A year ago, the Golden Gophers were blown out 30-7 by the Horned Frogs in Week 3, but went on to lose just three more games- a surprising loss to an Illinois team that finished 6-6, followed by unsurprising losses to Ohio State and Wisconsin. Does Minnesota have the firepower to avenge that loss this season?
First, let’s look at the personnel from 2014 that Minnesota has lost. Leading rusher David Cobb (314 carries, 1626 yards) is now a Tennessee Titan. Leading receiver Maxx Williams (569 yards) is a Baltimore Raven; Isaac Fruechte (292 yards) is still in Minnesota, but as a member of the Vikings. The Gophers will be breaking in new players at center and left tackle as well. On the bright side, quarterback Mitch Leidner returns after what was reportedly a very productive summer at the Manning Passing Academy and a strong fall camp. Senior receiver K.J. Maye and junior Drew Wolitarsky are back as well. Senior running back Rodrick Williams isn’t a returning starter, but he has a fair amount of experience, and there are multiple underclassmen on the roster who could step up in Cobb’s absence.
Across the line of scrimmage, TCU’s defense has just four starters returning from a unit that ranked 18th nationally a year ago. The most experienced group looks to be the front four, which doesn’t bode well for Minnesota’s run game. It’s possible the defensive backfield could be exploited- just two of the five starters (TCU utilizes a 4-2-5 base defense) were starters a year ago, and Athlon lists several freshmen and sophomores on the two-deep.
On offense, however, the Horned Frogs are loaded. Ten of the starters, including nine seniors, are back from a squad that went 12-1 and scored at least 30 points in every game. Senior quarterback Trevone Boykin will almost certainly be in New York for the Heisman ceremony in December. He threw for 3,901 yards and 33 touchdowns a year ago in what was his first year in a new offense. Roughly a third of those yards and touchdowns landed in the hands of now-senior Josh Doctson; 900-yard rusher Aaron Green is also back for his senior season. To say the Gopher defense will have their hands (paws?) full would be an understatement.
On that Minnesota defense, seven starters return from a unit that ranked 39th in total defense a year ago. Senior cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun was a standout in 2014, with five of the Gophers’ 15 interceptions, and is one of four seniors projected to start in the defensive backfield. Head coach Jerry Kill will likely want Boddy-Calhoun to be the one covering Josh Doctson as often as possible, although senior Eric Murray is also very capable. Senior linebacker De’Vondre Campbell leads returning players with 75 tackles a year ago, and is joined by talented junior Jack Lynn, but they’ll miss MLB Damien Wilson (now a Dallas Cowboys)and his 119 tackles. Up front, senior Theiren Cockran is the guy to watch; if TCU has a running back or tight end helping to block, it will probably be on Cockran’s side of the line.
Special teams play could be interesting in this game. TCU has one of the nation’s best kickers in Jaden Oberkrom, with 58 career field goals made and an impressive percentage from beyond the 40. Minnesota has one the country’s best punters in Peter Mortell, who averaged 45.2 yards per punt and was the Big Ten’s best punter a year ago. Keep an eye on the kicking game for Minnesota as well- Ryan Santoso was just 12/18 on field goals in 2014, but he has the strong leg one would expect from a kicker who’s 6’6″ and 245 lbs. If he can improve his consistency, he has the potential to be a real weapon.
Prediction: I think the score will be closer, but the result will be the same as last year’s. TCU 42, Minnesota 27
Main Photo
