3 Takeaways from Minnesota Football's blowout loss to Penn State

3 Takeaways from Minnesota Football’s blowout loss to Penn State

Oct 22, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Mohamed Ibrahim (24) is congratulated by quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (8) after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 10, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell (7) catches a pass Western Illinois Leathernecks defensive back JJ Ross (1) defends in the first quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports /

This offense misses Chris Autman-Bell

When you have a freshman quarterback getting his first start in an intense road game, the receiving core needs to come through and help carry the load. But that was exactly what didn’t happen last night against Penn State.

Brevyn Spann-Ford had a great game catching 5 balls for 68 yards and a touchdown. Spann-Ford has stepped up the most after the loss of Chris Autman-Bell, and he will have to continue being a safety blanket for the Gophers quarterback going forward.

Michael Brown Stephens and Daniel Jackson have shown flashes, but neither of them has been able to come close to filling the void that Chris Autman-Bell left.

This issue raises deeper questions concerning Fleck’s ability to identify and recruit talent for the wide receiver position. Is it possible that Tyler Johnson, Rashod Bateman, and Chris Autman-Bell were shadowing over a shallow wide receiver room? I’m not ready to give up on the current wide receivers or Fleck’s ability to find future talent, but it is something to monitor.

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