Minnesota Football: 3 Way-too-early 2022 Breakout Candidates

Now that we’re past the midway point of Minnesota football spring practice, it’s officially time to predict which Golden Gophers will break out in 2022?

The Minnesota football program is coming off yet another successful season under fifth-year head coach, P.J. Fleck. Outside of their impressive 9-4 record, it was also the program’s fourth nine-win season since 1904, and just the seventh time in history the team finished with six or more wins against Big Ten opponents (6-3).

They also took home their first Guaranteed Rate Bowl win in school history after knocking off the West Virginia Mountaineers 18-6.

Most importantly, even though the Golden Gophers finished just outside of the AP Top 25 last year, they’ve still managed to improve each season under Fleck’s reign. With all signs pointing to Minnesota continuing to ‘Row the Boat’ into 2022.

In fact, since Fleck first arrived in Minneapolis, the team has put together an impressive winning percentage of .603 (35-23), which is the highest of any Minnesota head coach since Bernie Bierman in the 1940s.

Minnesota football will be without notable starters on both sides of the ball in 2022, including offensive tackle Daniel Faalele, as well as starting edge rushers Boye Mafe, and Esezi Otomewo.

Although, the Gophers still have loads of talent left on the roster, and even more than coach Fleck was able to reel in through the transfer portal.

With so much fluctuation across the board, you can expect there to be some breakout players emerging for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2022. Three of which are beginning to take form already.