2016 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

Last updated

2016 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Minnesota Golden Gophers logo.svg
Holiday Bowl champion
Conference Big Ten Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record9–4 (5–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Jay Johnson (1st season)
Defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel (1st season)
Captain Mitch Leidner, Brandon Lingen, Jack Lynn, Damarius Travis
Home stadium TCF Bank Stadium
Seasons
  2015
2017  
2016 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 7 Penn State xy$  8 1   11 3  
No. 6 Ohio State x^  8 1   11 2  
No. 10 Michigan  7 2   10 3  
Indiana  4 5   6 7  
Maryland  3 6   6 7  
Michigan State  1 8   3 9  
Rutgers  0 9   2 10  
West Division
No. 9 Wisconsin xy  7 2   11 3  
Iowa  6 3   8 5  
Nebraska  6 3   9 4  
Minnesota  5 4   9 4  
Northwestern  5 4   7 6  
Illinois  2 7   3 9  
Purdue  1 8   3 9  
Championship: Penn State 38, Wisconsin 31
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2016 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Tracy Claeys and played their home games at TCF Bank Stadium. They were a member of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 9–4, 5–4 in conference play to finish in fourth place in the West Division. They were invited to the Holiday Bowl where they defeated Washington State.

Contents

Schedule

Minnesota faced all six West Division opponents: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin. The Gophers also faced East Division opponents Maryland, Penn State, and Rutgers. [1] Minnesota played three non-conference games: Oregon State of the Pac-12 Conference, Indiana State of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and Colorado State of the Mountain West Conference. Minnesota had one bye week during the season between their games against Indiana State and Colorado State.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 18:00 pm Oregon State * BTN W 30–2344,582
September 1011:00 am Indiana State *
  • TCF Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
ESPNews W 58–2841,026
September 2411:00 am Colorado State *
  • TCF Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
ESPNU W 31–2444,854
October 12:30 pmat Penn State BTNL 26–29 OT95,332
October 811:00 am Iowa
  • TCF Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
ESPN2 L 7–1449,145
October 1511:00 amat Maryland ESPNUW 31–1041,465
October 2211:00 am Rutgers Dagger-14-plain.png
  • TCF Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
ESPNUW 34–3246,096
October 2911:00 amat Illinois BTNW 40–1740,090
November 52:30 pm Purdue
  • TCF Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
BTNW 44–3142,832
November 126:30 pmat No. 21 Nebraska BTNL 17–2490,456
November 192:30 pm Northwestern
  • TCF Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
BTNW 29–1238,162
November 262:30 pmat No. 5 Wisconsin BTNL 17–3177,216
December 276:00 pmvs. Washington State * ESPN W 17–1248,704
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Game summaries

Oregon State

1234Total
Beavers779023
Golden Gophers01701330

Indiana State

1234Total
Sycamores7014728
Golden Gophers1424101058

Colorado State

1234Total
Rams7010724
Golden Gophers7107731

At Penn State

1234OTTotal
Golden Gophers310010326
Nittany Lions03173629

Iowa

1234Total
Hawkeyes033814
Golden Gophers00707

At Maryland

1234Total
Golden Gophers01431431
Terrapins0001010

Rutgers

1234Total
Scarlet Knights3713932
Golden Gophers21010334

At Illinois

1234Total
Golden Gophers14071940
Fighting Illini707317

Purdue

1234Total
Boilermakers14140331
Golden Gophers101371444
Purdue at Minnesota PurdueAtMinnesota2016.jpeg
Purdue at Minnesota

At #21 Nebraska

1234Total
Golden Gophers7100017
#21 Cornhuskers377724

Northwestern

1234Total
Wildcats006612
Golden Gophers6631429

At #6 Wisconsin

1234Total
Golden Gophers3140017
#6 Badgers0732131

Washington State–Holiday Bowl

1234Total
Golden Gophers037717
Cougars330612

Personnel

Coaching Staff

NamePositionAlma materJoined Staff
Tracy Claeys Head coach Kansas State (1994)2010
Brian AndersonWide receivers coach Illinois (1994)2010
Jay JohnsonOffensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach Northern Iowa (1993)2015
Bart MillerOffensive line coach New Mexico (2007)2015
Jeff PhelpsDefensive line coach Ball State (1997)2010
Pat PooreRunning backs coach / co-special team coordinator Fort Hays State (1984)2010
Rob ReevesH-backs coach / tight ends coach Saginaw Valley State (1996)2010
Jay Sawvel Defensive coordinator Mount Union (1993)2010
Mike SherelsLinebackers coach Minnesota (2007)2013
Dan O'BrienAssistant Defensive Backs / co-special team coordinator / assistant head coach St. Thomas (1987)2010
Eric KleinStrength and conditioning Carleton College (1993)2010

Roster

2016 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
RB 1 Rodney Smith Redshirt.svg  So
WR 2Isaiah Gentry Redshirt.svg  So
WR 5Melvin Holland Redshirt.svg  So
WR 6 Tyler Johnson Fr
QB 7 Mitch Leidner  (C) Redshirt.svg  Sr
QB 8Mark WilliamsFr
WR 9Eric Carter Redshirt.svg  Jr
QB 11Demry CroftSo
WR 12Hunter Register Redshirt.svg  Fr
QB 15Conor Rhoda Redshirt.svg  Jr
QB 17Seth GreenFr
WR 18Clay GearyFr
WR 19Michael Conway Redshirt.svg  Jr
WR 20Adam Mayer Redshirt.svg  Fr
RB 22Kobe McCraryFr
RB 23Shannon BrooksSo
WR 24Drew HmielewskiFr
WR 25Phillip HowardFr
WR 26Brian Smith Redshirt.svg  Jr
RB 27James Johannesson Redshirt.svg  Fr
RB 28Jonathan Femi-Cole Redshirt.svg  Fr
RB 29Carlton Djam Redshirt.svg  So
FB 40Connor MohsFr
TE 42Ko KieftFr
TE 44Colton Beebe Redshirt.svg  Fr
TE 45Nick Hart Redshirt.svg  Jr
TE 49Bryce Witham Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 53Luke Rasmussen Redshirt.svg  So
OL 55Connor MayesJr
OL 58Quinn Oseland Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 60Matt Leidner Redshirt.svg  Jr
OL 61Bronson Dovich Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 62Jared Weyler Redshirt.svg  So
OL 64Conner OlsonFr
OL 66Ted Stieber Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 70Chad Fahning Redshirt.svg  Jr
OL 71Sam SchlueterFr
OL 73Donnell Greene Redshirt.svg  So
OL 74Nick Connelly Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 75Noah Kuehn Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 76Vincent CalhounJr
OL 77Tyler MooreSo
OL 78Garrison WrightJr
OL 79Jonah Pirsig Redshirt.svg  Sr
TE 80 Nate Wozniak Redshirt.svg  Jr
TE 81Duke Anyanwu Redshirt.svg  Jr
WR 82 Drew Wolitarsky Sr
TE 83Danny PietruszewskiFr
WR 84Will Reger Redshirt.svg  So
TE 85Bryce Witham Redshirt.svg  Fr
TE 86Brandon Lingen (C)Jr
WR 88Rashad StillSo
WR 89Matt Morse Redshirt.svg  Fr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 2Dior Johnson Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 3KiAnte HardinSo
DB 4Adekunle Ayinde Redshirt.svg  Jr
DB 5 Jalen Myrick Sr
DB 6Ace Rogers Redshirt.svg  Sr
DB 7Damarius Travis (C) Redshirt.svg  Sr
DB 8Duke McGhee Redshirt.svg  Jr
DL 9Jerry Gibson Redshirt.svg  So
DB 11 Antoine Winfield Jr. Fr
LB 12Cody Poock Redshirt.svg  Jr
LB 13Jonathan CelestinJr
DB 14Zo Craighton Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 15Everett WilliamsJr
CB 16Coney DurrFr
DB 17Jacob HuffSo
DL 19Gary Moore Redshirt.svg  So
DB 20Julian HuffSo
DB 21Ray Buford Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 22Joey Gorgen Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 24Troy Dipre Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 26Calvin SwensonFr
DB 30Eric Amoako Redshirt.svg  Sr
DB 31Kiondre ThomasFr
DL 33Tamarion JohnsonFr
DB 34Antonio ShenaultSo
LB 35Jaylen Waters Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 36 Blake Cashman So
DB 40Alexander Starks Redshirt.svg  Sr
LB 41Thomas BarberFr
LB 43Bailey SchoenfelderFr
LB 44 Kamal Martin Fr
LB 45 Carter Coughlin Fr
LB 48Blake WeberJr
LB 50 Jack Lynn  (C) Redshirt.svg  Sr
DL 52Yoshoub Timms Redshirt.svg  Sr
LB 56Nick Rallis Redshirt.svg  Sr
LB 59Ray Dixon Redshirt.svg  Jr
DL 87Gaelin ElmoreJr
DL 88Winston DeLattiboudere Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 90Sam Renner Redshirt.svg  Fr
DE 91Julien Kafo Redshirt.svg  So
DL 92Tai'yon DeversFr
DL 93Merrick JacksonJr
DL 95Hendrick EkpeSr
DL 96Steven RichardsonJr
DL 97Scott Ekpe Redshirt.svg  Sr
DE 99Andrew StelterJr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K, P 18 Ryan Santoso Redshirt.svg  Jr
LS 25Payton Jordahl Redshirt.svg  So
K 33Andrew Harte Redshirt.svg  Jr
P 34Logan McElfresh Redshirt.svg  So
K 37John MackFr
K 38Emmit Carpenter Redshirt.svg  So
LS 39Trey Hansen Redshirt.svg  Fr
K 42Justin Juenemann Redshirt.svg  Jr
P 47Jacob Herbers Redshirt.svg  Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Brian Anderson (wide receivers)
  • Jay Johnson (offensive coordinator / quarterbacks)
  • Bart Miller (offensive Line)
  • Dan O'Brien (asst. Defensive Backs / co-special teams coordinator / asst. to the head coach)
  • Jeff Phelps (defensive line)
  • Pat Poore (running backs / co-special teams coordinator)
  • Rob Reeves (H-backs / tight ends)
  • Jay Sawvel (defensive coordinator)
  • Mike Sherels (linebackers)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 17, 2016

Awards and honors

Weekly Awards
PlayerAwardDate AwardedRef.
Emmit CarpenterBig Ten Special Teams Player of the WeekOctober 3, 2016 [2]
Rodney Smith Big Ten Offensive Player of the WeekOctober 24, 2016 [3]
Emmit CarpenterBig Ten Special Teams Player of the WeekNovember 7, 2016 [4]
Blake Cashman Big Ten Defensive Player of the WeekNovember 21, 2016 [5]

Players drafted into the NFL

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
7222 Jalen Myrick CB Jacksonville Jaguars

References

  1. "Future Schedules". Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  2. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference . Big Ten Conference. October 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  3. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference . Big Ten Conference. October 24, 2016. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  4. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference . Big Ten Conference. November 7, 2016. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  5. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference . Big Ten Conference. November 21, 2016. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.