Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck initially smiled when asked about what he anticipates when the NCAA transfer portal reopens Wednesday.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Fleck said after the U’s 12th spring practice at Athletics Village on Tuesday. “I really like this football team — it just dictates what happens over the next the next however many days.
“We are going to focus on the players that want to be Gophers, focus on guys who are truly invested in the Gopher family, in what we do and how we do it,” Fleck added. “Everybody’s got their own rhyme or reason and, respectfully so, to stay or leave. We support everybody in what they do. It’s just part of our new world.”
Fleck added he doesn’t anticipate a “plethora of things we are going to do — if (the roster) stayed the same” after the portal closes April 25. Some players are bound to leave if the U needs to get under the 105-player roster limit that is expected to come with the House settlement.
One scholarship player, freshman linebacker David Amaliri, said Tuesday he is transferring out. The 6-foot-4 and 210-pounder from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was a member of the 2024 recruiting class; he did not play in a game last fall and redshirted.
After finishing his high school career at Clearwater (Fla.) Academy International, he has four years of eligibility remaining.
“I am forever grateful for my time at Minnesota,” Amaliri wrote on social media, thanking head coach P.J. Fleck, assistant coaches and teammates.
One of the biggest names to enter the portal so far is California running back Jaydn Ott, who rushed for 1,315 yards in 2023 (14th-most in the nation) and then 385 last season. He is headed to Oklahoma.
The U travels to Berkeley, Calif., to play the Golden Bears on Sept. 13.
Curious about quarterbacks
For a second straight open-to-reporters practice, redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey took the majority of the first team reps at quarterback. He was followed by walk-on Max Shikenjanski and then Dylan Wittke.
Georgia Tech transfer Zach Pyron was conspicuously further down the pecking order. He didn’t appear in team reps until the very end of Tuesday’s practice, but had success with touchdown passes to Kenric Lanier and Cristian Driver.
Similar to last Tuesday, Fleck said: “We are rotating a lot of the quarterbacks. Don’t read into who’s getting reps when because you will be in a circle and it doesn’t necessarily matter.”
Bowden improving
Cornerback Jaylen Bowden has needed some time to adjust in spring practices after making the jump from FCS-level North Carolina Central. But he appears to be acclimating.
“More than any other week, I think this week he took a giant leap,” Fleck said. “… I think Mike Gerald took a giant leap. Za’Quan (Bryan) has been out with a minor injury. He should be back in the next day or so, but it’s allowed some of the guys who haven’t had a ton of reps to get those reps. Ryland Kelly is working.”
Gerald, a redshirt freshman from Houston, benefitted from a pass-breakup from Emmanuel Karmo to intercept a pass and return it for a touchdown on Tuesday.
Briefly
Defensive end Jaxon Howard was the most notable absence from Tuesday’s practice. … The U welcomed fans for Tuesday’s practice and hundreds watched from the sidelines of the indoor practice facility. “On a Tuesday, it’s kind of crazy that many people come out,” said guard Greg Johnson of Prior Lake. … The Gophers hosted a handful of recruits on Tuesday, including Jayden McGregory, a top player in Iowa in the 2026 class. The four-star recruit has more than 15 offers from Power Four programs. … Minnesota has three more spring practices, but will not hold a spring game again this year.
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