Maverick Baranowski. Matt Kingsbury is the likely starter at the other linebacker spot, with Joey Gerlach and Emmanuel Karmo adding depth and talent to the LB roster.

Cornerback John Nestor is among the more highly regarded cornerbacks in the Big Ten. He makes timely plays and his six interceptions last season tied for best in the conference. The Gophers have another star in the secondary in strong safety Kerry Brown who probably contributed more at times last season than crowd favorite Koi Perich.

Aydan West, a hyped transfer from Michigan State, should give the Gophers a pair of exceptional cornerbacks. Mekhai Smith or Zack Harden show promise at the free safety position.

Special teams look pretty much like a blank slate. Other than returnee Tom Weston, a quality punter, the identity of kickoff and punt returnees, and field goals and extra points specialists is in limbo. The upside is new special team coach Daniel Da Prato has a glowing resume from other stops and could be the best of the Fleck era. Fleck said his new coach has “done a tremendous job.”

And then there is this for those who like to finish on a high note. Before the 2019 season sports books had Minnesota at 6.5 or 7 wins for the team that went 11-2 and finished No. 10 in the final Associated Press poll.

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Rookie Class Looks Like a Winner for Minnesota Vikings

Posted on August 23, 2026August 23, 2026 by David Shama

NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 53 players next Sunday, August 30. It looks like the Vikings may announce a roster that includes nine rookies.

Training camp and the preseason indicate the Vikings could have one of their highest value group of first season players in the last 10 years. Typically, NFL teams see 6 to 10 rookies make their final rosters of 53 players, so Minnesota likely ends in the high range in 2025.

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson — Justin Jefferson image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Certainly, this class looks like a sharp contrast to the 2022 group that produced no high impact players and saw most of the rookies experience a brief stay in Minneapolis. The 2020 class is the best in recent years and contributed two starters still with the club, Justin Jefferson and Josh Mettellus. Cam Dantzler, D.J. Wonnum and K.J. Osborn were also solid rookie additions.

The way it looks here, eight drafted rookies make the roster next Sunday, plus one free agent first-year player. That surprise rookie is safety Jacob Thomas from James Madison who started his college career there as a walk-on quarterback.

The drafted rookies who project in making the roster are:

Defensive lineman Caleb Banks, first round.

Linebacker Jake Golday, second round.

Defensive lineman Domonique Orange, offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan and safety Jakobe Thomas; all third round.

Fullback Max Bredeson and cornerback Charles Demmings, fourth round.

Running back Desmond Claiborne, sixth round.

During the season Minnesota will have starters or frequent rotational players among the rookie class. Bredeson is the only fullback on the roster and has been impressive in training camp. The interior defense was an offseason priority and Orange could be a starter at nose tackle in September, while Banks, with a recent history of foot injuries, may be eased in at defensive tackle with his workload likely to increase during the fall.

Other rookies referenced here figure to contribute as rotation players and on special teams. Claiborne, with his elite speed and acceleration, could be among the most fun players to watch, possibly as a “home run” return man and situational runner out of the backfield.

If this group of rookies holds up in value, it warrants props to Rob Brzezinski who as interim general manager led the 2026 draft. He remains with the team as executive vice president of operations and works with GM Nolan Teasley who was hired in late spring.

BTW, in a glass half full view 11 rookies might make the 53-man roster for the regular season. Impressive Georgia alums and free agent signed wide receiver Dillon Bell and punter Brett Thorson are worthy of inclusion but face challenging competition from veterans to be included.

Props for Golden Gophers General Manager

An anonymous Big Ten Conference assistant football coach gave the Gophers and key leader Gerrit Chernoff props in the Athlon Sports College Football Preview. “They evaluate really well,” he said. “…Their GM (Gerrit Chernoff) is awesome. They have a really, really good personnel staff. They know exactly what their wheelhouse is, and they strike really well in it.”

Chernoff was named general manager of the Minnesota football staff in January 2017, the same month Fleck was hired. He was promoted to assistant athletic director/general manager in January 2021. Chernoff oversees all off-field aspects of the Minnesota football program including player personnel, where the Gophers have excelled in retention of their starters despite the lure of the transfer portal.

“I mean, Gerrit is the glue to our entire organization,” Fleck said. “He’s probably the most important person in the entire building, (and even) more important to me. He really is.

“One, he is very selfless. And I think as a head football coach—I was told this a long time ago—it might be your program…but don’t think every single person cares as much as you do about your program. And Gerrit does.

“And I think that’s what makes him incredibly valuable. He’s a tremendous friend, but he’s a very selfless worker, and there’s so much that he’s … (involved with), you can’t even put a job description together for him because he just does so much.

“We’ve known each other now 12 years and that’s a long time to work with somebody. We work cohesively at making a lot of decisions, not only just personnel, just day-to-day situations and decisions. But I don’t want to ever make a decision without running it by him because I think he knows me better than anybody inside the organization.

“Heather (Fleck’s wife) even says at times…like he knows me better than Heather knows me… spending every single waking hour together, especially in football. This program wouldn’t be where it is without Gerrit Chernoff for sure.”

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U WR Jennings Grabs Attention of Big Ten Network

Posted on August 18, 2026August 18, 2026 by David Shama

The Big Ten Network makes preseason stops at the football training camps of all 18 teams and was in Minneapolis on Monday to watch the Golden Gophers. BTN’s show about Minnesota aired last night and the most interesting part was the praise for wide receiver Noah Jennings, a senior transfer from the University of Cincinnati.

“He was impressive,” said BTN’s Gerry DiNardo about the player who reportedly really popped at practice Monday.

Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck acknowledged to BTN he’s been impressed with the 6-foot, 190-pound receiver who started his college career at Charleston Southern. “I hate to even say this because this is July-August, and this is hype, right? But he wears No. 13. His body frame, his structure looks a lot like (Rashod) Bateman. And a lot of times I don’t know if it’s Bateman or him out there. And he makes a ton of plays for us.”

Bateman, who wore No. 13 for the Gophers, was a program record-breaker who in 2021 became the first receiver in school history to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft (27^th pick by the Ravens). The 6-2, 210-pound Georgia native was the 2019 Big Ten’s Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year.

Jennings looks like a developing talent who will start for the Gophers and perhaps show the ability to get open and make the tough catch Bateman did. At Cincinnati he had only three starts and totaled 323 yards in receptions but hinted at the explosiveness he may bring to Minnesota by averaging 14 yards per catch. In two years at Charleston Southern the South Carolina native totaled 885 yards.

Gopher football coach P.J. Fleck — P.J. Fleck

Fleck brought up Batemans’s name when talking about placing better receivers around quarterback Drake Lindsey this season. That will be important for Lindsey who was a first-year starter in 2025 as a redshirt freshman and impressed observers.

Lindsey threw 18 touchdown passes and six interceptions. His completion percentage was .632 and Fleck sees improved accuracy in fall camp.

Another improvement is pocket awareness with Fleck noting his young quarterback left a “clean pocket” at times last season. “May be it felt dirty but it wasn’t,” Fleck told BTN. “There was something that spooked him. …It’s trusting the protection.”

Worth Noting

Baseball historian and media guru Dave Mona has watched a lot of baseball over the years including his time as the Twins beat writer for the Minneapolis Tribune. On Facebook he posted this review of his experience last week in Dyersville, Iowa to watch the Twins and Phillies game:

“James Earl Jones said it so well. The Twins game at Field of Dreams on Thursday was special. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to take part in and/or observe dozens, maybe hundreds, of sports presentations.

“I tend to be stingy with my grades. The crew at Field of Dreams gets an A-Plus. The teams coming out of the field of corn. The presence of 26 Hall of Famers. The chance to run the bases and play catch on the field featured in the movie.

“Seemed like hundreds of helpful staff. Even free parking. ‘People will come,’ Jones said in the movie, and son, Erik, and I are so glad we did.”

Word is the Savannah Bananas’ three sold out games at Target Field earlier this month were a welcome cash infusion to concession sales. Instead of the small crowds who come to see the Twins, about 40,000 patrons each game watched the entertaining antics of Banana Ball, a traveling exhibition that’s been compared to the Harlem Globetrotters.

One source said Twins announced attendance has often been thousands higher than actual patrons in the ballpark. MLB policy is to announce attendance of tickets sold, not clicks through the gates.

The Twins are averaging 21,084 per game, ranking No. 26 among 30 MLB teams, per Espn.com.

The Twins, 61-65, are just 14-26 in interleague games and close out their series against the National League Braves tomorrow afternoon at Target Field. It will be an interesting pitching matchup with Minnesota’s Taj Bradley 9-5 going for his club leading 10^th win versus Braves ace Chris Sale, 12-8.

Media and fan frenzy will ramp up (if that’s possible) on Wednesday and Thursday when the Vikings hold joint practices with the Ravens at TCO Performance Center. Both practices start at noon.

Then the two teams meet on Saturday in an exhibition game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Reserves figure to dominant the field on Saturday but the joint practices will have more regulars participating and that’s intriguing because after the Rams, the Ravens are among the betting favorites for the 2027 Super Bowl.

Blake Cashman, the Vikings linebacker from Eden Prairie and former Golden Gopher, is drawing praise during training camp. Cashman, 30, is an unrestricted free agent after the coming season.

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