John Shevlin - All photographs courtesy of University Athletics

If the Gophers are to improve on last year’s disappointing seventh place finish in the Big Ten, the team’s contingent of 16 returning starters will have to compensate for the loss of 10 starters, including all-American running back Laurence Maroney and three-time all-American Greg Eslinger at center.

Offense: Up in the Air. For the first time in years, the Gophers enter the season with uncertainty in the running game. Last season Minnesota had the top rushing offense

Steve Davis

in the Big Ten and third best in the nation behind Maroney, Gary Russell, and Amir Pinnix. Maroney departed for the NFL, and Russell is unlikely to return due to academic problems. That leaves the ball in the hands of Pinnix, a strong and speedy back who ran for 6 yards per carry last season and is eager to prove what he can do as a starter. Others who will figure in the ground game are junior fullback Justin Valentine, junior college transfer Brylee Callender, and freshmen Judd Smith and Jay Thomas.

Replacing Eslinger is impossible—he was the recipient of numerous honors last season, including the Rimington Award as the nation’s best center—but Mason and his staff are confident they have found an able successor in junior Tony Brinkhaus. Brinkhaus was an honorable mention

Trumaine Banks

all–Big Ten at right tackle last season and emerged as the clear choice to succeed Eslinger during the spring season.

Look for the Gophers’ air attack to be a prominent feature of the 2006 offense. Bryan Cupito, who threw for a career-high four touchdowns during last year’s Music City Bowl, is poised to have a banner year. His top three receivers—Logan Payne, Ernie Wheelwright, and all–Big Ten tight end Matt Spaeth—all return. Additionally, Cupito came out of spring practice high on the potential of freshmen wide receivers Eric Decker and Mike Chambers.

Defense: Help Wanted. Last season, Minnesota gave up 413 yards and 29 points per game. Even worse, the Gophers yielded a whopping 42.6 points per game in their five losses. Vitalizing the defense

Logan Payne

will involve equal parts mental and physical transformation.

Key to a defensive resurgence will be sophomore defensive end Steve Davis, who was one of six Big Ten first-year standouts named to The Sporting News Freshman All-America Team last year. Returning at linebacker is John Shevlin, who was in the conference’s top 25 in tackles with 74. Given the talented crop of returning quarterbacks in the Big Ten this season, fielding a strong pass defense will be essential. Unfortunately, budding star Brandon Owens, a safety, called it a career in the spring following surgery for a major shoulder injury he suffered last season against Penn State. The Gophers will look to senior Trumaine Banks, who was moved to safety after starting at cornerback for three years. Likewise, Eric Clark will switch from

Ernie Wheelwright - Photograph courtesy of University Athletics

defensive end to tackle in an effort to improve depth at that position.

Others to watch are defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg, who could become a dominant player, and tackle Todd Meisel, a former walk-on who impressed Mason during spring practice.

The Skinny on the Schedule. The Gophers have earned a reputation for playing a soft nonconference schedule. This year, sandwiched in between the season opener at Kent State and the home opener versus Temple, they travel to Berkeley for a game against the California Golden Bears. The Bears will be a legitimate test for Minnesota: They return 18 starters from last year’s 8–4 team that defeated Brigham Young University 35–28 in the Las Vegas Bowl. Rounding out the nonconference schedule is an October 21 home game against North Dakota State, which is ranked

Tony Brinkhaus

No. 12 nationally in the NCAA Division I-AA preseason poll.

The Gophers get no help from the Big Ten schedule. Each year, every team in the conference does not play two teams. This year, the Gophers avoid Illinois (winless in conference play last year) and Northwestern, a team the Gophers have defeated decisively in their previous two matchups.

The Ifs Have It. Rushing has been the bread and butter of the Gopher offense in the past several seasons. That is not likely to be the case in 2006, though Pinnix will undoubtedly be a force. And if Gary Russell returns—a big “if”—the ground game will be formidable. Look for the passing game behind the arm of Bryan Cupito to shine. If the defense improves and plays with confidence as the season progresses, the Gophers will be in the thick of things in the Big Ten.