Celebrating 25 Years!
From Prep to Pro, EST 2001










 Draft Scout College Football Player News: Minnesota
Previous 15 Notes |Back to Page One| Next 15 Notes

  10/28/26 - Luke Drzewiecki, rSr/2027, Minnesota, 6-0, 185 (DS#20 K) + More +

  10/26 WEEK 8 BIG TEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Luke Drzewiecki, Minnesota, K - 5th Year - Shelby Township, Mich. - Utica Eisenhower,...Went 2-for-2 on field goals, making his first from 31 yards and then a walk-off 46-yarder in Minnesota's 13-10 win against Iowa to reclaim the Floyd of Rosedale at home for the first time since 2014...His 41-yard field goal as time expired secured the win for Minnesota, marking the first walk-off field goal of his collegiate career and the first for a Gopher since the 2023 season opener against Nebraska...Has made 27 straight field goals dating to last season and has made all 12 of his attempts this year...Last Minnesota Special Teams Player of the Week honoree: Luke Drzewiecki (Sept. 28, 2026). - Big Ten Football

(DS#20 K) rSr/2027 K Luke Drzewiecki, Minnesota
News Source: Big Ten Football
Share/Comment: Here


  09/28 WEEK 4 BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Maverick Baranowski, Minnesota, 5th-Yr. - LB - Ponce Inlet, Fla. - Spruce Creek,...Tied for the team lead with seven tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss in a 27-24 win at Washington...Added 1.0 sacks and his first career interception...Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week: John Nestor (Dec. 1, 2025). - Big Ten Football

(DS#15 ILB) rSr/2027 ILB Maverick Baranowski, Minnesota
News Source: Big Ten Football
Share/Comment: Here

  09/29/26 - Luke Drzewiecki, rSr/2027, Minnesota, 6-0, 185 (DS#20 K) + More +

  09/28 WEEK 4 BIG TEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Luke Drzewiecki, Minnesota, 5th-Yr. - K - Shelby Township, Mich. - Utica Eisenhower,...Was 2-of-2 on field goals, converting from 31 and a career-long 51 yards...His 51-yarder proved to be the game-winner against the Huskies...Scored nine points for the Gophers...Last Minnesota Special Teams Player of the Week: Javon Tracy (Sept. 7, 2026). - Big Ten Football

(DS#20 K) rSr/2027 K Luke Drzewiecki, Minnesota
News Source: Big Ten Football
Share/Comment: Here

  09/08/26 - Javon Tracy, rSr/2027, Minnesota, 6-0, 205 (DS#60 WR) + More +

  09/07 WEEK 1 BIG TEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Javon Tracy, Minnesota, WR - 5th-Yr. - Indianapolis, Ind. - Decatur Central,...Became the first Gopher ever and fourth player in Big Ten history to score two punt return touchdowns in a game...First to accomplish the feat in his first career game returning punts...Set a school record with 167 yards on four returns against Eastern Illinois...Brought back his first return 87 yards, the second-longest in program history, for a touchdown and added a 69-yard return score in the third quarter...Last Minnesota Special Teams Player of the Week: Dragan Kesich (Nov. 4, 2024). - Big Ten Football

(DS#60 WR) rSr/2027 WR Javon Tracy, Minnesota
News Source: Big Ten Football
Share/Comment: Here

  09/03/26 - Javon Tracy, rSr/2027, Minnesota, 6-0, 205 (DS#60 WR) + More +

  Javon Tracy set the program record with two punts for touchdowns and Darius Taylor rushed for three first-half scores as Minnesota opened with a 59-7 romp past FCS opponent Eastern Illinois on Thursday. Drake Lindsey completed 19 of 24 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown to tight end Pierce Walsh, who posted his first career score with 6 seconds left before halftime to give the Gophers a 35-7 lead.

Backup quarterback Max Shikenjanski and deep reserve Xavier Ford each had rushing touchdowns in the second half and Daniel Jackson made his first college field goal on a night full of highlights for the home team, as head coach P.J. Fleck's 10th season started with ease. Tracy, who also had five receptions for 98 yards in the first half, fielded four of the nine punts by Cade Cox and totaled 167 return yards in assuming the role held last season by safety Koi Perich, who transferred to Oregon. Tracy had an 87-yard touchdown in the first quarter and a 69-yard score in the third quarter. Tyren Buggs caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cole LaCrue in the second quarter for the Panthers (1-1), who beat Murray State 28-14 in their opener last week. - AP College Football


(DS#60 WR) rSr/2027 WR Javon Tracy, Minnesota
News Source: AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

  09/03/26 - Javon Tracy, rSr/2027, Minnesota, 6-0, 205 (DS#60 WR) + More +

  Javon Tracy set Minnesota's single-game record with two punt return touchdowns in the season opener against Eastern Illinois, an 87-yard runback for a score in the first quarter and a 69-yarder in the third quarter on Thursday night. Tracy had the first punt return touchdown for the Gophers in eight years when he fielded a 55-yard kick near the right sideline late in the first quarter and sprinted along a wall of blockers untouched into the end zone. The fifth-year wide receiver, an Indianapolis native who's in his second season at Minnesota after transferring from Miami (Ohio), then caught a 48-yard kick early in the third quarter near the right sideline. He made two stutter-step moves to evade would-be tacklers before veering left and racing untouched down the field to give the Gophers a 42-7 lead. Starting strong safety Kerry Brown delivered a key block at the 36-yard line to clear the path.

Tracy also caught five passes for 98 yards, all in the first half. He had a 55-yard reception in the second quarter to the 1-yard line, running a corner route for a leaping catch at the 37 before breaking four tackles. The play was called a touchdown on the field, before a replay review ruled that Tracy's knee touched the turf before the goal line as he tried to duck-walk across the plane while the last defender dragged him down. The last Minnesota player with a punt return touchdown was Demetrius Douglas on Nov. 24, 2018, at Wisconsin. The last Big Ten player with two punt returns for scores in the same game was Penn State's Daequan Hardy on Oct. 14, 2023, against Massachusetts. The Big Ten record book has three others who've logged two punt return touchdowns in a game: Kevonte Martin-Manley for Iowa against Western Michigan on Sept. 21, 2013; Garcia Lane for Ohio State against Purdue on Oct. 8, 1983; and Earl Girard for Wisconsin against Iowa on Nov. 8, 1947. - AP College Football


(DS#60 WR) rSr/2027 WR Javon Tracy, Minnesota
News Source: AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

  12/26/25 - Jalen Smith, rSo/2029, Minnesota, 6-1, 195 (DS#33 WR) + More +

  Minnesota thrives in an era of bowl opt-outs, even when a national championship is out of reach. These Golden Gophers dig the postseason. Jalen Smith scored his second touchdown on a diving 12-yard catch in the first overtime and Minnesota extended its postseason winning streak to nine games with a 20-17 win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl on Friday. Minnesota’s bowl winning streak - seven straight under coach P.J. Fleck - matches Southern California and Utah for second-longest all-time, behind Florida State’s 11 in a row from 1985-95. A year after Kansas State beat Rutgers 44-41 in the Rate Bowl, the 2025 version turned defensive in the desert - until a flurry early in the fourth quarter. Minnesota (8-5) went up 14-6 when Darius Taylor scored on a 5-yard touchdown run, but Damon Bankston returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. New Mexico's 2-point conversion on a trick play tied the game at 14-all. The teams returned to trading punts, sending the game to overtime at Chase Field, home of baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks.

New Mexico (9-4) failed to get a first down on the opening possession and Luke Drzewiecki kicked a 36-yard field goal. The Gophers and their fans then got to celebrate Smith's spectacular touchdown twice - once live, the other after an official review confirmed the catch. New Mexico had its chances and took a couple more that failed. It didn't work out, but the Lobos took quite a step forward in coach Jason Eck's first season. A team picked to finish 11th in the 12-team Mountain West Conference, New Mexico went undefeated at home for the first time since 1962, beat a Power Four team (UCLA) for the first time since 2007 and played in a bowl game outside of Albuquerque for the first time since 2004. The Lobos earned a spot in their first bowl game since the 2016 New Mexico Bowl behind a vastly improved defense. Fourth-worst in the FBS a year ago, New Mexico climbed to No. 49 this season, allowing about 222 yards less in total defense. The Lobos shut down Minnesota for most of the first half, recovering a botched snap on a midfield fourth-and-1 attempt and holding the Gophers to 112 first-half yards. - Minnesota/AP College Football


(DS#33 WR) rSo/2029 WR Jalen Smith, Minnesota
News Source: Minnesota/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

  11/29/25 - Drake Lindsey, rSo/2029, Minnesota, 6-5, 230 (DS#6 QB) + More +

  P.J. Fleck celebrated his 45th birthday by crowd-surfing through the Minnesota locker room as players tossed him the air, finishing his ninth regular season with the program in jubilant fashion. The second-longest tenured coach in the Big Ten, Fleck has helped infuse the Gophers with some welcomed stability, a model of consistency that now includes partying with Paul Bunyan's Axe. Drake Lindsey threw a touchdown pass to Jameson Geers for the only second-half score in snow-globe conditions, and John Nestor had two interceptions and a fumble recovery for Minnesota in a 17-7 victory over Wisconsin on Saturday to keep possession of the axe and overtake the all-time series lead at 64-63-8. Darius Taylor had a 49-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter to get the Gophers going, and their defense rebounded from a rough month to limit the Badgers to one score for the second straight year in the 135th edition of the most-played rivalry in major college football history. Minnesota (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) has won five of the last eight matchups with Wisconsin (4-8, 2-7) after a 14-game losing streak that was the longest for either side. The Badgers, who missed a second straight bowl season after making 22 in a row, finished with their most losses since a 1-10 record in 1990.

With snow whitening the field and wind whipping through the air all afternoon, Lindsey completed 18 of 24 passes in a safe diet of screen plays and out routes for 90 yards. The redshirt freshman nailed his most important throw on third-and-7 from the 13 in the third quarter, floating a perfectly placed ball over the line so his trusty senior tight end could secure a jumping catch in traffic as he tumbled to the turf for a 10-point lead that might as well have been double that on this wintry day for a Badgers offense that entered the game with the second-fewest yards and points in the FBS. Carter Smith threw a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass to Jackson Acker with 21 seconds left in the first half, after Hunter Simmons set up the score with a 67-yard completion to Vinny Anthony. The Badgers despite the conditions broke their streak of six straight games under 100 passing yards. But for the ninth time this season, they were held under 300 total yards. - Minnesota/AP College Football


(DS#6 QB) rSo/2029 QB Drake Lindsey, Minnesota
News Source: Minnesota/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

  11/29/25 - John Nestor, Sr/2027, Minnesota, 6-0, 205 (DS#23 FS) + More +

  Though they failed to capitalize on Nestor's first two takeaways, the Gophers matched the plus-three turnover margin goal they set for themselves in practice during the week. The transfer cornerback from Iowa delivered interceptions on consecutive third quarter drives, just as the Badgers were starting to find success in the passing game that eluded them all season. Nestor darted in front of Trech Kekahuna for the pick and raced 68 yards before getting tackled by Simmons. Minnesota's season leader with five interceptions in 10 games, Nestor had two of his team-high-tying nine tackles in the game for loss. "He fits so well here," Fleck said. "He's the ultimate competitor." - AP College Football

(DS#23 FS) Sr/2027 FS John Nestor, Minnesota
News Source: AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

  11/24/25 - Luke Drzewiecki, rSr/2027, Minnesota, 6-0, 185 (DS#20 K) + More +

  WEEK 13 MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: LUKE DRZEWIECKI, NEW MEXICO, Senior, Kicker, Shelby Township, Michigan/Utica Eisenhower HS,...Scored eight points in New Mexico's 20-3 win at Air Force, helping the Lobos to their first win in Colorado Springs since 2000...Hit a 27-yard field goal in the second quarter to make it a 17-0 game...Converted a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for the final margin...Moved into second in New Mexico history in career field goals made (47). - Mountain West Football

(DS#20 K) rSr/2027 K Luke Drzewiecki, Minnesota
News Source: Mountain West Football
Share/Comment: Here

  11/19/25 - Luke Drzewiecki, rSr/2027, Minnesota, 6-0, 185 (DS#20 K) + More +

  WEEK 12 MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: LUKE DRZEWIECKI, NEW MEXICO, Senior, Kicker, Shelby Township, Michigan/Utica Eisenhower HS,...Scored eight points in New Mexico's 20-17 win over Colorado State, converting a pair of field goals and a pair of point-after attempts...His 45-yard field goal at the end of the first half sent the Lobos into the locker room up 10-0...Hit a 35-yard field goal with 8:46 to go to in the fourth quarter for what would be the winning margin...With his first field goal, became New Mexico's career kick scoring leader. - Mountain West Football

(DS#20 K) rSr/2027 K Luke Drzewiecki, Minnesota
News Source: Mountain West Football
Share/Comment: Here

  11/19/25 - Luke Drzewiecki, rSr/2027, Minnesota, 6-0, 185 (DS#20 K) + More +

  WEEK 10 MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: LUKE DRZEWIECKI, NEW MEXICO, Senior, Kicker, Shelby Township, Michigan/Utica Eisenhower HS,...Scored a career-high-tying 10 points as New Mexico beat UNLV 40-35 to become bowl eligible...Was 4-for-4 on extra points and 2-for-2 on field goals...Converted a season-long 46-yard field goal on the final play of the first half and added a 40-yarder on the Lobos' first drive of the second half...Became New Mexico's career extra points leader with his second of the day and finished the game two points shy of becoming UNM's career kick scoring leader. - Mountain West Football

(DS#20 K) rSr/2027 K Luke Drzewiecki, Minnesota
News Source: Mountain West Football
Share/Comment: Here

  11/01/25 - Drake Lindsey, rSo/2029, Minnesota, 6-5, 230 (DS#6 QB) + More +

  Drake Lindsey scored on a 3-yard run on third down in overtime after he had the tying rushing touchdown with 29 seconds left in regulation, and Minnesota kept Michigan State winless in Big Ten play with a 23-20 victory on Saturday. The Spartans (3-6, 0-6) took possession first in OT but had to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Martin Connington, who missed kicks from 46 and 23 yards in regulation, for a 20-17 lead. A pass interference penalty on Michigan State's Malcolm Bell on third-and-4 kept the drive alive for the Gophers (6-3, 4-2), and Lindsey capped the comeback when he faked a handoff and rolled left on a bootleg that put him one-on-one with Spartans linebacker Darius Snow. Lindsey stiff-armed Snow to get the corner and beelined for the front corner of the end zone. "It was really cool to see Drake kind of just put the ball in his hands and put the game on his shoulders," tight end Jameson Geers said. "He's a playmaker, and he went out and won the game for us." The Spartans, who had a season-high 467 total yards on offense, trailed 10-0 at halftime and took their first lead at 17-10 with 1:52 remaining.

Elijah Tau-Tolliver gained 85 yards on a first-down run, and Brandon Tullis ran it in from a yard out two plays later. But after Connington's kickoff went out of bounds, the Gophers got to start at the 35 with two timeouts. A facemask penalty on Michigan State's Jordan Hall got them going with a 15-yard boost, and a pass interference call on Malik Spencer on a second-and-1 incompletion from the 8 gave Minnesota first-and-goal from the 2 with 30 seconds left. Lindsey completed 26 of 39 passes for 197 yards. - Minnesota/AP College Football


(DS#6 QB) rSo/2029 QB Drake Lindsey, Minnesota
News Source: Minnesota/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

  11/01/25 - Drake Lindsey, rSo/2029, Minnesota, 6-5, 230 (DS#6 QB) + More +

  Drake Lindsey scored on a 3-yard run in overtime and Minnesota denied Michigan State its first Big Ten Conference win of the season with a 23-20 victory on Saturday. Michigan State (3-6, 0-6) had the ball first in OT but had to settle for Martin Connington's 36-yard field goal for a 20-17 lead. A pass interference call on third-and-4 kept the drive alive for Minnesota (6-3, 4-2) and Lindsey capped the rally when he scored on a third-and-goal rush to the left. It was a wild finish after the Golden Gophers took a 10-0 lead into halftime.

Fame Ijeboi gained 49 yards on a first-down rush up the middle and then capped a five-play, 63-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to give Minnesota (6-3, 4-2) a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter. The Golden Gophers sacked Alessio Milivojevic three times in the period, but the redshirt freshman completed seven of his first nine passes for 71 yards in his first start. Michigan State junior Aidan Chiles had made 20 consecutive starts, but coach Jonathan Smith turned to Milivojevic after a rough start in conference play. Brady Denaburg kicked a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter but missed one from 33 with 17 seconds left as Minnesota built a 10-point lead at halftime. Milivojevic found Rodney Bullard Jr. along the right sidelines for a 71-yard touchdown three plays into the third quarter to get the Spartans within 10-7. Michigan State took its first lead of the game at 17-10 with 1:52 remaining. Elijah Tau-Tolliver gained 85 yards on a first-down run and Brandon Tullis ran it in from a yard out two plays later. Lindsey used nine plays to move the Gophers 65 yards, scoring on a 2-yard run with 29 seconds remaining to send it to OT. Lindsey completed 26 of 39 passes for 197 yards, while Ijeboi totaled 108 yards on 17 rushes. - Minnesota/AP College Football


(DS#6 QB) rSo/2029 QB Drake Lindsey, Minnesota
News Source: Minnesota/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

  10/17/25 - Darius Taylor, Sr/2027, Minnesota, 5-11, 215 (DS#5 RB) + More +

  Darius Taylor ran for 148 yards and a touchdown, Drake Lindsey completed 16 of 20 passes for 153 yards and a score and Minnesota sacked quarterback Dylan Raiola nine times in a 24-6 victory over No. 25 Nebraska on Friday night. The Gophers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) have won six straight against the Cornhuskers (5-2, 2-2), who fell short in their bid to win back-to-back road games in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2006. Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck improved to 7-1 against Nebraska, which hasn't won in Minneapolis since 2015. Raiola completed 17 of 25 passes for 177 yards for the Huskers, who spent part of a short week addressing rumors of coach Matt Rhule's candidacy for the vacant Penn State job.

Anthony Smith and Karter Menz each had 2 1/2 sacks for Minnesota. Aided by the program's most sacks since Fleck became head coach in 2017, the Gophers held Nebraska to a season-low 36 yards rushing. Lindsey found Le'Meke Brockington in the front corner of the end zone on a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-6 with 2:36 left in the third quarter. A fourth-down defensive holding call kept the 98-yard, 14-play drive intact. A pass-interference penalty negated a Nebraska interception on Minnesota's next possession, capped by Taylor's 1-yard touchdown run. Minnesota led 7-6 at halftime thanks to a 1-yard, tush-push score by Lindsey 1:40 into the second quarter. Taylor's 71-yard run down the right sideline set up the touchdown and eclipsed the running back's 44 yards in the previous two games, his first since missing two contests with an injury. - Minnesota/AP College Football


(DS#5 RB) Sr/2027 RB Darius Taylor, Minnesota
News Source: Minnesota/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

Previous 15 Notes |Back to Page One| Next 15 Notes





Warning: Undefined array key "TeamID" in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\2020rightcolteam.php on line 56

Warning: Undefined array key "DSTeamID" in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\2020rightcolteam.php on line 57

 Minnesota Football Videos

 Buy Draft Scout Weekly


** Draft Scout Data **

(Everything Online PLUS)

 Support Draft Scout

The Database Engine for NFLDraftScout.com, Draft Scout is being repurposed...Support the Future Development of ScoutNation.com...

 




 Draft Scout Archives


** 2010-2022 Draft Scout Archives **

(Yearly Player Data Exports, Prospect Lists & More)

 

 Draft Scout Future

100% Dedicated and Never Done
80% Innovated
45% Hidden
35% Built

Synergization