Minnesota Golden Gophers
2000 overall record: 6-6
Conference record: 4-4 (t-5th)
Returning starters
Offense: 9
Defense: 3
Kickers: 2
2000 statistical leaders (* - returners)
Rushing: Tellis Redmon* (1,368 yds)
Passing: Travis Cole* (1,982 yds)
Receiving: Ron Johnson* (1,125 yds)
Tackles: Delvin Jones (88)
Sacks: Karon Riley (13)
Interceptions: Clorenzo Griffin (2)
What's new
A new defensive staff, led by coordinator Moe Ankney, will be the most noticeable difference in 2001. Don't expect wholesale changes, but this scheme should put more pressure at the line of scrimmage and utilize smaller, quicker linebackers. This increased speed will help the Gophers match up better with offenses like Purdue and Northwestern which gave them all sorts of trouble last season.
Battling it out
Asad Abdul-Khaliq began last season as the starter but struggled early and was replaced by Travis Cole. Both played throughout the rest of the season and are still battling for the starting job this year. Cole still leads the competition, but it accelerated the progress of both players in the spring.
Eye catcher: FS Jack Brewer
A cousin of tailback Tellis Redmon, Brewer was playing at receiver through last season. This spring, he made the switch to defensive back and is now the No. 1 free safety heading into fall. He has proven to be a hard hitter and has shown good leadership in the secondary.
Budding star: TE Ben Utecht
The converted wide receiver moved to tight end at the beginning of last year and has continued to improve as he has developed physically. He is a big target at 6-6, but he weighed just 210 pounds a year ago. Now, he is up to 250, still runs well and is getting better as a blocker.
Brad Edwards researches college football for ESPN and is a contributor to ESPN.com throughout the year.
