♪♪ >>> MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHER FOOTBALL IS IN A HEALTHY PLACE, AFTER BACK-TO-BACK NINE-WIN YEARS AND FOUR-STRAIGHT BOWL WINS. AND WITH SOME GOPHER LEGENDS GRADUATING, P.J. FLECK SAYS THIS HAS A CHANCE TO RIVAL THE 2019 TEAM HE'S HAD AS THE MOST TALENTED IN MINNEAPOLIS. WELCOME TO MINNESOTA SPRING FOOTBALL ON BIG 10 NETWORK. INSIDE THE LARSEN PERFORMANCE CENTER. WITH BROCK VEREEN, CONNOR ONION, AND EMILY HERE IN A FEW MINUTES. HEALTHY PLAYS WITH MINNESOTA FOOTBALL AND NINE PLAYS LAST YEAR. THEY HAVE WON THE WIN STRIPE BOWL AND ARE GETTING GUYS TO THE NFL. >> THE FLOOR HAS BEEN ELEVATED. WHAT IS EXPECTED HAS BEEN RAISED. FOUR DRAFT PICKS. NINE-WIN SEASONS, BACK-TO-BACK. AND THERE'S MEAT LEFT ON THE BONE. FANS ARE HAPPY COMPETING FOR BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS YEAR AFTER YEAR. NOW, IT'S TIME TO WIN ONE. HAVE TO DO IT WITH NEW CASES AND NOW THEY'RE CAPABLE. >> WITH THE QUARTERBACK THEY HAVE, REPLACING TANNER MORGAN, THEY CAN DO THAT. WE GOT TO SEE THAT. THAT WAS THE SAYONARA TO BEAU IBRAHIM. AND THE DEFENSE SHOWED UP, TOO. >> THE MVP OF THE DAY, A 70-YARD PICK SIX. THAT A DAY FOR HIM. >> THAT WAS THE FIRST PICK SIX IN A BOWL GAME IN MINNESOTA HISTORY. AND JACKSON CAPPING IT OFF, AND THE GATORADE BATH FOR P.J. FLECK, WHO IS 4-0, IN BOWL GAMES. TANNER MORGAN IS GOOD EVENING. HE SET THE RECORD FOR MOST WINS AS A QUARTERBACK IN MINNESOTA HISTORY. BUT ATHAN KALIAKMANIS, IS EXCITING. >> HE IS GOING TO RIVAL ANY QUARTERBACK THAT'S PLAYED FOR THIS PROGRAM. HE HAS A CANNON ACATCHED TO HIS ARM. HE CAN MAKE ANY THROW. ANY THROW. AND HE CAN GET IT DONE WITH HIS LEGS. THEY WILL RELY ON THAT ARM AND A LOT MORE. >> YOU GOT A GLIMPSE OF THAT IN THE IN THAT WISCONSIN GAME. THAT WAS THE GAME-WINNING SCORE. IN SOME BIG SPOTS ON THE ROAD AT PENN STATE. ON THE ROAD AT WISCONSIN. THEY THREW THE BALL A LOT AND MAYBE THIS COULD BE A CHANGING IDENTITY FOR A MINNESOTA OFFENSE. >> IT CERTAINLY WILL. LOOK AT HOW GOOD HE DID, BEING THROWN INTO THE FIRE. HE JUMPED IN WHEN TANNER MORGAN WENT DOWN WITH INJURY. NOW, HE HAS AN OFF-SEASON OF ONE REPS AND ENTIRE OFF-SEASON OF WORK. HE IS GOING TO BE THE REAL DEAL. I'M EXCITED FOR HIM. >> P.J. FLECK SAID, DON'T GET IT TWISTED. WE WILL BE A DOWNHILL RUNNING TEAM. THIS WON'T BE AIR RAID. BUT IT'S THE CLOSEST IT EVER HAS BEEN TO 50/50. >> I'M GOING TO ALL IT 58% RUN. THIS IS MINNESOTA. BUT THAT BALL IS GOING TO THE AIR. >> GOING INSIDE THAT 60% THRESHOLD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN P.J. FLECK'S TIME, MAYBE. LET'S INTRODUCE YOU TO THE THIRD MEMBER OF OUR CREW, EMILY IMAN. SHE'S WITH P.J. FLECK. >> TODAY, YOU GET TO SEE PEOPLE STEP UP IN A GAME SITUATION. WHAT'S THE BIGGEST THING YOU WANT TO SEE TODAY? >> THE IMPROVEMENT OF A SPRING GAME. HAS THE FEEL OF THE METRODOME TODAY. IT WILL BE FUN. WE HAVE INEXPERIENCED PLAYERS THAT GET A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. NOW, THEY PUT IT TOGETHER TODAY. >> QUARTERBACK ATHAN KALIAKMANIS. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE FROM HIM TODAY? >> TO SEE THOSE CONSISTENT. WE TOOK OUR TEAM AND DIVIDED IT IN HALF. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE ONES, TWOS AND THERE'S. I WANT TO SEE CONSISTENCY AND LEADERSHIP. HE'S TAKEN A BUNCH OF STRIDES AND COLE IN THE SPRING. >> YOU SET UP TO WIN THE JOB. WHAT'S ONE POSITION YOU'RE LOOKING AT? >> RUNNING BACK SHOULD BE FUN TO WATCH. WE'RE PRETTY DEEP THERE, WITH A LOT OF YOUNG TALENT. I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHO EMERGES FROM THAT GROUP TODAY. THAT WILL BE FUN, AS WE GET INTO THE SUMMER. >> WE GOT ALL OF THE FAMILIES FOR MOST OF THE GUYS. HOW SPECIAL IS THIS FOR THEM? >> FORMER PLAYERS, PARENTS. A BUNCH OF RECRUITS, TOO. THIS IS COOL. WE HAD A BIG FAMILY NIGHT LAST NIGHT, WITH OUR PLAYERS AND PARENTS. IT WAS COOL TO BREAK BREAD WITH THEM. THEY'RE EXCITED TO WATCH THEIR SUNS COMING UP. >> MORE FROM MINNEAPOLIS, AFTER THE BREAK. ♪♪ TEN NETWORK IS PRESENTED BY THE USFL. THE USFL SEASON CONTINUES TONIGHT AT 7:00 EASTERN, ONLY ON FOX. A BUSY WEEKEND IN MINNEAPOLIS, INCLUDING WATCHING A LITTLE USFL TONIGHT. AND BIG TEN GUYS ALL OVER THE USFL. >> THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE. STEVIE SCOTT WAS ONE HECK OF A RUNNING BACK. HE HAD SOME BURST. PATTY FISHER. YOU'LL HEAR PAT FITZGERALD TALK ON AND ON ABOUT THE IMPACT HE MADE THERE. COMING FROM A FORMER LINEBACKER, THAT'S HIGH PRAISE. >> BACK INSIDE AT THE LARSEN PERFORMANCE CENTER. IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE INSIDE AT THE STADIUM BUT A LITTLE SNOW GREETED US. WE'RE INSIDE. WE HAVE THE C STRETCHING AND PL SOME REAL FOOTBALL WITH A LITTLE WRINKLE AT THE BOTTOM. EACH TEAM GETS ONE FLAG PER GAME. THOSE AREN'T CHALLENGE FLAGS. >> YOU KNOW COACH FLECK HAS TO THROW IN A LITTLE WRINKLE. I'M EXCITED FOR FOUR QUARTERS OF TRADITIONAL FOOTBALL. HARD TO FIND THE WAY THAT THE SPRING GAME FORMAT HAS GONE. THIS IS AS CLOSE TO A GAME AS WE'RE GOING TO GET. >> SO, THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW WILL HAPPEN. OF COURSE, WITH WHAT HAPPENS LAST YEAR, WE MIGHT BE IN FOR A SURPRISE. WHO KNOWS? >> THERE'S ALWAYS SURPRISES, CONNOR, YOU KNOW THIS. >> LET'S TALK DEFENSE. THE PRIORITY ON THIS DEFENSIVE LINE IS GET MORE PASS RUSH. MINNESOTA FINISHED 13th IN THE BIG TEN IN SACKS LAST YEAR. >> IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. JOE ROSSI WILL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT. THERE'S NO CONCERN ABOUT THE BACKS ON THIS TEAM. WHAT HELPS THEM OUT THE MOST IS THE PASS RUSH. THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THAT MAFFEI REPLACEMENT. THEY NEED SOMEBODY THAT CAN GET AFTER THE PASSER, WHICH LEADS TO FIGURING OUT THE SECONDARY. YOU GOT JUSTIN WALLEY AND TYLER NUBIN. >> RIGHT NOW, HE MIGHT BE A HEAD COACH BEFORE HE'S 30. THAT IS THE TRAJECTORY THAT HE'S BEEN. PLAYED FOR FIVE SEASONS HERE THE GOES ON AND IMMEDIATELY, WHEN HE GRADUATES TO BE A D.A. AT CHARLOTTE. THEN, WITH MARIO CRISTOBAL. THEN, TO AKRON. NOW, HE'S HERE. LOOKS LIKE HE CAN STILL PLAY. >> HE PLAYED THE POSITION. HE'S THE SIZE OF THESE GUYS. HE CAN BANG WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT. AND THE GUYS THAT HE'S WORKING WITH, YES, THEY TURN OVER SOME GUYS, ESPECIALLY THOMAS RUSH, AN ALL-BIG TEN PLAYER AT THE RUSH POSITION. BUT THEY'VE GOT A GUY IN JAYLON LOGAN-REDDING. >> HIS STRENGTH IS HIS STRENGTH. HE IS A LOAD THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH. THEY NEED A LITTLE FAST TWITCH OUT THERE. JALEN LOGAN-REDDING IS A FAST GUY. BUT THEY COULD BE COOKING WITH SOMEONE THAT CAN BEND THE EDGE. >> THAT WAS THE PRIORITY. P.J. FLECK STATED IT, WITH THE DEFENSE OVERALL. GET MORE PASS RUSH. IT'S UP TO THOSE GUYS. IN THE SECONDARY, BIG QUESTION AROUND MINNESOTA, WHO IS THE SECOND CORNER OPPOSITE OF JUSTIN WALLEY? >> WE KNOW THAT JUSTIN WALLEY IS THE FIRST ONE. HE WILL BE FOLLOWING HIS BUDDY TERRELL SMITH TO THE NFL. YOU CAN BE EASILY AVOIDED IF YOU'RE A SHUTDOWN CORNER. IS IT MILES FLEMMING, IT CAN BE A SAFETY THAT SLIDES OUT TO CORNER. YOU NEED TWO TO BE SUCCESSFUL. >> TWO DEFENSIVE BACKS LIKELY TO BE PICKED FROM MINNESOTA IN THE NFL DRAFT COMING UP AT THE END OF THE MONTH. LET'S GO BACK OVER TO EMILY WITH ONE OF THEM. >> A SUPERSTAR IN THE BUILDING TODAY. TERELL SMITH. YOU WERE A HUGE PART OF THIS GOPHER SECONDARY SINCE YOU CAME IN AT 2018. WHAT'S THE BIGGEST WAY YOU WERE ABLE TO HAVE SUCCESS WITH THIS TEAM? >> JUST TRUSTING THE COACHES. JUST TRUSTING THE PLAN THEY HAVE FOR YOU. AND BEING ABLE TO PREPARE. THEY SHOWED US HOW TO PREPARE REALLY WELL. I FEEL LIKE THAT REALLY HELPS. >> WE HAVE BIG DEPARTURES ON THIS GOPHER DEFENSE. WHO IS ONE OR TWO GUYS THAT YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON THAT CAN BE BIG IMPACT PLAYERS THIS FALL? >> JUSTIN WALLACE. HE'S A PLAYMAKER. HE WILL GET HIS HANDS ON A COUPLE BALLS THIS YEAR. >> YOU WERE AT THE COMBINE A MONTH AGO. HOW ARE YOU FEELING HEADED IN? >> THE JITTERS ARE COMING IN. I'M READY TO HEAR MY NAME CALLED AND SEE WHERE I GO. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TERELL. >> THANK YOU. >> THE JITTERS ARE STARTING TO SET IN FOR TERELL SMITH, THE SPEEDSTER, WHO IS LIKELY TO BE PICKED NEXT WEEK, OUT OF MINNESOTA. THEY HAVE 12 GUYS DRAFTED SINCE 2020. THESE ARE THE FOUR THAT ARE ALMOST LOCKS TO GO NEXT WEEK. >> JOHN MICHAEL SCHMITZ IS A LOCK. AND TERELL SMITH IS SO FAST. JORDAN HOWDEN, HE IS SLATED IN DAY THREE. AND MOHAMED IBRAHIM. AND DAREN, IS TOO FORECAST AND BIG AND DYNAMIC. >> HOW DO YOU REPLACE THE CAPTAIN IN THE MIDDLE? WE SHOULD HAVE SOME FOOTBALL NEXT, FROM THE >>> IT'S TIME FOR GOPHER FOOTBALL. CONNOR ONION, BROCK VEREEN, AND EMILY EHMAN. AND KALIAKMANIS IS AT QUARTERBACK. >> WE HAVE THE MAROON TEAM WEARING WHITE. AND THE BIG GUY IS CARRYING UP THE MIDDLE. >> THAT'S THE STARTING LEFT TACKLE. OOH A RETURNING STARTER. RIP IT UP ONCE THE ACTUAL GAME STARTS. ARIEONTAE GETS FIVE YARDS ON HIS FIRST CAREER SPRING GAME CARRY. AND TO A MORE TRADITIONAL LOOK, IT WILL BE A STABLE OF RUNNING BACKS WITH MO IBRAHIM GONE. >> THERE, WE GET THE EXPECTED RUNNING BACK, IN SEAN TYLER. THE HIGHLY-TOUTED TRANSFER OUT OF WESTERN MICHIGAN. EXPECTING A LOT OF THINGS FROM HIM. THE POST-MO ERA. IT'S STRANGE TO SEE A MB OUT THERE FOR FIVE SEASONS THAT ARE TEARING IT UP AND NOW, A CROP OF GUYS THAT ARE FILLING THAT ROLE. >> TYLER IS ONE OF THREE GUYS THAT HAS COME FROM WESTERN MICHIGAN, P.J. FLECK'S OLD SCHOOL. COREY CROOMS ON THIS OFFENSE. AND RHYLANDS KELLY ALMOST GETTING THE DEFLECTION. >> CROOMS, ONE OF THE TRANSFERS YOU WERE MENTIONING. SOME INTERIOR PRESSURE -- SPRING BALL, YOU DO NOT TOUCH THAT QUARTERBACK. HE MIGHT GET AN EARFUL WHEN HE GETS BACK TO THE SIDELINE. THAT BALL CAME IN. GREAT COVERAGE. FANTASTIC COVERAGE BY MILES FLEMMING ENCOREY CROOMS. >> I THINK HE LAID OFF. >> JUST ENOUGH. HE MIGHT GET AN EARFUL. >> THREE AND OUT, A WIN FOR THE GOLD DEFENSE TO BEGIN IT. AND WE JUST SAW KALIAKMANIS AT QUARTERBACK. WE'LL SEE COLE KRAMER HERE, AN EXPECTED LOOK AT THREE OR FOUR OF THE NEW RUNNING BACKS THAT P.J. FLECK MOVES IN. >> NEW RUNNING BACK COACH COMING OVER FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS, TAKING OVER FOR THE LONG TIME RUNNING BACKS COACH, NOW THE HEAD COACH AT KENT STATE. NEW RUNNING BACKS. NEW RUNNING BACK COACH. A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN THAT RUN GAME. >> ON THE GOLD SIDE, YOU SEE BRYCE WILLIAMS. YOU SEE ZACH EVANS AND MAX GRANS, LINING UP NEXT TO COLE KRAMER. KRAMER ON THE OPTION. AND LAST YEAR'S LEADING RECEIVER, MOVES THE CHAINS ON HIS FIRST TOUCH OF THE SPRING GAME. >> FANTASTIC PLAY CALLED THERE. EVERYBODY WENT WITH THAT ACTION TO THE RIGHT. WHOLE LOT OF SPACE TO THE LEFT. BRYCE WILLIAMS HAS BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE. OVER 200 CARRIES IN HIS FIVE-YEAR CAREER. YOU CAN EXPECT A LOT OF CARRIES THERE. SEAN TYLER AND DARIUS TAYLOR, THEY ARE EXPECTED ABOUT HIM. >> A WIDE-OPEN RECEIVER DOWN THE SIDELINE. THE GOLD TEAM SCORES FIRST. >> IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHO THAT IS, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY. TYLER NUBIN ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL. WE WERE TOLD THAT TRICK PLAYS MAY BE UP A COUPLE SLEEVES HERE BASED OFF OF THAT SIDELINE CELEBRATION, WE MAY HAVE SEEN ONE OF THEM. TYLER NUBIN UNTIL THE END ZONE. >> NUBIN PLAYING LIMITED SNAPS TODAY. AN ALL-BIG TEN SAFETY WITH THE TOUCHDOWN. >> LOOK AT HIM THERE. FLASHING THAT FAMOUS PEACE SIGN. ANTON WINFIELD, PEACE SIGN. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES HE GOT IN THE END ZONE IN HIS CAREER, BUT HE WILL BE REMINDING HIS TEAMMATES ON THE MAROON TEAM ABOUT THIS MOMENT ALL SEASON LONG. >> HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO SWITCH HANDS, GO TO THE OUTSIDE. >> LOOKS LIKE A NATURAL TO ME. P.J. CAN'T HELP BUT SMILE. >> EMILY, WHAT'S GOING ON? >> WELL, GUYS, YOU SAW TYLER NUBIN AFTER THAT TOUCHDOWN AND HOW MUCH JOY HE HAD. AND P.J. FLECK SAID, HE'S NOT JUST AN X-FACTOR THAT PLAYS WITH A FULL DISREGARD DPR HIS BODY. YOU WANT TO WATCH WHAT LOVING FOOTBALL IS, WATCH TYLER NUBIN. HAVING SO MUCH FUN, THE FILM ROOM, THE WEIGHT ROOM, HE IS ALWAYS SMILING. HE DOESN'T JUST THINK I WANT TO MAKE IT TO THE NFL. HE WANTS TO BE ALL-PRO. BEST OF THE BEST. THAT'S A GUY THAT LOVES PLAYING THIS GAME. >> EMILY, THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT IS NUBIN COULD HAVE GONE TO THE NFL THIS YEAR BUT DECIDED TO RETURN. >> DECIDED TO COME BACK. I TELL YOU WHAT. JOE ROSSI, THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR VERY EXCITED. DANCING AWAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO SEE HIM ON DEFENSE. BUT HE'S MADE HIS PRESENCE FELT OFFENSIVELY. AND THE COMPARISON TO ANTOINE WIN F WINFIELD IS NOT BECAUSE OF HOW THEY PLAY. AGGRESSIVE. THEY ARE ALWAYS SMILING. THEY ARE THE MOST DEDICATED IN THE FILM ROOM, IN THE STUDY HALL, AND THE CLASSROOM. THEY HAVE FUN WITH EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. >> YOU SAID THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR IS EXCITED. HOW ABOUT THE NEW COORDINATORS, GETTING TYLER NUBIN TWO SIDES OF THE BALL. >> I WOULDN'T COUNT ANYTHING OUT. AS WELL AS HE KNOWS DEFENSE, I'M SURE HE KNOWS OFFENSE, TOO. >> MATT SIMON, WHO WAS THE WIDE RECEIVERS COACH, COACHES THE WIDE RECEIVERS. AND THE TIGHT ENDS COACH LAST YEAR, ARE CO-COORDINATORS. THE MAROON OFFENSE IS BACK ON TO THE FIELD. AND HOSKINS GETS THE CARRY. HE IS STACKED UP. MISDIRECTION, TRICK PLAYS. >> TRYING A LITTLE THING OF EVERYTHING. KRISTEN HOSKINS IS SHOWING A LITTLE FUMBLE ACTION. HE IS SMALLER. BUT SPEED, SPEED, SPEED. THAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME WITH HOSKINS. I LOVE A GUY WHOSE NAME POPS UP, HE GAVE THE STARTING DEFENSE ALL THEY COULD HANDLE LAST YEAR. GUYS ARE READY FOR THE BIG-TIME WHEN HE TOOK IT TO ONE OF THE BEST DEFENSES IN FOOTBALL. >> KALIAKMANIS BACK AT QUARTERBACK. HE GOES DEEP DOWN THE FIELD. AND THAT'S INCOMPLETE. ONE OF HIS NEW TARGETS, ELIJAH SPENCER, RUNNING A POSTROUTE THERE. HE IS A FORMER CONFERENCE USA FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR AT CHARLOTTE. >> HE WAS. HE IS A STANDOUT. GO TO YOUTUBE AND LOOK UP THOSE HIGHLIGHTS. HE CAN GET YOU SOME EXPLOSIVE PLAYS. WE KNOW WHAT AUTMAN-BELL CAN BRING TO THE SEASON. AND YOU HAD CORY CROOMS AND ELIJAH SPENCER, YOU'RE COOKING. >> A FIELDSIDE THROW FOR KALIAKMANIS, GOING FOR HIS BROTHER, DINO. IT'S FOURTH DOWN. WIDE RECEIVERS HAVE SOME DEPTH. HOSKINS WHO HAD THE FIRST DOWN CARRY. HE'S THE FASTEST ON THE TEAM. >> THEY'LL FIND WAYS TO GET HIM THE FOOTBALL. THAT SIMPLE. YOU LINE HIM UP. YOU GET THE BALL QUICK. GET YOUR ATHLETES THE FOOTBALL. THAT COMES WITH BEING THE FASTEST GUY. >> AND THAT IS THE FUN OF BEING INDOORS. THAT PUNT JUST HIT THE CEILING. FOR BIG TEN EXPERIENCE, THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME. YOU WANT TO WATCH THE REPLAY OF THIS GAME, THAT'S THE PLACE TO BE. THE BIG TEN PLUS AP. >> I THINK TYLER NUBIN WILL WATCH THAT. >> I THINK HE'S GOING TO CLIP THAT AND PUT IT ON HIS DRAFT TAPE. HE HAD THE OPENING SCORE FOR THE GOLD TEAM. 57 YARDS FOR THE ALL-BIG TEN SAFETY, WHO PASSED ON THE NFL FOR NOW. AND NOW, HIS GOLD TEAM, TAKES BACK OVER WITH COLE KRAMER AT QUARTERBACK. HE HANDS OFF. THAT'S STACKED UP INSIDE. AND DEFENSIVE LINE, LOOKING TO BUILD SOME DEPTH TODAY. BUT ALSO GOT CODY LINDENBERG AROUND HERE. >> EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH FOR CODY LINDENBERG. >> HE MADE THE TACKLE FOR NO GAIN. AND KRAMER OVER THE MIDDLE. THAT GOES FOR A FIRST DOWN. >> THAT'S EXCITING RIGHT THERE. ONE OF THE THORNS IN THE WIDE RECEIVER SIDE LAST YEAR IS CATCHES THROUGH CONTACT. THEY STRUGGLE TO FIND A CONSISTENT SLOT RECEIVER. A LOT OF THOSE RECEPTIONS COME WITH CONTACT. A LOT OF TIMES THAT WOULD POP OUT AND THAT LEADS TO AN INTERCEPTION OR JUST AN INCOMPLETION. HAPPY TO SEE SOME CATCHES THROUGH CONTACT, BY DANIEL JACKSON. HE WAS A WIDEOUT. BUT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A SLOT RECEIVER. SHOWING VERSATILITY IS GREAT. >> JACKSON GOES FOR 11. INSIDE FOR A SHORT GAIN FOR BRYCE WILLIAMS. GOING BACK TO DANIEL JACKSON REAL QUICK, AND CONTESTED CATCHES, THINK ABOUT THE HIGHLIGHT WE SHOWED EARLIER IN THE PINSTRIPE BOWL. HE CAUGHT IT WRESTLING IT AWAY FROM A D.B. HIS HELMET FLEW OFF. MAYBE THAT'S A SIGN OF CONTESTED CATCHES TO COME. >> WHAT I LOVE ABOUT DANIEL JACKSON IS HE'S NOT THE BIGGEST OR THE FASTEST GUY. IF YOU PUT THAT BALL IN THE AIR, HE HAS THE MINDSET OF THAT IS MY FOOTBALL, NO ONE ELSE'S. IF YOU TRY TO GET IT, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE. I'M WINNING THIS PLAY. THAT'S THE MINDSET THEY WANT. >> LED THE TEAM LAST YEAR, OVER 500 1/2 YARDS. KRAMER, ANOTHER SHOT. AND THAT'S COMPLETE. ANOTHER BIG PLAY TO START THE DAY. BROCKINGTON TO START THE DAY. >> WHAT A ROUTE. THAT'S A LONG DEVELOPING PLAY. LET'S GIVE CREDIT TO THE OFFENSIVE LINE. WATCH HOW LONG IT TAKES THAT ROUTE TO DEVELOP UP TOP. THEY THREW HIM IN. HE DID GREAT. AND HERE HE IS, MAKING PLAYS ONCE AGAIN. >> A 52-YARD HIT. ON THE GROUND AND THE GOLD TEAM PUNCHES IT IN. ZACH EVANS ACROSS THE GOAL LINE. AND THE GOLD TEAM, WITH BOTH SCORERS, SET UP BY BIG PASSING PLAYS. >> MAROON TEAM, OR MAROON TEAM WEARING WHITE TEAM, IS GETTING ALL THEY CAN HANDLE RIGHT NOW. ZACH EVANS IS AN INTERESTING STORY. HE HAD SO MUCH HYPE AROUND HIM WHEN HE GOT ON CAMPUS AND RIGHTFULLY SO. IT'S JUST BEEN INJURIES WITH HIM. LAST YEAR, HE HAD A GREAT SPRING GAME. AND DURING TRAINING CAMP, HE GETS BANGED UP. JUST A MATTER OF STAYING HEALTHY FOR HIM. HE CAN BE SPECIAL. >> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE WIDE RECEIVERS. WE'RE TALKING WITH EMILY EHMAN ON THE SIDELINES. >> WE GOT CHRIS AUTMAN-BELL HERE. WE GOT BIG PASS PLAYS. >> WE DO. SHOUTOUT TO THE RECEIVER GROUP. FOR SURE. >> YOU DECIDED TO COME BACK FOR YOUR SEVENTH YEAR OF FOOTBALL, AFTER A SEASON-ENDING KNEE INJURY. WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST FACTOR IN DECIDING TO COME BACK? >> WHATEVER IS BEST FOR MY FUTURE. AND THE BEST DECISION WAS TO COME BACK. I'M EXCITED I'M BACK HERE. I'M ENJOYING THIS WITH MY GUYS. I LOVE WATCHING MY GUYS BALL OUT AND WORK EVERY DAY. THAT WAS THE REASON. >> EARLY ENROLLEES COMING IN. FRESHMEN ON CAMPUS SOON. ARE YOU STARTING TO FEEL OLD YET? >> I GET CALLED UNCLE IN THE LOCKER ROOM. I DON'T LIKE IT. IT IS WHAT IT IS. I'VE BEEN HERE SEVEN YEARS COMING JUNE. IT IS WHAT IT IS. I'M THE UNCLE OF THE TEAM, YEAH. >> WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR THE YOUNGER GUYS COMING UP? >> BE YOURSELF. TAKE YOUR TIME. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE WITH THIS. ENJOY IT. ENJOY EVERYTHING. WORK AS HARD AS YOU CAN. LOVE LIFE AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO. >> A NEW QUARTERBACK STEPPING INTO THAT SPOT AFTER TANNER MORGAN LEFT, WITH ATHAN KALIAKMANIS. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM HIM? >> HE'S AMAZING, MAN. A STRONG ARM. I'M EXCITED TO PLAY ONE MORE YEAR WITH HIM. HE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT IN STORE FOR THE GOPHER FS AND EVERYONE WATCHING. >> HOW ARE YOU FEELING? >> I'M FEELING GREAT. I'M PICKING UP MY RUNNING. I'M WORKING WITH THE TRAINING STAFF. THEY'RE AMAZING. THE STRENGTH SIDE, AS WELL. THEY'RE HELPING OUT. THEY'RE AMAZING. AND I'M EXCITED TO GET BACK. I'M ALMOST THERE. >> WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU BACK OUT THERE. CHRIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> BACK TO YOU GUYS. >> YEAR SEVEN COMING FOR NUMBER 7, CHRIS AUTMAN-BELL. I APPRECIATE HIS CANDID ANSWERS AND THOUGHTS ON THE NEW QUARTERBACK. WITH HIM BACK, ADDING FIVE WIDE RECEIVERS, THAT'S WHY P.J. FLECK SAID WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY. WE MIGHT BE AS CLOSE AS WE HAVE BEEN TO A 50/50 RUN/PASS SPLIT. >> WHY NOT? WHY NOT? YOU HAVE THE ARM AND THE EXPERIENCED RECEIVERS. THE SPEEDY RECEIVERS. THE BIGGER RECEIVERS. THEY HAVE SO MUCH VERSATILITY IN THAT RECEIVER ROOM. THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE WIDE RECEIVER ROOM AND EXCITED ABOUT A QUARTERBACK THAT'S GOING TO CHUCK THAT BALL 60 YARDS DOWNFIELD AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER. >> THAT QUARTERBACK IS KALIAKMANIS, WHO WILL BE CALLED FOR THE SACK. THE QUARTERBACKS ARE NOT LIVE. AND THE SACK BRINGS UP FOURTH DOWN. COLTON GRERGERSON GETS THROUGH THERE. >> GETS THROUGH THE OFFENSIVE LINE. SEPARATES AND JUST TAGS OFF RIGHT THERE. SMART PLAY. THIS OFFENSIVE LINE IS GOING TO BE A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION. THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN. YOU LOSE ALL THREE INTERIOR LINEMEN. YOUR LEFT GUARD, YOUR RIGHT GUARD AND YOUR CENTER. I'M NOT SEEING A BIG DEAL. THE YEAR PRIOR THEY HAD TO REPLACE FOUR OR FIVE. IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE. HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW. THEY'LL BE BIG AND FAST AND PHYSICAL. THEY'LL FIND FIVE GUYS THAT CAN DO THAT. >> WITH WHAT YOU HAVE RETURNING, THE BLINDSIDE IN ERSERY. AND THEN, QUINN CARROLL ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THAT'S THE QUESTION MARK OF WHAT THE NAMES WILL BE. >> I UNDERSTAND THE LEFT TACK SEXUAL THE SUPERSTAR OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE. MINNESOTA WANTS TO RUN THE BALL. YOUR INTERIOR LINE SETS THAT FRONT. AS FAR AS PASS PROTECTION, IF YOU GET PRESSURE UP THE GUT, YOUR LINE WILL SUCCEED. >> THERE'S BROCKINGTON. HE HAD THE RECEPTION LAST DRIVE, CAUGHT AFTER THE CATCH, BY GOUSBY IN THE SECONDARY. ANOTHER FIRST DOWN FOR KRAMER WHO HAS LOOKED GOOD WITH A FIVE FOR FIVE START. >> YOU CANNOT CALL HIM A WILDCAT QUARTERBACK ANYMORE. HE IS SITTING BACK THERE CHECKING THAT THING. HE WILL MRI. ATHAN IS THE GUY. >> IT WILL BE EXCITING AND TOUGH FOR DEFENSES TO PLAN FOR THAT. THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH FILM ON ATHEN. THREE OR FOUR GAMES WORTH. AND NOW, THEY HAVE TO PLAN FOR NUMBER 12, TOO? YOU'RE ASKING A LOT, COACH. IT'S AN ADVANTAGE TO HAVE MULTIPLE QUARTERBACKS, WHO CAN TAKE A SNAP. >> THREE OF THREE AND 116 YARDS. THAT MIGHT BE THE PLAY OF THE GUY. TYLER NUBIN. >> PRETTY GOOD START. >> THAT'S A READ GIVE FOR KRAMER. NOT MUCH THERE UP THE GUT. IT'S THIRD DOWN. THIS DEFENIVE LINE IS STOUT. THE MAROON TEAM, WEARING WHITE. I HAVE TO REFERENCE THAT EVERY TIME. SLOW START BUT THEY ARE COMING ALIVE. WHEN YOUR DEFENSIVE LINE COACH IS YOUNG AND FIRED UP, YOU KNOW YOU'RE READY TO PLAY IN BIG MOMENTS LIKE THIS. >> ANTHONY SMITH MADE THE LAST TACKLE, A GUY THEY ARE COUNTING ON FOR SOME DEPTH. HE GREW UP IN THE SHADOW OF PENN STATE COMING HERE TO MINNESOTA. AND BROCKINGTON, BECOMING KRAMER'S FAVORITE TARGET. HE'S OUT NEAR THE 30, SHY OF THE FIRST DOWN. >> JUST SHORT. SEE HOW AGGRESSIVE THEY WANT TO GET. THE PUNT TEAMS ARE COMING ON. SMART PLAY THAT. WE TRUST GUYS TO WRAP YOU UP. >> THE PLAY PUSHED BACK INSIDE TO ONE OF THE NEW GUYS AT NICKEL, HENDERSON, WHO P.J. FLECK USES RIGHT AWAY. >> HE TRANSFERS OVER FROM SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA, WHERE HE WAS FIRST TEAM ALL-SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE. WHY I LOVE HIM AND NICKEL IS THE SPOT, SIX INTERCEPTIONS. 163 TACKLES. HE'S NOT AFRAID TO GET HIS NOSE IN THERE. AT 6'3", 210, HE HAS BACKER ABILITIES IN THERE. >> AND SOUTHLAND FOOTBALL IS KNOWN FOR SHOOT-OUTS. HE'S BEEN IN ALL THOSE TYPE OF GAMES. TONIGHT, ONE OF THE BEST RIVALRIES IN MEN'S LaCROSSE. IT'S JOHNS HOPKINS AND MARYLAND. AND THE WOMEN'S LaCROSSE REGULAR SEASON CLOSES OUT. THE WILDCATS AND THE TERPS, ALL TONIGHT ON BIG TEN NETWORK AND THE FOX SPORTS AP. I KNOW A LOT OF OUR TIME IN THE FALL IS CONSUMED WATCHING BIG TEN FOOTBALL. JACK HENDERSON, MAYBE THE STARTING NICKEL, PLAYED IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA, THEY HAD EIGHT GAMES IN THE 40s. HALF THEIR GAMES WERE SHOOT-OUTS. HE CAN PLAY OUT IN SPACE. >> WHY IT'S SO PIVOTAL TO HAVE A GUY LIKE HIM. TAKE A LOOK AT THE LANDSCAPE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL IN THE BIG TEN. THE IMAGE WILL ALWAYS BE 20 OFFENSIVE LINEMEN WHO ARE GOING TO ROTATE THROUGH AND BEAT YOU TO A PULP. BUT THINGS ARE GETTING SPREAD OUT. LOOK AT PERDUE. LOOK AT NEBRASKA. WISCONSIN IS GOING TO BE THROWING THE BALL UP. YOU NEED A NICKEL WHO CAN COVER AND TACKLE. >> HENDERSON MIGHT GET A CHANCE AGAINST HIS OWN OFFENSE. KALIAKMANIS AROUND THE YARD AND COLE KRAMER. >>> END OF QUARTER NUMBER ONE, AND START OF QUARTER NUMBER TWO. GRAB AN OAR. THE ORDER OF THE FANS THAT WERE OUTSIDE, GOING WITH THE ROW THE BOAT THEME. LOTS OF CHANGEOVER ON THE STAFF, INCLUDING KENNY BURNS GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY, TO BE THE HEAD COACH AT KENT STATE, THE FORMER RUNNING BACKS COACH. >> NEW RUNNING BACK COACH, AND A NEW CROP OF RUNNING BACKS. EXCITED FOR NICK MONROE, THE CORNERBACKS COACH, FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AT SYRACUSE, AND THE FAMOUS 3-3.5. WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AT GETTING A LOT OF D.B.s READY TO PLAY. THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED. >> MAYBE YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR POCKET. A LOT OF TEAMS IN OTHER CONFERENCES ARE GOING TO THAT. BIG RUN FOR THE MAROON TEAM STARTS THE SECOND QUARTER. THEY GOT A FIRST DOWN. JORDAN NUBIN, THE BROTHER OF THE TOUCHDOWN-SCORING TYLER NUBIN. >> JORDAN IS PROBABLY LOOKING FOR TYLER. HE SAYS, WHERE IS HE? HE IS IN THE STABLE OF RUNNING BACKS. IT WILL BE DIFFERENT IN THE RUNNING BACK ROOM. MO IBRAHIM IS NOT THERE. I SEE RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE. THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIND ONE. THEY CAN FIND THREE OR FOUR. >> THEY HAVE SIX IN THIS SPRING. THAT'S THE FIRST COMPLETION FOR KALIAKMANIS. NEWCOMER COREY CROOMS. >> THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT COREY CROOMS. LOOK HOW QUICKLY THAT BALL CAN GET OVER THE MIDDLE. YOU WANT THE BALL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. COREY CROOMS CAN BRING IT IN AND CAN DO A LOT FOR THE SLOT. >> COREY CROOMS FROM WESTERN MICHIGAN. OVER 700 YARDS FROM P.J. FLECK'S FORMER SCHOOL. THEY'RE IN KALAMAZOO. >> I WOULD SAY, CONNOR, THE SLOT WIDE RECEIVER POSITION, IS THE DEFENSIVE END OF THE OFFENSE. THEY HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO FIND A SLOT RECEIVER SINCE TYLER JOHNSON. IT'S NOT AN EASY TASS INCOME THE BIG TEN. YOU HAVE TO GO UP AGAINST BIG LINEBACKERS TEEING OFF ON YOU. COREY CROOMS IS THE GUY. THEY NEED EXPLOSION FROM THE HASHES. >> THAT'S WHY PEOPLE WILL BE HAPPY THAT P.J. FLECK COMPARED CROOMS TO TYLER JOHNSON. >> HOW ABOUT THAT? >> NOT AS BIG. >> SLIMMER BUT A LITTLE MORE EXPLOSIVE. >> KALIAKMANIS, GOOD CHEMISTRY WITH CROOMS. >> COREY CROOMS AND KALIAKMANIS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DEFENSE. TWO FOR TWO ON THE LAST TWO THROWS. AND THREE FOR THREE. GOES TO EVAN REDDING. IT'S FIRST AND GOAL MAROON TEAM. >> TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE PASSES THROUGH TRAFFIC, OVER THE MIDDLE, THAT'S WHAT WE TALK ABOUT ARM STRENGTH. ARM STRENGTH ISN'T JUST BEING ABLE TO THROW A 30-YARD POST, 25-YARD DIG. IT'S A FIVE-YARD ROUTE ON THE MONEY, GETTING IT TO YOUR GUY BEFORE THE WINDOW CLOSES. >> THREE-STRAIGHT COMPLETIONS FOR KALIAKMANIS. HE HANDS OFF TO NUBIN, WHO PUTS THE TRUCK STICK ON. ALMOST REACHES THE GOAL LINE. >> HE WAS CLOSE. >> I'M CURIOUS IF THEY STAY ON THE GROUND OR PUNCH IT ON THE OUTSIDE. >> STICKING WITH NUBIN, WHO STARTED THIS DRIVE WITH A CHUNK RUN. HE'S AT RUNNING BACK. AND HE FINISHES THE DRIVE WITH A TOUCHDOWN. JORDAN NUBIN PUTS THE MAROON TEAM ON THE BOARD. HERE IS EMILY EHMAN. >> WE HAVE SCORES ON THE BOARD. MAROON TEAM IS CATCHING UP. >> THE DEFENSIVE COACHES HATE IT. THE KIDS ARE PLAYING HARD. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SEE. AND COLE KRAMER STARTED FAST. HAD A NICE DRIVE RIGHT THERE. THE KIDS ARE PLAYING HARD. I LOVE THIS. WE GET TO EVALUATE PEOPLE IN HIGH-PRESSURE SITUATIONS LIKE THE GAME. A LOT OF GUYS ARE EMERGING, WHICH IS GOOD. >> COACH, THANK YOU. >> YOU GOT IT. >> THE DEFENSIVE COACHES HATE THIS. >> OH, MAN. THEY ARE FUMING. IT'S SO FUNNY WHEN THEY SPLIT INTO GOLD TEAM, RED TEAM, YELLOW TEAM, WHITE TEAM. IF YOU'RE A COORDINATOR AND ASSIGNED TO ONE SIDE, YOU'RE WATCHING YOUR GUYS THAT YOU ARE PLAYING AGAINST. THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO SEE ARE POINTS. THE OFFENSIVE COACHES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL SHOULD BE OVER THE MOON RIGHT NOW. >> YOU WONDER, AS A DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TODAY, SOME OF THE OTHER TEAMS ARE WATCHING THE SPRING GAMES. IF THERE'S A TRICK PLAY THAT WORKS AGAINST YOUR DEFENSE, DOES THAT SHOW UP IN THE FALL AT SOME POINT? >> IT'S SUCH A SLIPPERY SLOPE. MY ANSWER WOULD BE, YOU'RE GETTING TRICK PLAYS, WEEK ONE REGARDLESS. I PROMISE YOU, THOSE ARE GOING TO HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT. I'M SURE, IT'S IN THE BACK OF THEIR MIND, POSSIBLY. >> ANOTHER BIG RUN. ZACH EVANS INTO OPEN SPACE. ZACH EVANS MIGHT GO. AND HE DOES FOR A TOUCHDOWN. >> ZACH EVANS HAS BEEN A NAME TO WATCH FOR TWO YEARS. IF HE CAN REMAIN HEALTHY, WE'LL SEE THIS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. GETTING VERTICAL. AND LOOK AT THIS. HE IS GONE AND OFF TO THE RACES. ZACH WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE GUYS IN THE MIX WITH MO IBRAHIM AND TREY POTTS. HE GOT HURT. THAT'S ALL IT WAS. IF HE CAN BE HEALTHY, HE WILL DO IT ALL SEASON. RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE. DARIUS TAYLOR, SEAN TYLER, TO HAVE THAT MANY BODIES, THAT'S HOW YOU KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY. >> THE INJURY HELD HIM OUT FOR A LONG TIME LAST YEAR. THE ONE GAME HE PLAYED IN WAS NORTHWESTERN. AND HE SCORED A TOUCHDOWN IN IT. >> HE IS READY. WHAT DARIUS TAYLOR IS, WE GOT THIS FOUR-STAR YOUNG FRESHMAN RUNNING BACK, SO EXCITED. THAT WAS ZACH EVANS. IT WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO. HE'S GOING TO BE HEALTHY AND GOOD TO GO. DARIUS TAYLOR IS EXCITING. SEAN TYLER IS THE EXPERIENCED GUY. HE MAY BE THE FIRST GUY OUT THERE TO TAKE A SNAP EACH GAME. QUOTE/UNQUOTE, STARTER. HE'S 15 CARRIES A GAME AVERAGE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ASK HIM TO TAKE THE BALL 5 TIMES A GAME. THAT'S NOT HIS GAME. HE IS EXPLOSIVE. HE'S THE HOME RUN HITTER. THEY CAN USE SOME OF THAT, AS WELL. >> YOU SEE FOUR NAMES ON THAT GRAPHIC. JORDAN NUBIN AT RUNNING BACK, TOO. IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHEN YOU LOSE MO IBRAHIM, WHAT THE GAME WILL LOOK LIKE. YOU HAD THE ALL-TIME LEADING RUSHER, INCLUDING TREY POTTS WHO TRANSFERRED. >> YES. IT'S CONCERNING ON PAPER. YOU'RE THINKING OUR WORKHORSE OF BASICALLY THE WHOLE P.J. FLECK ERA IS GONE. THE 1,000-YARD GUY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE HIS PLACE, IS GONE. BREATHE EASY. IT'S OKAY. THERE'S A LOT OF VERSATILITY BACK THERE. YOU HAVE FOUR OR FIVE GUYS THAT ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF TAKING A CARRY AND MAKING AN OFFENSE PAY. A NOTABLE THING, TOO, ALL THESE GUYS CAN CATCH THE BALL OUT OF THE BACKFIELD. AS WE'RE GETTING A LOOK AT THIS. >> MINNESOTA GETTING CREATIVE WITH RECEIVERS IN THE RUN GAME. HAVEN'T SEEN THEM IN THE PASS GAME. AND KALIAKMANIS TAPS DOWN. ANOTHER PLAY MADE BY COLTON GREGORSON, A GUY FURTHER DOWN IN THE PROJECTED DEPTH CHART, WITH A COUPLE OF SACKS. HE GETS THE CELEBRATION, TOO. >> THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF SPRING GAMES. THEY WANT IT HIGH STAKES. THEY WANT DEPTH. THAT'S WHAT HURTS YOU THE MOST WHEN A LOT OF GUYS TRANSFER OUT. YOUR STARTERS ARE YOUR STARTERS BUT YOU NEED DEPTH. GUYS LIKE THAT CAN WORK UP THE CHARTS. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOUR NUMBER GETS CALLED. >> THE GUY ON THE RECEIVING END, THE 25-YEAR-OLD BALL OF ENERGY THAT DEFENSIVE LINE. >> HERE WE GO. YOU HAVE TO BRING THE TREE. HE'S A LITTLE STOUT. ♪♪ >> WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING PLAYS. EVERYTHING ELSE IS WINDOW DRESSING. >> IT'S GOT TO BE FASTER. YOU'RE NOT WRONG. JUST GO FASTER. YOU KNOW WHAT IMSAYING? GO AGAIN. I LIKE THAT. I LIKE IT. I WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN. >> IT WAS STOPPED. IT WAS STOPPED. >> YOU GOT TO LOVE A BIG, TOUGH, PHYSICAL GUY, THAT STARTS A SEGMENT LIKE THAT, SINGING PATTY CAKE. THEY LOVE HIM. THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT. THEY LOVE HIM. SOME MIGHT REMEMBER HIM. TO GO FROM PLAYER TO POSITION COACH, IN THAT SORT AMOUNT OF TIME, HE'S ONLY 25, YOU DANG RIGHT, HE WILL BE A HEAD COACH BEFORE HE'S 30 YEARS OLD. I'M DOUBLING DOWN ON THAT. THERE'S SOMETHING TO THE ASPECT OF -- I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING IT. CAN YOU SHOW ME? >> YEAH. I HAD MY HAND IN THE DIRT THREE YEARS AGO. LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT I MEAN. FOUR DEFENSIVE LINE COACHES IF FIVE YEARS. THERE NEEDS TO BE STABILITY. ESPECIALLY WITH A YOUNG GROUP. IT WILL GO A LONG WAY. >> HE IS THE NEWCOMER COORDINATOR, ON TOP OF COACHING THE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN. WITH SOME OF THAT YOUTHFUL ENERGY THAT YOU JUST SAW, HE BRINGS RECRUITS ON CAMPUS. AND ONCE THEY GET HERE AND ARE ON THE ROSTER, HE HELPS THEM ACCLIMATE BECAUSE HE'S LIVED IT. >> HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT FLECK EXPECTS OUT OF YOU AS A PLAYER AND A COACH. YOU CAN TRANSLATE THAT TO YOUNG 18-YEAR-OLDS THAT ARE READY TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THEIR LIFE. >> THE COMPLETION GOT THE GOLD TEAM NEAR MIDFIELD. IT'S THIRD DOWN. >> I BELIEVE THAT GOT TIPPED, JUST BASED OFF OF WHERE IT RELEASED AND WHERE IT ENDED UP. WE HAVEN'T SEEN KRAMER IN A LOT OF THIRD DOWNS. THE GOLD OFFENSE HAS BEEN ELECTRIC. THIRD AND LONG AND EXCITED TO SEE KRAMER IN THIS SITUATION. >> HE'S CLOSE TO 200 YARDS IN THE FIRST HALF. >> WE'RE EARLY IN THE SECOND QUARTER, TOO. THAT WAS HIS FIRST INCOMPLETION AFTER A PERFECT SIX FOR SIX START. AND ON THIRD AND 11, KRAMER GOING UNDERNEATH. AND A RALLY COMING, WITH TARIQ WATSON MAKING THE TACKLE SHY OF THE STICKS. >> GREAT TACKLE THERE. A LOT OF TIMES, WHEN YOU'RE IN A THIRD AND LONG, AS A D.B., HERE'S MY CHANCE. THE BALL IS GOING IN THE AIR. HAVE TO MAKE A PLAY. YOU ARE GOING TO RUN A THREE-FIVE YARD ROUTE, THAT'S FINE. I WILL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE CATCH. PUNT TEAM IS ON THE FIELD AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO. >> WE SHOWED YOU THE VISUAL EARLIER ABOUT LOOKING FOR A NEW STARTING CORNER WITH SMITH. THESE ARE BIG REPS FOR WATSON AND THE CORNERS. COMING UP, THE BIG TEN 10K RETURNS TO SOLDIER FIELD. 10K AND 5K RACES, REGISTER AT BTN BIG 10 K. >> YOUR ROSTER ISN'T COMPLETE. ONE POSITION WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, TIGHT ENDS IS IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE. YOU HAVE TO LOVE WHAT YOU HAVE AS PASS CATCHING AND BLOCKING AT THAT SPOT. >> TOOK A LEAP LAST YEAR. STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, YOU'RE IN PFF AND GRADES ALL THAT, THE BEST IN THE BIG TEN AT IT. THE BEST RUN BLOCKING TIGHT END. HE'S KNOWN AS A PASS CATCHER SO MUCH, THAT PEOPLE FORGET. HE ENJOYS BLOCKING. HE LOVES HIS HAND IN THE DIRT. THAT'S WHAT THE NFL WANTS. THERE'S A SCHISM. HE'S IN THE GEORGE KITTLE CATEGORY. HE CAN DO IT ALL. >> IT'S MARTIN OWUSU. HE'S GETTING ATTENTION FROM THE TRAINING STAFF. OWUSU WAS IN ON THE SHORT RUN PLAY WITH DARIUS TAYLOR CARRYING THE BALL. AND OF COURSE, THE STATED GOAL FOR P.J. FLECK COMING INTO THIS GAME, IS GET SOME WORK IN BUT KEEP EVERYBODY HEALTHY. >> THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S A BUNCH OF BIG GUYS PLAYING FAST AND RUNNING INTO EACH OTHER. THESE THINGS HAPPEN. OF COURSE, WITH SUCH A YOUNG ROSTER, AND ALSO, SUCH A THIN ROSTER, IN REGARDS TO DEPTH, THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO SEE, HE'S WALKING OFF UNDER HIS OWN POWER. HOPEFULLY THAT'S A GREAT SIGN. >> THE FRESHMAN, FROM MINNESOTA. AND MARTIN OWUSU, WALKING OFF ON HIS OWN POWER. >> TAYLOR IN AT RUNNING BACK. THE FOUR-STAR FRESHMAN FROM MICHIGAN. A COUPLE FIRST DOWNS ON THIS ALREADY. LETS IT FLY. THAT'S DOWN INSIDE THE 15 YARD LINE. AND INTERCEPTED. CARY BROWN HAS THE INTERCEPTION FOR THE GOLD TEAM. >> KALIAKMANIS TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN. SPENCER HAS HIM BEAT BY A STEP. BALL COMES UP SEVEN YARDS SHORT AND GOOD THINGS FOR THE GOLD TEAM. >> JANUARY ENROLLEE MAKING A PLAY. HIS FIRST LIVE LOOK IN FRONT OF A CROWD. TAKEN TO THE FALL FOR CARY BROWN. >> A FEW MONTHS AGO, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT PROM. NOW, HEY, GUYS. I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE. I'M GOING TO MAKE INTERCEPTIONS IN MY FIRST SPRING GAME. >> MADE IT WORTH IT. >> THERE'S A DOUBLE PASS. THAT'S KNOCKED OUT OF THERE. HE WAS STREAKING BEHIND THE DEFENSE ON THE TRICK PLAY. AND THE MVP OF THE BOWL GAME, COLEMAN BRYSON RECOVERS. >> NOT ON MY WATCH. YOU WANT YOUR DEFENSE THINKING THAT. HE IS ABLE TO GET THAT HAND UP THERE AND KNOCK IT DOWN. AS A D.B., I'M GOING TO SELFISHLY GOING TO ROOT FOR A D.B. BUT BACK-TO-BACK TRICK PLAYS WAS A GOOD ONE, AS WELL. >> BRYSON HAD THAT PICK SIX IN THE BOWL GAME. THAT WAS THE FIRST PICK SIX THAT MINNESOTA EVER HAD IN A BOWL GAME. >> WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY, CONNOR? >> WHERE WAS YOURS? >> EVERY TIME I GOT AN INTERCEPTION, I WAS EITHER IN THE END ZONE, AND AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO TAKE IT OUT, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN WORTH THE EARFUL ON THE SIDELINE, IF I DIDN'T MAKE IT ALL THE WAY. THAT'S WHAT OUR COACH ALWAYS SAID, INTERCEPTION IN THE RED ZONE, IF YOU DO NOT SCORE, DON'T EVEN COME BACK TO THE SIDELINE. IF YOU THINK -- YOU DO NOT SCORE, DON'T COME BACK. THAT RANG IN MY HEAD. I NEVER GOT THE OPPORTUNITY. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY THAT COLEMAN DID WHAT I COULD NOT. >> A FORMER GOPHER UP HERE, BROCK VEREEN. THE UMPIRE TAKES A SHOT ON THAT. COLE KRAMER HAVING A LAUGH ABOUT THAT. THAT'S THE OLD LONGEST YARD PLAY. HIT THE UMPIRE. >> AND THE UMP IS SAYING, WHOA. I DID NOTHING. WRONG, COLE. ALL YOU CAN DO IS SMILE. >> WAS THAT A WINK? WAS THAT A TWITCH? I THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE WINKED AT THE UMPIRE. >> I'LL CALL IT A WINK. >> ALL THESE SPECIAL TEAMS ON-AIR. WE'RE TALKING TIGHT END EARLIER. AND EMILY HAS SPAN FORWARD. >> WHAT'S THE BIGGEST THING YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH HERE? >> A WEST DIVISION TITLE. THAT'S WHAT WE STRIVE FOR EVERY YEAR. YOU HAD GUYS GRADUATE. WHO ARE GUYS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TO HAVE IMPACT THIS FALL? >> A LOT OF GUYS COMING BACK. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON. THOSE GUYS LEFT WITH GREAT LEADERSHIP. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET GOING. >> YOU HAD SHOULDER SURGERY AFTER THE OFF-SEASON. WHERE ARE YOU IN THE REHAB PROCESS? >> I SHOULD BE BACK IN A FEW WEEKS. IT WILL BE EXCITING TO GET BACK ON THE FIELD AND BLOCKING. >> WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU THIS UPCOMING FALL? >> MY VERY BEST. OUR VERY BEST, I SHOULD SAY. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> EMILY, BREVYN, THANK YOU. >> I'M WITH HIM. HE ALWAYS HAD THE ABILITY EVERYONE WAS WONDERING. OKAY. HE'S BIG AND FAST AND STRONG. WHEN WILL HE COME TOGETHER? IT WASN'T THE PHYSICAL ASPECT. IT WAS THE MENTAL. YOU SAW HIM DISSECTING COVERAGES AND THEN, THE ABILITY. A HUGE YEAR FOR HIM. >> THAT WAS A DART FROM KALIAKMANIS, THAT ELIJAH SPENCER REELS IN. >> LOOKS LIKE ELIJAH AND KALIAKMANIS HAVE A LOT OF CHEMISTRY GOING ON. THAT IS NOT AN EASY CATCH. NOT ONLY ARE YOU LEAVING YOUR FEET, NOT ONLY ARE YOU COGNIZANT OF THE SAFETY COMING DOWN ON YOU, THAT BALL IS 12 YARDS FROM YOU. AND IT'S COMING 100 MILES PER HOUR. THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF A STRONG ARM. GET IT IN THE TINY WINDOWS. HE WENT SHORT AND HARD. AND HIGH AND SOFT. AND IT'S INCOMPLETE. GOING FOR THE BACK PYLON. AND CADE IS THERE. >> A PERFECT PASS BY ATHAN. YOU CANNOT PLACE IT ANY BETTER. LOOK WHERE THIS GETS TO WHERE THE D.B.s CAN'T. ONLY ELIJAH CAN. HE HAS TO MAKE THAT PLAY AND WILL MAKE THAT PLAY. WHEN IT'S GAME TIME. GREAT PLAY BY CADE. >> BACK UNDERNEATH, THREE-STRAIGHT TARGETS FOR THE NEW GUY, ELIJAH SPENCER. A FAST BALL FOR A FIRST DOWN. >> LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE SAYING, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY OFFMAN COVERAGE, WE'LL TAKE THIS. THOSE ON THE RED ZONE GET TRICKIER. THERE'S SO MANY BODIES IN A COMPACT, TIGHT SPACE. UNLESS THAT BALL IS GOING TO GO TO THE GROUND, THEY HAVE TO SPREAD IT OUT A LITTLE BIT. >> FIRST AND GOAL, JUST AHEAD OF HALFTIME. AND THE PULL FROM TAYLOR AND KALIAKMANIS WITH A WALK-IN TOUCHDOWN. EVERYBODY GOING WITH THE FLOW OF THE FRESHMAN RUNNING BACK TAYLOR. >> HE CAN RUN IT GOOD ENOUGH, WHEN YOU CATCH A DEFENSIVE SLEEP, HE CAN MAKE YOU PAY. >> WHEN ATHAN IS IN THE OPEN FIELD, HE HAS TOP-END SPEED, AS WELL. >> KALIAKMANIS FINISHES IT OUT. WELL, IT'S A THURSDAY NIGHT START AGAINST NEBRASKA. MINNESOTA GETS TO WELCOME MATT RULE, IN THE LEAGUE, IN THEIR HOME STADIUM IN AUGUST. >> YOU KNOW THAT MINNESOTA LOVES THAT THURSDAY NIGHT GAME. THIS MAY BE THE ONE WITH ALL OF THE ATTENTION. TO RIVAL THAT OHIO STATE GAME. EVERYBODY WA WANTS TO SEE THE DT OF MATT RHULE. I LOVE THAT. TWO PRIMETIME MATCH-UPS. THAT BYE COMES IN HANDY. BOY, DO THEY FINISH THAT SEASON STRONG WITH PURDUE, THE BIG TEN WEST CHAMPS A YEAR AGO, OHIO STATE AND WISCONSIN. NOT MAD AT THE SCHEDULE. AND WEEK THREE, GOING TO CAROLINA, WILL BE FUN, AS WELL. >> 131 DAYS FROM KICKOFF. TODAY IS THE BIG SCOUT DAY. HALFWAY THROUGH THE MAROON AND GOLD GAME, WE GET YOU TO LINCOLN AFTER THIS. YOU CAN SEE THAT FIRST BIG TEN MATCH-UP PLAY OUT, IN BACK-TO-BACK SPRING GAMES. AFTER THE KALIAKMANIS TOUCHDOWN, WE GO TO HALFTIME WITH THE MAROON TEAM, GETTING IT BACK TO A SEVEN-POINT GAME. IT WAS ALL-GOLD TO BEGIN IT. HIGH INTENSITY FROM THE LARSON PERFORMANCE CENTER. AND PLAYING REAL FOOTBALL WITH HIGH SCORING THROUGH THE HALF. MINNESOTA WITH GOOD HALVES. TYLER NUBIN, THE SAFETY. AND ATHAN KALIAKMANIS CLOSED IT OUT WITH A RUSHING TOUCHDOWN. LET'S GO TO EMILY AT THE HALF. >> I HAVE MARK WITH ME. P.J. FLECK WAS ONE OF YOUR FIRST BIG HIRES IN 2017. WHAT HAVE YOU NOTICED SINCE HE CAME IN? >> IT'S TALKING ABOUT HOW PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA AND PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT MINNESOTA FOOTBALL. LOOK AT WHAT HE'S DONE HERE, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. WE HAVE OUR HIGHEST ACADEMIC MARKS WE'VE HAD. SIX-STRAIGHT BOWL GAMES. WE'RE EXCITED. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM HERE IN OUR PROGRAM. >> YOU INCREASED THE SALLY PULL THIS LAST FALL. >> IT'S SO COMPETITIVE. THE BIG TEN IS NOT GETTING EASIER. THE BIG TEN WEST AND EAST, AND THE ADDITION OF USC AND UCLA, WE WANT THEM LONG-TERM. WE HAVE A GREAT PRESIDENT. PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT, HE'S THE FIRST ONE. WHEN OUR SOFTBALL TEAM GOES TO THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES, OR THE HOCKEY TEAM GOES TO THE FROZEN FOUR, HE IS THE FIRST TO HIGH-FIVE THEM AND THE ENERGY IS INFECTIOUS. >> WHAT MAKES MINNESOTA SO SPECIAL? >> WE GOT GREAT SUPPORT. IT'S NOT VERY MINNESOTA TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS. ACADEMICALLY, WE'RE THE HIGHEST RATED PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY. THE STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE A GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 3.41. YOU'RE IN THE TOP 6%. WE HAVE A GREAT FAN BASE. AND A LOT OF POSITIVE EXCITEMENT GOING ON IN OUR DEPARTMENT. >> GREAT FACILITIES. GREAT NEW COACHES COMING THROUGH ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE AND VOLLEYBALL FRONT. >> FROM THE DAYS PLAYING VOLLEYBALL, KEEGAN HAS BEEN A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR PROGRAM. HE HAD SUCCESS OUT OF WASHINGTON. WHEN WE HIRED DAWN FROM WISCONSIN, SHE HAS BIG TEN TIES. I'M NOT JUST SAYING THIS BECAUSE I'M TALKING WITH YOU. BUT THE BIG TEN NETWORK IS A BIG DEAL. WHEN YOU CAN ATTRACT COACHES AND STUDENT ATHLETES, WE TALK ABOUT THE VISIBILITY, NOT ONLY FROM THE BIG TEN NETWORK AND OTHER TV PARTNERS, IT GOES A LONG WAY. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR OUR PROGRAM. IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR US. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. IN TERMS OF THE FOOTBALL FIELD. WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED FOR? >> P.J. HAS HIT EVERY BENCHMARK WE TALKED ABOUT. WE HAD TANNER MORGAN AND WE HAVE ATHAN AT QUARTERBACK, WHICH IS GREAT. NEW LINEMEN AND DEFENSIVE PLAYERS. AND P.J. WATCHING AND DEVELOPING THESE KIDS, OUR RECRUITING CLASS HAS GOTTEN BETTER EACH YEAR. AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE THESE GUYS BE A PART OF IT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. BACK TO YOU GUYS. >> WE'VE SEEN ATHAN KALIAKMANIS WITH GOOD MOMENTS, IN THIS FIRST HALF, INCLUDING A RUSHING TOUCHDOWN. >> HE COULD GET IT DONE WITH HIS LEGS AND HIS ARM. SO MUCH ZIP HE CAN GET ON THE BALL IN SOME VERY TIGHT WINDOWS. HE CAN CREATE COMFORT. THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO PHRASE IT. WHEN YOUR RECEIVER TRUSTS THAT, HEY, I KNOW I'M GOING OVER THE MIDDLE. BUT ATHAN IS GOING TO GET ME THE BALL IN A PLACE AND QUICKLY ENOUGH TO WHERE I AM SAFE, THAT'S FINE WITH ME. AND OF COURSE, HE CAN GET IT DONE WITH HIS LEGS. I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH MORE OF ATHAN WE'RE GOING TO SEE, IF HE IS CALLING IT HERE, MAYBE A SLOW START. WHAT A SECOND QUARTER. >> AND THE LAST DRIVE, HE COMPLETED THREE BALLS TO ELIJAH SPENCER. WENT FOR FOUR CATCHES, 41 YARDS ON THAT DRIVE. >> ATHAN'S GO-TO GUY WAS DANIEL JACKSON. DANIEL JACKSON ISN'T ON THIS TEAM. DANIEL JACKSON IS IF ENEMY. WE'VE SEEN COREY CROOMS AND ELIJAH SPENCER AND SEEN HIM GET ING WORK WITH THE NEW FACES. >> GOT THE NEW GUYS ON HIS SIDE. ELIJAH SPENCER AND COREY CROOMS. GOOD DAY FOR THE KID >>> THEY'RE RELEASING THE GOPHERS BACK ON THE FIELD, AT THE GOLD/MAROON GAME. WE'RE GETTING READY FOR THE SECOND HALF. >> WE'RE IN SOLID TERRITORY. LET ME EAT. >> I NEED TO GET EVEN WITH YOU. WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT POSITION GROUPS TODAY, RIGHT? WHO IS THE BIGGEST WINNER IN THE FIRST HALF? >> RUNNING BACKS. BUT I TELL YOU WHAT. THAT DEFENSIVE LINE HAS BEEN THE REAL DEAL. THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS ENTERING. I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE RECEIVERS, AS WELL. SPENCER AND BROCKINGTON, TO BE SPECIFIC. >> THE GOLD TEAM GOT OUT TO A FAST START. BIG PASS PLAY ON THEIR FIRST DRIVE. COLE KRAMER HAS LOOKED SHARP AT QUARTERBACK. >> HE HAS. HE'S BEEN LOCKED IN. IT HELPS YOUR CONFIDENCE WHEN YOU CAN GET AN EARLY BOMB TO THE FREE SAFETY. THAT CAN SET THE TONE, AS TYLER NUBIN GETS IT DONE FOR THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE FOOTBALL. HIS ONLY ACTION TODAY. AND ZACH EVANS HAD HAD HIMSELF A DAY. HE IS PUNCHING IT IN THERE. AND GOT LOOSE A LITTLE LATER. SHOWING SOME EXPLOSIVETY. THIS RUNNING BACK ROOM IS DIFFERENT. BUT AFTER TWO SPRING BALL QUARTERS, YOU CAN FEEL A COLLECTIVE SIGH OF RELIEF. I WISH MO CAN PLAY FOR 100 YEARS BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY. >> A PRETTY BIG QUESTION ALONG THE OFFENSIVE LINE, TOO, IS WHO REPLACES THE HUGE SHOES AT CENTER WITH AN NFL DRAFT PROSPECT THERE. EMILY WITH MORE. >> WE HAVE JOHN MICHAEL SCHMITZ. PREPARING FOR THE DRAFT IN LESS THAN A WEEK. WHAT'S YOUR DRAFT SETUP? >> GOING TO BE CELEBRATING WITH THE ONES THAT GOT ME HERE. GOING TO GO BACK HOME IN HOMEWOOD. BE AROUND MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. >> WHAT'S THE MOST EXCITING PART FOR YOU? >> HONESTLY, I JUST -- I JUST LOVE THE PROCESS. I LOVE TAKING IT ONE DAY AT A TIME. AND ENJOYING IT. ENJOYING IT, HONESTLY. LOVING THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I'M GIVEN. AND GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING. >> ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WAS THE NFL COMBINE. HOW WAS THAT EXPERIENCE FOR YOU? >> COOL EXPERIENCE. ALWAYS WATCHED IT GROWING UP. ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT. AND SEEING MYSELF IN IT. AND HAD MY FAMILY THERE. SUPPORTING ME, WAS A BIG OPPORTUNITY. LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. >> LOOKING BACK IN THIS BUILDING IN MINNESOTA, WHAT MEMORY STICKS OUT MOST? >> HONESTLY, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU MAKE OVER THE TIME. COMING IN SIX YEARS, WITH GUYS THAT WANTED THE TO TURN THIS PROGRAM AROUND. I MEAN, THOSE GUYS CHANGED THE PROGRAM FOR THE BETTER. LOOKING AT THE CHAMPIONSHIPS HERE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. BACK TO YOU GUYS. >> EMILY, ON AVERAGE, THE LAST THREE YEARS, MINNESOTA HAS HAD FOUR PLAYERS DRAFTED IN THE NFL. 12 GUYS SINCE 2020. A GOOD CHANCE THAT FOUR ARE GOING TO GO AND MAYBE FIVE THIS YEAR. >> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, DON'T LET THE BIG SMILE ON THE LEFT FOOL YOU. THAT'S THE MEANEST MAN IN THE BUILDING. HE WILL HEAR HIS NAME CALLED IN THE FIRST ROUND. I PROMISE YOU. >> EVERYTHING YOU READ AND WATCH, FIRST OR SECOND ROUND GUY. >> ABSOLUTELY. HE IS A GUY, THAT SOUNDS FLUFF OR LIKE I'M PUTTING SAUCE ON IT, HE'S A GUY THAT YOUR QUARTERBACK CAN LOOK AT AND SAY, I KNOW HE'S GOT ME. THE PROTECTION IS GOOD. HE'S GOING TO GET ON EVERYONE, IF THEY'RE NOT LOCKED IN, THAT'S A GUY MY QUARTERBACK CAN TRUST. >> NATHAN BOWE HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF THE SNAPPING IN SPRING AND CENTER. THE GOPHERS LIKE CONNOR SHAW. HE IS IN COMPETITION AT CENTER, TOO. YOU HAVE STABILITY BEHIND YOU. >> WITHOUT QUESTION. AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THE STARTING FIVE THAT WE SEE WEEK ONE ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE, JUST THE WAY THAT FOOTBALL WORKS, IT MAY NOT BE THE STARTING TEN BY WEEK THREE. THE ADJUSTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE, WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT. FIVE IS NOT ENOUGH. YOU NEED EIGHT AND NINE. THEY WILL GET ALL OF THESE GUYS WORK. AND BY WEEK THREE OR FOUR, THEY FIGURED OUT WHICH FIVE IS BEST. NATHAN BOWE IS SNAPPING. >> THEY EASE UP AROUND ATHAN. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THEM TO DISRUPT THE QUARTERBACK. THEY LOOK GOOD AGAINST ANY OFFENSIVE LINE. MINNESOTA'S OFFENSIVE LINE IS SPECIAL. >> THIRD DOWN HERE. AND THERE'S ANOTHER SACK RIGHT THERE. THEY'RE GOING TO CALL THAT A SACK. RIGHT ON CUE. >> THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET OUR FIRST MAROON FLAG OF THE DAY. A SACK OF KRAMER. >> YOU SEE KRAMER WITH SPEED. NOT A LOT OF HANDS OR ANYTHING. I'M GOING TO GET OFF OF THIS BALL FASTER THAN YOU CAN SEE IT. >> HASN'T PLAYED IN A REAL GAME JET. A GUY THAT COULD SEE SOME FIELD IN THE FALL FOR THE FIRST TIME. SPRING FOOTBALL IN THE BIG TEN NETWORK IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE USFL. THE USFL CONTINUES TONIGHT, AT 7:00 EASTERN, ONLY ON FOX. SAW A LOT OF WORK FROM KALIAKMANIS IN THE FIRST HALF. MAYBE WE GET A LOOK AT DREW VIOTTO. IT'S RIGHT BACK INTO ELIJAH SPENCER. NEW QUARTERBACK, SAME RECEIVER. AND SPENCER PICKING UP WHERE HE CLOSED THE FIRST HALF. >> ELIJAH SPENCER, WE WERE HIGHLIGHTING EARLIER. ELIJAH SPENCER HAS FIRMLY CEMENTED HIMSELF AS ANOTHER PROSPECT FOR THAT. GUYS HAVE BEEN DRAPED OVER HIM ON EVERY ONE OF THE RECEPTIONS BUT HE'S CONSISTENTLY BRINGING IT IN. >> A REAL FLAG BREAKS OUT. NUBIN BREAKS OUT OF THE SECONDARY. THAT'S NOT THE MAROON OR GOLD FLAG. >> THAT'S IN THE AREA OF HOLDING, WHICH IS NEVER GOOD, IF YOU'RE THE MAROON TEAM, THAT IS. >> Referee: HOLDING, DEFENSE, NUMBER 8, TEN YARDS ADDED TO TEND OF THE RUN. >> AGAINST THE DEFENSE. >> IT WAS HOLDING. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN SPOT IT. JORDAN NUBIN READING THE ZONE PERFECTLY. LOOK HOW MUCH SPACE THERE IS. HE CAN CLOSE THE GAP. A LOT OF MUCK TO SHIFT THROUGH. THE REFS SAW SOMETHING. WHEN YOU SEE AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN ON THE GROUND LIKE THAT, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE GROUND. SOMETIMES THEY GOT DRUG TO THE GROUND. VIOTTO, PULLS IT OUT OF THERE. BACK SPENCER' DIRECTION. HE IS WATCHING EVERYTHING, RIGHT NOW. >> MENTIONED THE TRUE FRESHMAN, JUST ARRIVED. BUT ELIJAH SPENCER, SURE-HANDED. LOOKING OFF THE D.B. THERE. IT'S A TOUGH THING TO CATCH THE BALL. KNOWING YOU ARE GOING TO GET HIT IMMEDIATELY. ELIJAH SPENCER IS A GUY YOU CAN TRUST. >> GREAT LOOK AT HIS EYES. YOU'RE A FORMER D.B. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IF YOU SAW THOSE EYES? >> WHAT HE DID WAS WHAT YOU CAN CALL BAIT, RIGHT? YOU'RE A DEFENSIVE BACK, WATCH VERY CLOSELY AT THE TOP OF THIS ROUTE. HE'S GETTING VERTICAL AND HE LOOKS OUTSIDE. IF YOU'RE NOT A DISCIPLINED QUARTERBACK, THAT'S ENOUGH TO GET YOU. PLAYING CORNERBACK IS TOUGH. YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A CUE. ELIJAH SPENCER IS A VETERAN. HE UNDERSTANDS THAT. IF I CAN GET AN UNDISCIPLINED GUY, I CAN GET HIM OFF OF THE LEDGE A LITTLE BIT. >> NUBIN BACK ON THE GROUND. TALK ABOUT STEMMING AND THAT SORT OF STUFF AND FOOTWORK. THAT'S UNDERRATED IN THAT POSITION. >> YOU KNOW WHO BROUGHT IT TO THE FOREFRONT IS RANDY MOSS. WATCH ANY DEFENSIVE BACK TALK ABOUT COVERING RANDY MOSS, HE MANIPULATED YOU WITH HIS EYES. FOR A LOT OF INEXPERIENCED RECEIVERS, YOU EYES GET BIG WHEN THE BALL IS COMING. THOSE ARE LITTLE THINGS. A VETERAN LIKE ELIJAH SPENCER CAN USE THAT TO MANIPULATE. THE CORNERBACK WAS DISCIPLINED. A LOT OF CORNERBACKS WON'T BE. >> YOU PLAYED INTO THE GOPHER/VIKING CROSSOVER CROWD, WITH THE RANDY MASS STUFF. >> I LIKE TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE, CONNOR. >> LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO SEND IN VIOTTO BACK. DESICH WILL TAKE OVER. HE HAS PLENTY OF LEG ON THAT. >> THESE ARE THE GUYS TO WATCH. BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL. SOME TRANSFERS. BUT A COUPLE OF FOUR-STAR GUYS. YOU GET JEROME WILLIAMS THIS SUMMER. TAYLOR IS HERE. >> JEROME, THE NUMBER TWO RECRUIT IN MINNESOTA. WE WERE TALKING IN THE OPEN ABOUT WHAT BACK-TO-BACK NINE-WIN SEASONS WITH BOWL WINS CAN DO. THAT'S WHAT IT CAN DO. IT CAN KEEP THE BEST HOME. THAT'S A MASSIVE LAND. YOU HAVE DARIUS TAYLOR, TYLER, CROOMS. CHRIS COLLINS WE HAVEN'T SEEN, THE UNC GRAD TRANSFER. I'LL BET YOU HE CANNOT WAIT FOR SEPTEMBER 16th WHEN THEY HEAD BACK TO CHAPEL HILL. >> THAT WILL BE A FUN HEADLINING NONCONFERENCE GAME. TWO STRONG ARM QUARTERBACKS. >> THAT WILL BE A -- AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE. THURSDAY NIGHT UNDER THE LIGHTS. MATT RHULE DEBUT, NEW-LOOK HUSKERS. THAT WILL BE A BIG ONE. AND THE UNC BIG TEN SCHEDULE. THE LIGHTS WILL BE BRIGHT THIS SEASON. VIOTTO WAS PLAYING WITH THE MAROON TEAM, NOW, WITH THE GOLD TEAM. FIRST LOOK AT MATT RHULE'S TEAM. EVERYBODY IS LIVE, INCLUDING THE QUARTERBACKS. OUT TO LINCOLN NEXT FOR NEBRASKA SPRING FOOTBALL ON BIG TEN NETWORK AND THE FOX SPORTS AP. >> IT KIND OF LEANS INTO -- THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPRING BALLS. THE MINNEAPOLIS SPRING BALL RIGHT HERE WITH THE GOPHERS, WHERE BACK-TO-BACK NINE-WIN SEASONS. YEAH, WE NEED TO SEE WHAT WE GOT WITH SOME YOUNG GUYS. BUT WE GOT ENOUGH EXPERIENCE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO BE LIVE ALL THE TIME EVERY DAY. NEBRASKA IS, YOU GOT TO SHOW IT TO ME. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THREE-WIN SEASONS. >> VIOTTO OVER THE TOP. ALMOST AN INTERCEPTION. BUT IT IS THIRD DOWN. >> HE WILL HAVE TO DO PUSH-UPS THE NEXT TIME ON THE SIDELINE. THAT'S TOUGH WHEN THE BALL GOES OVER YOUR HEAD. WE HAVE SOME ACTION. >> WE GOT A FLAG. BUT NOT A PENALTY FLAG. A MAROON FLAG. THAT MOVES FORWARD FOR THE OFFENSE 20 YARDS. THE OFFENSE WILL USE IT HERE. YOU ONLY GET TO USE IT ONCE. THAT'S WHY P.J. FLECK IS MAKING NOTES. FIRST DOWN. THAT'S THE ONLY ONE. >> AS CLOSE TO A REAL GAME, THERE'S GOT TO BE A LITTLE FLUK FLECK IN THERE. >> NO MID-GAME CONCERT. BUT WE GET FLAGS. >> TO THE POINT, THE SITUATION THAT NEBRASKA IS IN WHEN I WAS HERE MY SOPHOMORE YEAR. WE WON THREE GAMES LAST YEAR. YOU NEED TO SHOW IT TO ME. WE'RE LIVE EVERY DAY. QUARTERBACKS INCLUDING. I DON'T KNOW WHO I'M GOING TO PLAY AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE A SCHOLARSHIP GUY BY THE TIME THE SPRING IS OVER. THERE'S TWO TYPES OF SPRING BALL. >> TIME-OUT, GOLD OFFENSE, AFTER THEY USED THAT MOVE FORWARD FLAG. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THOSE ARE THE ONLY WRINKLES WE SEE. >> MAYBE WE WILL SEE MORE FUN STUFF. HE WASN'T HAPPY WITH THAT TIME-OUT. THERE'S A LITTLE SMILE, SOMEWHAT. I DON'T THINK HE WAS HAPPY WITH THAT TIME-OUT JUST TAKEN. >> I LOVE THAT HE PULLED OUT A NOTEBOOK. AND DREW VIOTTO, AROUND THE EDGE. AND SECOND TIME WE'VE SEEN SMITH MAKE A PLAY AT DEFENSIVE LINE. >> WE SAW HIM, TOO, WHEN WE WERE WATCHING -- ANOTHER FLAG ON THE FIELD. NOT A FLECK FLAG, A REFEREE FLAG. >> PUSHING AT THE END. AFTER PUSHING THE PILE. P.J. SAYING, THERE'S NO ROOM FOR THAT. YOU WANT TO GET FIRED UP AND CELEBRATE. THAT'S YOUR TEAMMATE AT TEND OF THE DAY. HE'S CURRENTLY ON THE SIDELINE HEARING A LOT OF IT. >> SMITH ON GRAND THERE. AND SHORT GAIN WITH SMITH ON THE SIDELINE. >> YES, AND AGAIN. GUYS ARE FIRED UP. THESE ARE GAME REFS. THIS IS A DEFENSIVE LINE WITH A LOT OF SPOTS UP FOR GRABS. GET BACK IN THERE. THERE'S NO PLACE FOR IT WHEN YOU GO UP AGAINST YOUR TEAMMATES. BEFORE THAT PLAY, HE HAD A HECK OF A DAY. >> HE HAS MADE HIMSELF KNOWN. >> LOOKING FOR THAT CAREER SACK. GET MORE PASS RUSH. AND HE FACTORS INTO THAT ON THE EDGE. AND BACK TO THE GROUND, TOUGH YARDS. FOR THE GOLD TEAM OFFENSE AGAINST THAT FRONT AT SMITH. AND HENDERSON AT NICKEL. >> LOVE HENDERSON. THAT LEADS TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DEFENSIVE BACKS. IT'S FITTING THAT THE D.B.s AND THE "D" LINE ARE IN A STATE OF FLUX. NOT BECAUSE OF LACK OF TALENT. JUST BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND WHO IS GOING TO TAKE THAT ROLE. A GREAT D.B. UNIT HELPS OUT A DEFENSIVE LINE. THE DEFENSIVE LINE UNIT, CAN PIN THEIR EARS BACK ON THIRD DOWN. THAT MAKES A D.B. FEEL GREAT. >> WE HAD A FLAGGED FIRST DOWN. THIRD DOWN AGAIN. THAT'S STOPPED UP. THAT'S MAVERICK BARANOWSKI. >> HE MAKES THE PLAY. AND HE WAS THE YOUNG GUY IN THE LINEBACKER ROOM. I WOULD EXPECT HIM TO HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A STARTER BEFORE TRAINING CAMP IS OVER WITH. >> COMES FROM FLORIDA. MOM WAS AN ATHLETE. EASY ICE BREAKER WITH EMILY EHMAN. SHE WAS AN OUTSIDE HITTER AT UCF. FORMER VOLLEYBALL PLAYER. FIELD GOAL IS GOOD. THAT WAS THE FLASHY START. WE WENT INTO THE LOCKER ROOM AT 21-14. THE COACHES WILL LIKE THAT QUARTER BETTER. THREE POINTS >>> START OF THE FOURTH QUARTER IN THE MAROON/GOLD GAME. >> GOT FORMER QUARTERBACK TANNER MORGAN HERE. IT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE NOT AT CENTER IN A SPRING GAME. HOW IS IT FOR SPRING BALL? >> I WAS HERE FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S EXCITING TO WATCH IT. IT'S FUN TO COME BACK AS AN ALUMNI AND WATCH THE GUYS GO OUT AND COMPETE. >> SIX GREAT YEARS HERE. LOOKING BACK ON YOUR TIME, WHAT MEMORY STICKS WITH YOU MOST? >> FOR ME, IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT WE FLIPPED THE CULTURE. BUILDING THIS PROGRAM AND THE WAY IT WILL TURN FORWARD, WILL BE FUN TO SEE. >> YOUNG TALENT AT THE QUARTERBACK SPOT. ATHAN KALIAKMANIS. WHAT MAKES YOU CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL BE A GREAT QUARTERBACK? >> HE HAS ALL OF IF TOOLS. HE'S GOT CRAZY ARM STRENGTH. VERY ATHLETIC. GREAT ATHLETE. IT'S EXCITING TO SEE WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO NEXT YEAR. AND COLE KRAMER IS ANOTHER GUY WHO HAS PLAYED AT A HIGH LEVEL. BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. HE'S BEEN HAVING A GREAT DAY SO FAR. THOSE GUYS ARE GREAT. THEY ARE MRIING HARD. FUN TO SEE THEM GOING OUT HERE AND SWING IT. >> ATHAN TALKED ABOUT HOW HE LEARNED FROM YOU. WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU LEARNED FROM HIM DURING YOUR TIME? >> FOR ME, I LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM. THE ABILITY TO MOVE ON QUICKLY FROM ONE THING TO THE NEXT. I WAS ALWAYS LEARNING FROM HIM IN THAT ASPECT. HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE ON QUICKLY, IF IT WAS A GOOD OR BAD PLAY. THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN APPRECIATE. GET A TOUCHDOWN THERE? >> A GREAT THROW. >> I KNOW. AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE "Qs" AND GET A TOUCHDOWN. >> TANNER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> BACK TO YOU GUYS. >> WE THINK IT WAS A TOUCHDOWN. >> YEP, THEY SIGNALED IT. >> ELIJAH SPENCER, FEELS LIKE HE'S CAUGHT 15 BALLS TODAY. >> I'M NOT SURE IF WE CAN GET A REPLAY. THE CAMERAMAN WAS TOPPLED. LET'S TAKE YOU THROUGH THE DRIVE. KALIAKMANIS, RIFLING IN, THAT DIG ON THE HASHES BETWEEN ELIJAH SPENCER. THIS WAS CALLED A TOUCHDOWN. GETTING A LOOK AT IT. ONE FOOT. HE'S GOOD. WHAT A CATCH BY HIM. WE WERE TALKING CHEMISTRY. ELIJAH SPENCER SITS HERE WITH NINE RECEPTIONS, CHEMISTRY WILL BE NO CONCERN FOR THIS GOPHER OFFENSE. >> SEEN ALL THREE LEVELS WITH THOSE GUYS ALSO. KRAMER BACK AT QUARTERBACK. SLINGS IT IN FOR A FIRST DOWN. WE SAW THE ROCKET AND A DEEP BALL, TOO. >> PUTTING HIMSELF IN THE MVP, MAKING A STRONG CASE. IT'S INTERESTING. THE ORIGINAL STARTERS FIND THEMSELVES BACK ON THE FIELD. >> HERE'S EVANS, PUTTING THE JUKE MOVE ON AGAIN. AND HE'S GOT A BIG GAINER AGAIN, AFTER THE 70-YARD TOUCHDOWN EARLIER. >> HE HAS AS GOOD OF A ONE-TWO AS YOU CAN SEE IN A RUNNING BACK. AND WITH A ONE-TWO, YOU SEE RIGHT HERE WHAT I MEAN. >> GOT THE SAME GUY AGAIN. >> COLEMAN HAS BEEN THE VICTIM OF ZACH EVANS BUT THAT'S MY TEAMMATE. IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO ONE-TWO RIGHT PAST ME, I WOULD RATHER IT BE MY TEAMMATE. ZACH EVANS HAS SHOWN QUITE A BIT. I'M EXCITED FOR HIM. THERE'S BARANOWSKI. UP FROM LINEBACKER TO MAKE THE TACKLE. >> HE WAS IN A YEAR AGO. MADE A PUSH FOR ONE OF THOSE LINEBACKER POSITIONS. THERE WAS SO MUCH EXPERIENCE THERE. THERE REALLY WASN'T A PLACE FOR HIM. WE MENTIONED JACK HENDERSON. I'M TELLING YOU, THAT NICKEL POSITION HAS HIM WRITTEN ALL OVER IT. HE CAN DO A TON. 163 TACKLES. THAT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT. >> FAKE TO EVANS FOR KRAMER. AND CHECKS THAT DOWN. AND BARANOSKI MAKES ANOTHER PLAY. >> THEY LOVE HIS ATHLETICISM. NOW, WE SEE WHY. HE TIMES IT UP PERFECTLY. IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY THAT'S NOT PASS INTERFERENCE, BECAUSE THE BALL IS TIPPED, YOU CAN FIRE. RECEIVERS DO NOT HAVE ANY PROTECTION. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND HIT HIM. BARANOSWI WITH A GREAT STRETCH HERE. >> THEY GOT HIM ON THE FIELD A LITTLE BIT. PLAYED THE MAXIMUM FOUR GAMES TO KEEP THE REDSHIRT. >> THEY WAS AN EXPERIENCED GUY, THAT WAS TRANSFERRED AWAY. IT IS A TOUGH ROOM TO CRACK. >> BROCKINGTON STAYING ON HIS FEET AND TAKING TACKLERS WITH HIM. UP AND DOWN THE FIELD FOR THE FIRST TIME WERE THE GOLD TEAM ON THIRD AND TEN. >> SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE. THAT MVP WAS MINE BEFORE YOU MAKE THE CATCHES. I LOVE THE FIGHT. HE'S STAYING UP. SCRAPPY IS A GOOD WORD. I MIGHT BE UNDERSIZED BUT I'M GOING TO BRING THE PHYSICALITY TO YOU. I'M NOT GOING TO WAIT FOR YOU TO BRING IT TO ME. >> HE WILL NEVER FORGET. HE WILL NEVER FORGET HIS COLLEGE TOUCHDOWN PASS. CATCH. THE 45-YARD SLANT. >> TALK ABOUT A COMING-OUT PARTY. >> WON THE GAME AGAINST WISCONSIN LAST YEAR. BACK ON THE GROUND WITH EVANS. >> KALIAKMANIS IS GOING TO BE IN WITH A FULL OFF-SEASON. SAME WITH BROCKINGTON. HE WASN'T TAKING A LOT OF THE FIRST TEAM REPS. YOU HAD BELL AND A COUPLE OTHER GUYS THAT TRANSFERRED OUT. HE'S GETTING NUMBER ONE TEAM REPS. GOING A LONG WAY. >> THIS CAN'T BE UNDERVALUED. HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH KRAMER. BUT THOSE TWO IN THE SAME SIGNING CLASS. THEY'VE BEEN ON CAMPUS THE ENTIRE TIME TOGETHER. >> TRUST AND CHEMISTRY. >> THAT PASS IS KNOCKED DOWN. YOU GOT SPENCER WITH 100 YARDS. BROCKINGTON, OVER 100 YARDS. >> GOING TO BE A TOUGH DECISION. IF ONE OF THEM CAN SNAG A TOUCHDOWN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES, THAT MIGHT BE THE DECIDING FACTOR. AND VICTOR SAYING, YOU HAVE DONE ENOUGH. SOMEONE HAS TO LOCK YOU DOWN. GREAT COVERAGE BY HIM, ABLE TO DISENGAGE BROCKINGTON FROM THE FOOTBALL. >> GOING INTO HIS FOURTH YEAR FROM GEORGIA. >> A CANDIDATE FOR THAT ROLE OPPOSITE JUSTIN WALLEY. >> AND THE SLANT IS INTERCEPTED. >> THAT IS CLEAN. HENDERSON AWAY WITH IT. BOUNCED OFF THE CHEST OF QUENTIN REDDING. AND HENDERSON OFF THE CAROM INTERCEPTS IT TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE MAROON TEAM. >> WHAT A WAY TO BE AGILE AND FIND THE FOOTBALL. DMROU WILL SEE THE SLANT IN THE SLOT. IT'S A GOOD ROUTE. IT'S BETTER COVERAGE. AND THE BALL GETS POPPED UP. HENDERSON ABLE TO USE THE LONG ARMS. AND THEN, ROLL OVER. THAT'S THE TOUGH THING. A LOT OF TIMES YOU SEE A GUY DIVE FOR THE BALL. DID IT HIT THE GROUND. THE REFEREE IS GOING TO CHALLENGE IT. TO GRAB THAT BALL, AND ROLL, THAT'S HOW YOU PROTECT IT. THAT'S A VETERAN MOVE RIGHT THERE. >> THATITE WAS ALL-GOLD TEAM IN THE FIRST QUARTER. NOW, THE MAROON TEAM CAN TAKE THE LEAD. HENDERSON, WITH THE INTERCEPTION, TO GIVE THEM THE BALL BACK. THIS HIT AND RECOVERY. >> IT'S VERY TOUGH. RIGHT THERE. AND NOW, YOU ROLL. DON'T LEAVE ANY DOUBT. AS WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PENALTY IS, WE HAVE ANOTHER GUY ON THE GROUND. >> FIVE-YARD PENALTY. REMAINS FIRST DOWN. >> HAD ILLEGAL MAN DOWNFIELD. THAT WAS ON REESE TRIPP. DOWNFIELD, THAT WIPES OFF THE BROTHER-TO-BROTHER CONNECTION. DINO KALIAKMANIS WITH THE CATCH. >> JORDAN WAS THE CORNERBACK DOWN THERE. HE'S ABLE TO WALK TO THE SIDELINE. >> TOMORROW, CATCH BIG TEN BASEBALL. THE GOPHERS AND THE FIGHTING ILLINI. 2:00 EASTERN ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK AND THE FOX SPORTS AP. FUN COVERING JOHN ANDERSON TEAMS. >> NEVER NOT INTERESTING. >> BACK OUT TO CROOMS. ALONG THE SIDELINE DANCING. COREY CROOMS AND ELIJAH SPENCER, THOSE GUYS CHECKING BOXES. >> A LOT OF SITUATIONS IN MAN COVERAGE, AS WELL. GETS MAN. AND GETS ARE A GREAT ROUTE. GETS SEPARATION. ABLE TO LEAVE ENOUGH SPACE ON THE SIDELINE. GET HIMSELF AN EXTRA FOUR OR FIVE YARDS. THAT'S THE EXPLOSIVETY FROM THE SLOT, THAT GETS ME EXCITED, MAN. THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE MISSING. >> GETTING TYLER JOHNSON COMPARISONS. THERE'S BROTHER TO BROTHER. ATHAN TO DINO. KALIAKMANIS FIRST DOWN. >> MOM AND DAD ARE IN HERE SOMEWHERE. EXCITED. THIS IS HOW WE RAISED YOU. THAT'S NOT A BIG WINDOW. BUT THE FACT THAT ATHAN HAS HIT THAT WINDOW SINCE THE FIRST QUARTER, IT'S EXCITING. >> THOSE TWO ARE 16 MONTHS APART. THEY ARE NOT TWINS. THEY GREW UP IN THE SAME GRADE TOGETHER. DOING A LOT OF THAT IN THE BACKYARD. BACK-TO-BACK FIRST DOWNS FOR ATHAN AND DINO. >> PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE GOLD TEAM HERE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO STICK IN MAN COVERAGE, DINO WILL GET SEPARATION TIME AND TIME AGAIN. GOLD NEEDS TO CHANGE SOMETHING UP. GREAT ROUT. GREAT STEM. 1 1/2 YARDS OF SEPARATION BETWEEN RECEIVER AND D.B. IS MORE THAN PLENTY FOR BIG BRO TO GET YOU THE FOOTBALL. >> PULLS IT. AND THROWS IT TO KALIAKMANIS AGAIN. SLIPS. A GUY THAT'S WEARING THE SAME JERSEY. IN DIFFERENT TEAMS NOW. THIS IS THE CROSSOVER PERIOD. >> JORDAN HAD TO GO TO THE SIDELINE. THAT QUARTERBACK ROOM IS KIND OF THIN. VICTOR HAS TO FILL IN AND PLAY FOR THE BAD GUYS. I WAS AS CONFUSED AS YOU WERE. >> THAT'S ONE THAT COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS UP. YOU SEE YOUR OWN GUY TRYING TO TACKLE YOU. THAT'S GOING TO END UP ON NO-CONTACT COLLEGE FOOTBALL LATER. >> AND VICTOR IS NOT SURE WHICH SIDELINE HE IS SUPPOSED TO >>> WHILE WE WERE AWAY, THE MAROON TEAM MOVES INSIDE THE RED ZONE. DARIUS TAYLOR, FOUR-STAR RUNNING BACK. >> LOWERING THE BOOM. HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. BAM, RIGHT THERE. YOU WOULD NOT KNOW. BRIDGE ING BRINGING THE FIGHT TO YOU. HE IS THE PERFECT BALANCE BACK. HAS THE SPEED TO BREAKAWAY. THE WEIGHT AND THE PHYSICALITY TO GET IT DONE BETWEEN TACKLES. THE FUTURE IS GOLDEN, IF YOU WILL, FOR DARIUS TAYLOR. >> TODAY, IT'S MAROON. >> GOOD POINT. I'M GETTING MY COLORS MIXED UP. >> CHURNING THE LEGS. THE GEM OF THE GOPHERS RECRUITING CLASS, PUTTING THE TEAM AHEAD. >> EARLY ON, IT WAS SPEED. MAKING GUYS MISS IN OPEN SPACE. THIS DRIVE IS HIM LOWERING HIS SHOULDER. HE GETS STOPPED AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. RIGHT THERE. HE CHURNS THE LEGS WITH THE HELP OF OFFENSIVE LINEMEN. AND I AM OVER THE MOON WITH THIS RUNNING BACK. BAM, RIGHT THERE. THE YOUNG KID WHO SHOULD STILL BE IN HIGH SCHOOL, BRINGING THE PHYSICALITY. AND HERE'S THE RUN. THAT SET IT UP. YOU HEAR THE COLLECTIVE OOH, ECHO. THAT'S THE ONLY BAD PART ABOUT PLAYING INDOORS, WHEN YOU'RE A DEFENDER. THEY GET THE BEST OF YOU. ALL OF THE OOHS. THEY RING SO LOUD. >> BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS. >> BOUNCING OFF OF EVERYTHING. >> DARIUS TAYLOR HAD JEROME WILLIAMS JOIN HIM IN THIS CLASS. A COUPLE OF FOUR-STAR GUYS. DARIUS TAYLOR HAD OTHER SCHOOLS COMING AFTER HIM LATE. SO IS THE GAME IN RECRUITING. HE STAYED LOYAL TO THE GOPHERS. THEY ARE GLAD TO HAVE HIM. >> ONE, THE FACT THEY KEPT DARIUS TAYLOR COMMITTED. THE MICHIGAN GUY WITH AN OFFER FROM MICHIGAN. THEY KEPT HIM COMMITTED. AND JEROME WILLIAMS, A MINNESOTA RECRUIT. MINNESOTA KEEPING TOP MINNESOTA RECRUITS HOME HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. CLEARLY, A NEW PRECEDENT GOING FORWARD. >> MICHIGAN, NOTRE DAME, WISCONSIN, IOWA, ALL CAME IN LATE. AND THE GOPHERS AND P.J. FLECK WERE IN ON THEM EARLY. AND DARIUS TAYLOR STAYED TRUE. >> THAT GOES A LONG WAY. AND THE WAY THAT RECRUITING WORKS IS DARIUS TAYLOR COMES HERE AND HAS SUCCESS. YOU KNOW WHAT ALL THE OTHER MICHIGAN RECRUITS THAT HE PROBABLY WENT TO CAMP WITH OR PLAYED WITH, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE THINKING? DARIUS IS HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE IN MINNEAPOLIS. LET ME SEE WHAT IT'S ABOUT. IT'S THAT EASY. ALL IT TAKES IS ONE. YOU HAVE TWO OR THREE GUYS FROM THE SAME AREA. THE GUY THEY KNEW WHO WAS FIRST HAD SUCCESS. IT HELPS THAT P.J. FLECK COACHED IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. >> KNOWS IT WELL. >> WESTERN MICHIGAN FOR A WHILE. NOW, KRAMER GETS A CHANCE TO LEAD THE GOLD TEAM DOWN. THERE'S BROCKINGTON. AN MVP CANDIDATE IN THIS GAME. BREAKING AWAY. A CHANCE TO TIE THE SCORE. >> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A CAP ON HOW MANY TRICK PLAYS YOU CAN RUN. BUT THE GOLD TEAM HAS SO MANY. WE'LL SEE IF WE GET AN ANGLE FROM IT. WATCH WHAT COLE KRAMER DOES AS THE TACKLE GOES IN MOTION. WHERE IS THE BALL? AND, BOOM. YOU SEE HIM TAKE OFF BEFORE THE DEFENSE CAN REACT. PERFECTLY PLACED OUTSIDE, WHERE COLEMAN IS IN POSITION, BUT OUTSIDE OF HIM. WATCH WHERE COLE KRAMER PLACES THIS FOOTBALL. SAFETIES COMING FROM THE INSIDE. I'M GOING TO FORCE MY RECEIVER OUTSIDE. HE MAKES BRYSON MISS. AND BROCKINGTON SAYS, HUH-UH. >> THIS LOOKS LIKE LATE SEASON. BROCKINGTON CLOSED THE SEASON REALLY, REALLY WELL. FINAL THREE GAMES HAD A BREAKOUT. THIS IS THE SCHEDULE THAT IS COMING UP FOR MINNESOTA. THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME AGAINST NEBRASKA. AND THEY RESUMED BIG TEN PLAY AGAINST NORTHWESTERN. IT STARTS IN FULL WITH IOWA AFTER THAT, BIG TEN WEEK, THE REST AFTER THAT. >> THE BIG TEN WEST IS SUCH AN INTERESTING PLACE. IT IS ALWAYS CHAOS. YOU HAVE A NEW-LOOK PERDUE. NEW-LOOK WISCONSIN. NEW HEAD COACH, NEW OFFENSE. THEY WILL BE CHUCKING THE BALL FROM THE AIR-RAID TREE. NEBRASKA HAS A NEW COACH, MAYBE A NEW QUARTERBACK. CAN ILLINOIS REPEAT IS SUCCESS OF BEING LAST YEAR'S DARLING? IOWA GOT THE BIGGEST TRANSFERS AND THE BIG TEN WEST IS MADNESS. AND I WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. >> THE MOST CONFUING IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL LAST YEAR. >> I DON'T KNOW WHY WE EVEN PREDICT IT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW UNTIL WEEK 13. WE'RE NEVER GOING TO KNOW. BROCKINGTON, TO HELP GET THE CATCHES. >> WE GOT TO GET THEM TWO BILLS. GOT TO. GOT TO GET THE TWO BILLS. I HAVE 200 YARDS IN THE SPRING GAME. MAKING A THIRD DOWN STOP. I PROMISE THEY WILL GET 200 YARDS. A D.B. DOWN. CARY BROWN WITH A PICK EARLIER. >> WALKING A LITTLE GINGERLY. >> A FLAG WAS USED BY THE DEFENSE, WHICH RESULTS IN A LOSS OF DOWN. THIS IS FOURTH AND ONE. >> OH. >> MAROON HELD ON TO IT. >> THAT'S HOW YOU UP THE STAKES. >> EXCUSE ME. GOLD HELD ON TO IT. IT'S FOURTH DOWN AND ONE, INSTEAD OF THIRD DOWN AND ONE. KALIAKMANIS AT QUARTERBACK. AND HANDS OFF FOR TAYLOR. SQUEEZING IN THERE. >> HE DIDN'T. HE'S SHORT. >> THE USE OF THAT GOLD FLAG COMES UP BIG FOR THE GOLD TEAM. THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT BACK IN PLUS TERRITORY, AND LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL WIN IT. >> NUMBER 44, IS HE ABLE TO -- HE IS. THE GUARD REACHES HIM. HE IS ABLE TO KEEP HIS BALANCE AND FIGHT THROUGH. LOOK AT HIM GET JUST ENOUGH. I'LL TELL YOU THOUGH, WHAT A PLAY. AND JOEY GURLOCK, THROWING THAT FIST UP. WHAT A TANDEM TO FIGHT THROUGH THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU AND MAKING THAT PLAY. OFFENSE, GO OUT AND WIN THIS THING. >> LOOKS LIKE GOUSBY IS GOING TO PLAY ON BOTH SIDES. >> THESE D.B.s DON'T KNOW WHO TO ROOT FOR. >> AND JUST TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MOMENT, LIKE WE HAD EARLIER, WITH PLESS, HE'S RUNNING THE PENNY NOW. >> THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT CLEAR. >> THAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING THE HEAD COACH. YOU GET TO SAY WHO PLAYS WHERE. BACK TO THE ACTION. >> YOU HAVE JERSEY ON JERSEY, IN THE PERIMETER. THAT GOES UP THE MIDDLE. BARANOWSKI SAVES THE TOUCHDOWN FROM GRANT. >> IN THAT MIX, IN THE RUNNING BACK DEPTH, WITH THAT MUCH, HE HAS THE SPEED. >> THIS THE SECOND AND SHORT. THAT'S SEAN TYLER OUT THERE. IS HE PLAYING CORNER? BACK WITH GRAND. HE'S NEAR THE FIRST DOWN LINE TO GAIN. >> WE HAVE TO APOLOGIZE. OUR ROSTERS HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS. >> EVERYBODY IS CHANGING NUMBERS. >> WE'RE DOING OUR BEST HERE. >> IT IS FOURTH DOWN. THEY DIDN'T GIVE HIM THE SPOT. A FIELD GOAL COMING INSIDE. A MINUTE TO GO. 19 AND 16. PRESSURE IS ON. CLOCK WINDING DOWN. BUILDING THE MOMENT. MUSIC PLAYING. THIS IS THE BIG LEG LEFTY, FROM 48 YARDS. TRYING TO PUT THE GOLD TEAM AHEAD AND RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. >> THAT WILL STILL BE GOING, IF THAT WALL WASN'T THERE. BEAUTIFUL FORM. HE MADE CONTACT. A LOT OF KICKERS NOW, THAT ARE IN THAT 6'4" AND UP RANGE. THEY HAVE THAT COME THROUGH. THESE KICKERS ARE JACKED AND THEY ARE TALL AND THEY HAVE POWER. >> THAT'S A GREAT RESUME FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR. >> SURE HELPS WHEN THE TACKLE AND YOU HAVE 6'4" KICKERS. HALF A MINUTE, FOR KALIAKMANIS, TRYING TO LEAD THE TEAM DOWN. IT GOES TO ELIJAH SPENCER. AND HE'S GOT A SHORT GAIN. >> GREAT JOB BY THE DEFENSE, KEEPING HIM IN BALANCE. HE WAS CERTAINLY SIDELINE HUNTING. THEY DID NOT ALLOW IT. >> SPENCER, WHO HAS BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH, WITH BROCKINGTON. >> THIS MIGHT BE THE GOLD FLAG. >> YOU HAVE TO RAISE THE STAKES A LITTLE BIT. RIGHT? >> EACH TEAM GETS ONE GOLD FLAG PER GAME. >> AUTOMATIC FIRST DOWN, PLUS 20 YARDS. KALIAKMANIS SIDELINE SHOT. AND SPENCER COULDN'T REEL THAT ONE IN. >> GREAT THROW BY KALIAKMANIS. HIM AND SPENCER WEREN'T ON THE SAME PAGE AT THE RIGHT TIME. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE BACK SHOULDER. ELIJAH SPENCER, JUST A SECOND TOO LATE TO READ IT. IF HE CAN SEPARATE HALF A SECOND BEFORE THAT BALL IS HIS, THAT COMES WITH TIME. THAT BACK SHOULDER FADE IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST THINGS TO THROW. IF YOU CAN GET IT CONSISTENT, IT'S THE TOUGHEST THING TO GUARD. THEY WILL DEVELOP THEIR CHEMISTRY A LITTLE MORE. THEY'LL BE ON THE SAME PAGE THE NEXT TIME. >> KALIAKMANIS IS TOUCHED UP. JOHN JOYNER GOT TO THE QUARTERBACK. TIME-OUT, FIRST OR AFTER? >> LOOK AT JOYNER, THE SPRING MVP, TWO YEARS AGO, MAKING HIS PRESENCE FEEL AGAIN. >> THIS WILL COUNT. >> IT WILL COUNT. IT'S GOING TO BE A SACK. >> JOYNER, DID HE MAKE A GAME-SAVING PLAY? >> THIRD AND 16. ALREADY USED THE MAROON FLAG TO ADVANCE IT. AND KALIAKMANIS IS OUT OF BOUNDS. AND IT WILL BE FOURTH AND SHORT. YOU GOT TO EITHER GET A QUICK FIRST DOWN OR TAKE AN END ZONE SHOT OR TAKE IT HERE. OR YOU GET TIED. >> AND MAKE IT EVEN MORE INTERESTING. >> DOES THAT MEAN WE GET CO-MVPs? BROCKINGTON AND SPENCER? >> THERE ARE FOUR OR FIVE CANDIDATES. THEY MAY HAVE TO CUT THAT TROPHY UP INTO PIECES. >> FROM 46, FOR KESICH. AND HE IS GOOD FOR BOTH TEAMS. WE ARE TEN SECONDS AWAY FROM THE RAREST OF SPRING GAME TIES. BUT P.J. FLECK HAS SOMETHING IN HIS POCKET HERE. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO TWO-POINT CONVERSION, OVERTIME RULES, AND SETTLE THIS. >> I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT. >> I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH THIS SUSPICION IS MANIPULATED. THE FANS ARE HERE. LET'S RAISE THE STAKES, BABY. >> KALIAKMANIS AND THE MAROON TEAM OFFENSE WILL GET THE FIRST CHANCE AT IT. WILL HEAD OUT WITH JORDAN NUBIN AS THE RUNNING BACK. >> COREY IN THE SLOT. HE WAS IN THE RED ZONE. >> ONE SHOT AT IT. GOING TO SPENCER. SINGLE COVERAGE. IT'S INCOMPLETE. KELLY IN THE BACK BROKE IT UP. GOLD TEAM GETS THE STOP ON THE TWO-POINT PLAY. >> TEXTBOOK PLAY, BY KELLY. A PERFECTLY THROWN BALL. A GREAT ROUTE BY SPENCER. ALWAYS GOING TO BE A STEP BEHIND WHEN THE BALL IS PLACED THAT WELL. MAN, DID HE PLAY THROUGH THE HANDS PERFECTLY. THAT BALL GET THERE'S SO QUICK OR IT TAKES SO LONG TO DEVELOP, IF IT'S THROWN WITH THE HIGH ARC. IT'S NOT A BACK SHOULDER. YOU HAVE NO CHANCE, DON'T LOOK FOR THE BALL, JUST WATCH THE HANDS. WHEN THEY FORM TO THE DIAMONDS. >> TRICK PLAY TO WIN IT HERE? >> WHY NOT? EVANS BOUNCES OUTSIDE. AND LOOKING FOR THE WIN. A GOLD TEAM WINNER, IN THE SPRING GAME. >> WHY NOT, RIGHT? WHY NOT? HE HAD HIMSELF ONE HECK OF A DAY. ALL THE RUNNING BACKS DID. BUT ZACH EVANS ABLE TO SEAL THE DEAL. >> THAT'S ON A DAY WHEN BROCKINGTON HAD THE BIG DAY. EVANS WITH A TWO-POINT CONVERSION TO WIN IT AFTER A TOUCHDOWN EARLIER. FOR BROCK VEREEN, FORMER GOPHER, CONNOR ENON