Gophers WR Tyler Johnson is making Minnesota history

per Dustin:

Tyler Johnson might have been slightly underappreciated entering the 2018 season. Despite ranking fifth in the B1G in receiving yards a year ago, the Minnesota wideout wasn’t on many radar screens.

That’s completely changed this fall.

With 10 games in the books, Johnson sits atop the B1G in receiving yardage (948) and touchdowns catches (9). He’s done all that on 62 receptions this fall.

Yeah, talk about a matchup nightmare for defenses.

Johnson’s totals this season aren’t just the tops in the B1G, but it’s also one of best years for a receiver in Minnesota history. According to GopherSports.com, it’s the first time in program history a receiver has reached this particular milestone.

That’s pretty impressive, especially with some of the receivers Minnesota has had in its history. You know, names like Eric Decker, K.J. Maye and Drew Wolitarsky. And that’s just recently.

Decker owns the Minnesota record for single-season receptions with 82 and Ron Johnson owns the record for receiving yards and touchdowns, tallying 1,125 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2000.

It’s unlikely that Johnson breaks the reception total this season, but the yardage and touchdown marks are still within reach with two games left. The Gophers have Northwestern and Illinois left on the schedule.

Johnson has eclipsed the 100-yard mark six times this season. Last week against Purdue, he hauled in five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.

https://saturdaytradition.com/minne...wr-tyler-johnson-is-making-minnesota-history/

Go Gophers!!

"The Gophers have Northwestern and Illinois left on the schedule."

Now that is just some good reporting right there!

Tlsbhansen said:

"The Gophers have Northwestern and Illinois left on the schedule."

Now that is just some good reporting right there!

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If only!

Tlsbhansen said:

"The Gophers have Northwestern and Illinois left on the schedule."

Now that is just some good reporting right there!

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A do-over with Illinois! That's perfect, as long as it doesn't mean we've gone back in time and rehired Robb Smith.

"Eric Decker, K.J. Maye and Drew Wolitarsky"

I mean this nicely: not exactly the who's who of all-time greats.

BleedGopher said:

per Dustin:

That’s pretty impressive, especially with some of the receivers Minnesota has had in its history. You know, names like Eric Decker, K.J. Maye and Drew Wolitarsky. And that’s just recently.

https://saturdaytradition.com/minne...wr-tyler-johnson-is-making-minnesota-history/

Go Gophers!!

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Don't think K.J Maye is going to be remembered as one of the greats around here at the WR position. He had one good year where he caught a lot of short passes but he doesn't come close to being on the all-time lists outside of single season receptions in the one year he was a factor. Wolitarsky is boarderline as well but at least he shows up in the top 10 lists for all-time numbers. Should have gone Decker, Ron Johnson, and Thelwell as that is more the class TJ is running with in terms of the WR Mount Rushmore here.

The person who wrote this should be embarrassed....

MNVCGUY said:

Don't think K.J Maye is going to be remembered as one of the greats around here at the WR position. He had one good year where he caught a lot of short passes but he doesn't come close to being on the all-time lists outside of single season receptions in the one year he was a factor. Wolitarsky is boarderline as well but at least he shows up in the top 10 lists for all-time numbers. Should have gone Decker, Ron Johnson, and Thelwell as that is more the class TJ is running with in terms of the WR Mount Rushmore here.

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The fact that Wolitarsky is a top 10 kind of WR explains why we haven’t won much for 50 years

How does Tyler Johnson compare to Larry Fitzgerald in his college playing days statistically?

I liked Decker and Ron Johnson, but I’m hoping Tyler breaks the single season records. Yes he has some games where he drops usually the first pass, but he has made a lot of amazing catches and he is great running routes and in the open field.
https://youtu.be/nrtgm0DQyeQ

Some guy said:

The fact that Wolitarsky is a top 10 kind of WR explains why we haven’t won much for 50 years

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Wolitarsky had a nice season in the CFL this year. Not a bad receiver.

hungan1 said:

How does Tyler Johnson compare to Larry Fitzgerald in his college playing days statistically?

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Would be an interesting comparison, but I don't think TJ is anywhere even close the level of player that Larry is.

UpAndUnder43 said:

"Eric Decker, K.J. Maye and Drew Wolitarsky"

I mean this nicely: not exactly the who's who of all-time greats.

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Decker had 9 seasons in the NFL - almost 6000 yards receiving and 53 touchdowns. He'd be an all-time great at a lot of colleges. The other two, sure.

hungan1 said:

How does Tyler Johnson compare to Larry Fitzgerald in his college playing days statistically?

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https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/larry-fitzgerald-1.html

Not really sure what is gained by comparing their college stats though. Fitz was an elite receiver in high school and college and it carried over to the NFL where he is a lock to end up in the HOF after he retires. TJ has developed into a very good receiver but has a long way to go before he should be compared in any way to one of the best ever at the position.