Minnesota Football: Will Gophers bounce back in 2021?

The 4-2-5 defense must get nasty

The 2020 defense had to replace seven starters from 2019 and it sure showed. They gave up over 30 points per game, did not cause many turnovers, and the rush defense was a disaster. It was a learning experience and most everyone is back from last year. It remains to be seen if that is a good thing, but overall they must improve as a unit.

Last year the Gophers recorded a putrid 18 tackles for loss, ranking dead last nationally. The pass rush has to be better and it starts up front. Junior Boye Mafe is back on the edge after coming up with four and half of the team’s eight sacks a year ago.

The line will also get a major boost with Clemson transfer Nyles Pinckney. He was a team captain for the title-contending Tigers and brings with him 98 career tackles and 13 tackles for loss.

The linebacking corps will be headlined by middle linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin. He led last year’s team with 54 tackles but did not find himself in opponent’s backfields often. He will also need to step up as a leader for the unit of mostly inexperienced youth.

The secondary is where the Gophers have strength. While the total defense was middle of the pack in the nation last season, the pass defense ranked 36th in giving up 208 yards per game.

The safeties Tyler Nubin and Jordan Howden finished second and third in tackles respectively last season. Joining them at one of the cornerback spots will be Coney Durr. The senior is an All-Big Ten and versatile player who could conceivably play any position in the five-back secondary. He is likely to be one of the team’s leading tacklers this season.