Fox 9: Fleck: Position battles aplenty for Gophers spring practice

BleedGopher

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per Fox 9:

With the Gophers winning three of their last four games to finish 2018, it’s almost easy to forget they started 0-4 in Big Ten play. Fleck reiterated Thursday he’ll have yet another young football team in 2019, with 89 of the roughly 115 players on roster being underclassmen.

The difference this year? Several of them are returning after getting playing time as freshman. Fleck had eight freshmen starters on offense by the end of the year, and it was a top-five offense in Minnesota history.

“They failed so much and eventually they learned how to be winners. They learned how to win, what it took to win and they grew up,” Fleck said.

Fleck raved about the team’s offseason strength and conditioning program, which he says has improved every year since he and his staff tracked it statistically, starting in 2013. It sounds much like the NFL Combine, with a 40-yard dash and lifting.

The Gophers should have a mix of youth and experience back for 2019. He expects both senior running backs Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith to be at full health by the fall, but they will be limited with what they can do in spring practice. Without the duo last season, freshman Mohamed Ibrahim led the Gophers in rushing with more than 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns.

On the defensive side, cornerback Antoine Winfield Jr. is back to full health and will practice this spring.

He had a late interception that sealed a win over Fresno State, and the defense was never fully the same after he suffered a foot injury in the Big Ten opener at Maryland, a 42-13 loss.

“He is having a tremendous offseason, I can’t wait to get him back on the field. I know he’s biting at the bit, champing at the bit if you will,” Fleck said.

http://www.fox9.com/sports/fleck-position-battles-aplenty-for-gophers-spring-practice

Go Gophers!!
 




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