Since the Minnesota Gophers football team dominated Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl 24-10, and coach P.J. Fleck received his post-game mayonnaise shower, there has been a lot of activity surrounding the team. In just two short weeks, there have been several changes to the coaching staff, some big news in the transfer portal, and another honor for the most decorated freshman in Gophers history.
Fleck and his staff are working to craft a very competitive team for next season. With the recent additions and a favorable 2025 schedule, 8-10 regular-season wins are not out of the question.
Gophers Coaching Changes
The first change to next season’s coaching staff sees the departure of a key component of the team’s successful 2024-25 season. Just four days after he signed a two-year extension to remain as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, Corey Hetherman signed a deal with Miami to take the same role. In his one season at Minnesota, he coached the defense into a top-20 unit. They ranked 15th in passing yards allowed (178.3 passing yards per game) and eighth in total yards per game (290.9).
Hetherman received a hefty pay raise from the Hurricanes and a contract extension, which gives him a chance to lead a defense on a nationally ranked team. Veteran defensive coordinator Joe Rossi left that role after the 2023 season to take a similar position with Michigan State. The reasons for the move mirrored the situation Hetherman found himself in. To amplify this issue, please read this article from Ryan Burns of Gophers247 on the challenges that Minnesota faces in hiring and retaining coaches.
Fleck and the Gophers quickly filled this void by promoting safeties coach Danny Collins as the new defensive coordinator. He originally worked with coach Fleck at Western Michigan and came to Minnesota serving as a defensive graduate assistant from 2015-2017. Since becoming a full-time assistant in 2017, he has filled multiple roles for Minnesota. He has been touted for his work with freshmen safeties Kerry Brown and Koi Perich.
Hetherman was also the linebackers coach, so to fill that vacancy, the Gophers also stayed close to home for their selection. Minnesota hired assistant linebacker and nickel coach Mariano Sori-Marin to lead the linebacking unit. Sori-Marin played for Minnesota from 2018-2022 and was named to the All-Big Ten team his senior season. He has been on the Gopher’s staff since he graduated.
Big Transfer Portal Pickup
Due to the loss of All-Big Ten inside linebacker Cody Lindenberg, Fleck stated that one of his recruiting priorities this offseason was to strengthen that position. To that end, the Gophers received a commitment from Oklahoma State graduate transfer linebacker Jeff Roberson. Roberson had a breakout season for the Cowboys in 2024, racking up 58 tackles, three sacks, one interception, and one pass breakup.
He will join returning linebackers Maverick Baranowski and Devon Williams in ensuring that this unit remains a strength for the Gophers’ defense. Other recent portal signees include Washington offensive tackle Kahlee Tafai, who was a rotational part of Washington’s starting offensive line. He is versatile, having played both tackle positions last season for the Huskies, and he has three years of eligibility remaining at Minnesota. Also committing to the Gophers was guard Dylan Ryan from Kentucky. He provides depth to Gophers offensive line coach Brian Callahan’s unit and has experience at both guard positions.
Perich Receives Another Honor
And the accolades keep rolling in for Minnesota’s super freshman safety, Koi Perich. Previously, Perich was named to the Sporting News Second Team All-American squad and selected for the All-Big Ten First Team on defense and All-Big Ten Second Team as a return specialist. Now, to add to his trophy case, he was just named to the 2024 Freshman All-America Team by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Perich is the fifth Gopher to be named an FWAA Freshman All-American, and the nationwide football community is paying close attention to this outstanding student-athlete.
