Here’s a look at the Gopher Football preseason honors for the defense and special team players.<\/span><\/p>\n Nubin was named All-Big Ten Second Team in 2022 and enters the 2023 season as one of the top safeties in the country and a future NFL draft pick<\/a>.\u00a0 The fifth-year senior is an experienced player<\/a> with a reputation as a smart, physical safety with excellent ball skills. Nubin was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List<\/a>, given to the National Defensive Player of the Year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Walley started at cornerback for 13 games last season, his first full season as a starter. Last season as a sophomore, Walley had 39 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. New defensive backs coach Nick Monroe<\/strong> will be tasked with helping Walley develop into a top-tier Big Ten cornerback.<\/p>\n Logan-Redding started 12 games for the Gophers last season at the strong-side defensive end position. He recorded 18 tackles, including ten solo tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack, and improved in the second half of the season. Logan-Redding will play a lot of snaps this season but needs to convert more quarterback pressures into quarterback sacks to be considered for postseason All-Big Ten honors.<\/p>\n Last season, Redding contributed to the Gophers as a dynamic kick and punt return specialist. He returned 13 punts with an average of six yards per return and 20 kickoffs, averaging 25.4 yards per return. His season highlights included a 92-yard kickoff return against Illinois and a 72-yard return against Syracuse.<\/p>\n There is a good chance that even die-hard Gopher fans aren\u2019t familiar with Weeks, who is the Gophers\u2019 long snapper. Weeks has already played in 46 games, making him one of the most tenured (and underappreciated) Gopher football players. Weeks has been named to the Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List<\/a>, which is awarded to the top long snapper in the FBS.<\/p>\n The Gopher kick-off specialist is among the nation’s leaders in touchbacks, with a success rate of 83.1% and an average kick-off distance of 64.6 yards. Highlights from last season include the New Mexico State game when Kesich kicked off seven times and achieved seven touchbacks. Kesich is a different maker for the Gophers and has received recognition for his accomplishments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTyler Nubin<\/a><\/h3>\n
Preseason Honors:<\/span><\/h4>\n
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Justin Walley<\/a><\/h3>\n
Preseason Honors:<\/h4>\n
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Jalen Logan-Redding<\/a><\/h3>\n
Preseason Honors:<\/h4>\n
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Quentin Redding<\/a><\/h3>\n
Preseason Honors:<\/h4>\n
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Brady Weeks<\/a><\/h3>\n
Preseason Honors:<\/h4>\n
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Dragan Kesich<\/a><\/h3>\n
Preseason Honors:<\/span><\/h4>\n
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