Four Gophers to Watch vs. WIU
It’s likely to be another lopsided game for Minnesota, against Western Illinois, but here are four Gophers to keep an eye on (at least in the first half, which may be all they play):
QB Tanner Morgan
The Gophers leaned heavily on the run (297 yards, five touchdowns) against New Mexico State. Morgan completed 13 of 19 pass attempts for 174 yards. Not bad numbers, and on the one hand, why not stick with the run if it’s working? But against inferior competition, you’d also like to see a team focused on being more balanced be more… well, balanced.
Presumably, Morgan will have plenty of time in the pocket. This is another good warm-up game for the team’s inexperienced offensive line. Expect to see Cole Kramer and/or Athan Kaliakmanis under center at some point.
WR Chris Autman-Bell
Crab, as he’s known to his teammates, caught just three balls for 38 yards against NMSU. A very respectable yards-per-catch average, but a disappointing number of targets. It would be nice to see him get more action against Western Illinois. Ideally, he and Mike Brown-Stephens would each be targeted frequently in the first half, and then nailed to the bench in the second. They need to stay healthy, and the young receivers could use the reps.
DB Terell Smith
Smith, who’s flown under the radar during his time at Minnesota, earned multiple mentions in the media as someone who stood out in fall camp. It looked as though this might be the season that the fifth-year senior went beyond showing flashes of talent and started to show some consistency. Smith came away with a stat line of mostly zeroes against NMSU, but when you’re a defensive back and the team you’re facing only throws the ball 12 times, that’s to be expected. And in fact, he did intercept one of those 12 pass attempts and defense another one.
If sophomore standout Justin Walley continues to play opposite Smith at corner, the senior from Georgia could have the big season Gopher fans are hoping for. After a stellar freshman campaign, teams should be hesitant to direct plays toward Walley’s side of the field.
TEs Brevyn Spann-Ford
Spann-Ford, along with fellow tight ends Nick Kallerup and Jameson Geers, combined for five catches and 57 yards against the Aggies. We’re interested to see if that was the start of a trend. It’s been years since Minnesota threw to a tight end on a regular basis, and if they’re looking to open up the passing game, it couldn’t hurt. Autman-Bell and Brown-Stephens will likely attract most of the attention from defenses, so why not take advantage? At 6’7″, Spann-Ford has a reach advantage over most defenders, and at 250 pounds, he’s a load to tackle. Why he hasn’t been a bigger part of the passing game historically is anyone’s guess.
Those are the four Gophers to watch vs. WIU, per LWOS. The teams face off Saturday at noon on BTN. Enjoy!
