2015 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Quick Lane Bowl champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record6–7 (2–6 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMatt Limegrover (5th season)
Defensive coordinatorTracy Claeys (5th season)
Captains
Home stadiumTCF Bank Stadium
(Capacity: 52,525)
Seasons
← 2014
2016 →
2015 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 6 Michigan State xy$^   7 – 1     12 – 2  
No. 4 Ohio State x   7 – 1     12 – 1  
No. 12 Michigan   6 – 2     10 – 3  
Penn State   4 – 4     7 – 6  
Indiana   2 – 6     6 – 7  
Rutgers   1 – 7     4 – 8  
Maryland   1 – 7     3 – 9  
West Division
No. 9 Iowa xy   8 – 0     12 – 2  
No. 23 Northwestern   6 – 2     10 – 3  
No. 21 Wisconsin   6 – 2     10 – 3  
Nebraska   3 – 5     6 – 7  
Minnesota   2 – 6     6 – 7  
Illinois   2 – 6     5 – 7  
Purdue   1 – 7     2 – 10  
Championship: Michigan State 16, Iowa 13
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2015 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Jerry Kill, who resigned on October 28, 2015 due to health reasons. Tracy Claeys[1] replaced Kill on an interim basis and was named head coach two weeks later on November 11.[2] The Gophers played their home games at TCF Bank Stadium. They were a member of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. Minnesota finished the regular season with a record of 5–7, 2–6 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for fifth place in the West Division. Despite finishing below .500, the Gophers were invited to the Quick Lane Bowl versus Central Michigan due to there not being enough bowl eligible teams and Minnesota's high Academic Performance Rating.[3] Minnesota defeated Central Michigan 21–14 to finish the season 6–7.

Recruiting

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40‡ Commit date
Beebe, Colton
FB 		Kansas City, KS Piper HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 248 lb (112 kg) 4.75 Dec 17, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:2/5 stars    ESPN grade: 71
Brooks, Shannon
RB 		Jasper, GA Pickens County HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 4.56 Sep 11, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 73
Buford, Ray
ATH 		Southfield, MI Southfield HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 4.65 Jul 19, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 75
Connelly, Nick
OL 		Red Wing, MN Red Wing HS 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 269 lb (122 kg) 5.04 Jun 24, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 72
Craighton, Alonzo
DB 		Geismar, LA Dutchtown HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 4.60 Oct 13, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 77
Croft, Demry
QB 		Rockford, IL Boylan Catholic HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 4.66 Jun 30, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 73
DeLattiboudere, Winston
DL 		Ellicott City, MD Howard HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 4.78 Feb 1, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: NR
Dovich, Bronson
OL 		Chaska, MN Chaska HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 290 lb (130 kg) N/A May 30, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 74
Femi-Cole, Jonathan
RB 		Aurora, ON, CN St. Andrew's College 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 4.59 Jul 19, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:2/5 stars    ESPN grade: 74
Hall, Mose
DL 		Mobile, AL Murphy HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 253 lb (115 kg) 5.03 Jan 27, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:2/5 stars    ESPN grade: 72
Hardin, Kiante
ATH 		Webb City, MO Webb City HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 4.55 Oct 14, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 72
Huff, Jacob
DB 		Bolingbrook, IL Bolingbrook HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 4.65 Jun 5, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 76
Huff, Julian
LB 		Bolingbrook, IL Bolingbrook HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 4.70 Jun 5, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:2/5 stars    ESPN grade: 75
Johannesson, James
RB 		Fargo, ND Fargo South HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 216 lb (98 kg) 4.55 Aug 22, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 73
Johnson, Dior
DB 		Southfield, MI Southfield HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) N/A Jan 28, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 75
Moore, Tyler
OL 		Houston, TX North Shore HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 317 lb (144 kg) N/A Dec 16, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 77
Oseland, Quinn
OL 		Springfield, IL Sacred Heart Griffin HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 303 lb (137 kg) 5.53 Aug 13, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 76
Register, Hunter
WR 		Lafayette, LA Ovey Comeaux HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 191 lb (87 kg) 4.58 Jan 21, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 74
Rogers, Charlie
DB 		Iowa City, IA Iowa Western CC (JC) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 4.47 Dec 3, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 78
Shenault, Antonio
DB 		Roselle, IL Lake Park HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 4.61 Oct 9, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 72
Stieber, Ted
OL 		Akron, OH Archbishop Hoban HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 298 lb (135 kg) 5.86 Jun 18, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 74
Still, Rashad
WR 		El Paso, TX Andress HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 4.50 Jan 24, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:2/5 stars    ESPN grade: 79
Waters, Jaylen
LB 		Copperas Cove, TX Copperas Cove HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 230 lb (100 kg) 4.63 Jul 21, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 77
Witham, Bryce
TE 		Grand Rapids, MI West Catholic HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 240 lb (110 kg) 4.68 Jan 26, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 73
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 56   Rivals: 52  247Sports: 63  ESPN: 62
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com 2015 Minnesota Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  • "Scout.com 2015 Minnesota Commitments". Scout.com. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  • "ESPN 2015 Minnesota Commitments". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 12, 2015.

Schedule

Minnesota faced all six Big Ten West Division opponents: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin. The Gophers also faced Big Ten East Division opponents Michigan and Ohio State.[4] Minnesota played four non-conference games: TCU of the Big 12 Conference, Colorado State of the Mountain West Conference, and Kent State and Ohio of the Mid-American Conference. Minnesota had one bye week during the season between their games against Nebraska and Michigan.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 38:00 pm#2 TCU*
ESPNL 17–2354,147[5]
September 122:30 pmat Colorado State*
CBSSNW 23–20 OT32,500[6]
September 1911:00 amKent State*
  • TCF Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
BTNW 10–752,823[7]
September 262:30 pmOhio*dagger
  • TCF Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
BTNW 27–2453,917[8]
October 311:00 amat #16 Northwestern
BTNL 0–2730,044[9]
October 102:30 pmat Purdue
ESPNUW 41–1333,780[10]
October 172:30 pmNebraska
ESPN2L 25–4854,062[11]
October 316:00 pm#15 Michigan
ESPNL 26–2950,789[12]
November 77:00 pmat #1 Ohio State
ABCL 14–28108,075[13]
November 147:00 pmat #8 Iowa
BTNL 35–4070,585[14]
November 2111:00 amIllinois
  • TCF Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
ESPNewsW 32–2347,976
November 282:30 pmWisconsin
BTNL 21–3152,850
December 284:00 pmvs. Central Michigan*
ESPN2W 21–1434,217

Roster

2015 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 K. J. Maye (C) Sr
WR 2 Isaiah Gentry  Fr
QB 7 Mitch Leidner (C)  Jr
WR 9 Eric Carter  So
QB 11 Demry Croft Fr
WR 12 Hunter Register Fr
WR 14 Chris Streveler So
WR 15 Desmond Gant  Fr
QB 15 Conor Rhoda  So
WR 16 Jeff Jones  Fr
QB 18 Jacques Perra  Fr
WR 19 Michael Conway  So
WR 20 Adam Mayer Fr
WR 21 Melvin Holland  Sr
WR 22 Jeff Borchardt  So
WR 23 E.J. Sardinha  Jr
RB 24 Rodney Smith  Fr
RB 27 Shannon Brooks Fr
RB 27 James Johannesson Fr
RB 28 Jonathan Femi-Cole Fr
RB 28 Jerry Gibson  Fr
WR 29 Louis Tuszynski  Jr
RB 32 Berkley Edwards  So
RB 35 Rodrick Williams Sr
WR 37 Charlie Greif Fr
FB 41 Miles Thomas Sr
FB 43 Tyler Hartmann  Jr
TE 44 Gabe Mezzenga  Jr
RB 44 Jacob Kirsch  Jr
TE 44 Colton Beebe Fr
TE 45 Nick Hart  So
TE 49 Bryce Witham Fr
OL 53 Luke Rasmussen  Fr
OL 55 Connor Mayes So
OL 58 Quinn Oseland Fr
OL 60 Matt Leidner  So
OL 61 Bronson Dovich Fr
OL 62 Jared Weyler  Fr
OL 63 Jon Christenson  Sr
OL 64 Matt Oldenkamp  Fr
OL 65 Josh Campion  Sr
OL 66 Ted Stieber Fr
OL 67 Brian Bobek  Sr
OL 68 Issac Hayes  Jr
OL 70 Chad Fahning  So
OL 71 Tyler Moore Fr
OL 73 Joe Bjorklund  Sr
OL 74 Nick Connelly Fr
OL 75 Noah Kuehn Fr
OL 76 Alex Mayes  So
OL 77 Foster Bush  Sr
OT 78 Ben Lauer  Jr
OT 79 Jonah Pirsig  Jr
TE 80 Nate Wozniak  So
TE 81 Duke Anyanwu  So
WR 82 Drew Wolitarsky Jr
TE 83 Noah Scarver  So
WR 84 Will Reger  Fr
TE 85 Lincoln Plsek Sr
TE 86 Brandon Lingen So
WR 88 Rashad Still Fr
WR 89 Matt Morse Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB 2 Dior Johnson Fr
DB 3 KiAnte Hardin Fr
DB 4 Adekunle Ayinde  So
DB 5 Jalen Myrick Jr
DB 6 Ace Rogers  Jr
DB 7 Damarius Travis Sr
DB 8 Daletavious McGhee  So
DL 9 Alex Keith Sr
DB 11 Antonio Johnson Sr
LB 12 Cody Poock  So
LB 13 Jonathan Celestin So
DB 14 Zo Craighton Fr
LB 15 Everett Williams So
DB 17 Jacob Huff Fr
LB 18 Peter Westerhaus  Sr
LB 19 Cedric Dicke  Jr
DB 20 Julian Huff Fr
DB 20 Christopher Gray Fr
DB 22 Craig James So
DB 25 Ray Buford Fr
LB 26 De'Vondre Campbell  Sr
DB 29 Briean Boddy-Calhoun (C)  Sr
LB 30 Chris Wipson  So
DB 31 Eric Murray (C) Sr
DB 33 John McKelvey  Jr
DB 34 Antonio Shenault Fr
LB 35 Jaylen Waters Fr
DB 36 Blake Cashman Fr
DB 40 Alexander Starks  So
DL 46 Winston DeLattiboudere Fr
LB 48 Blake Weber So
LB 50 Jack Lynn  Jr
DL 52 Yoshoub Timms  Jr
DE 55 Thieren Cockran  Sr
LB 56 Nick Rallis  Jr
LB 57 Joey Mydra Fr
LB 59 Ray Dixon  So
DL 69 Justin Carr  Jr
DB 87 Cavonte Johnson  Jr
DL 87 Gaelin Elmore So
DL 90 Sam Renner Fr
DE 91 Julien Kafo  Fr
DL 92 Robert Ndondo-Lay  Sr
DT 94 Mose Hall Fr
DL 95 Hendrick Ekpe Jr
DT 96 Steven Richardson So
DL 97 Scott Ekpe  Jr
DL 98 Kevin Lapham Fr
DE 99 Andrew Stelter So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 18 Ryan Santoso  So
LS 25 Payton Jordahl  Fr
K 33 Andrew Harte  So
P 34 Logan McElfresh  Fr
P 37 Peter Mortell  Sr
K 38 Emmit Carpenter  Fr
LS 39 Trey Hansen Fr
LS 40 Chase Samuels Fr
K 42 Justin Juenemann  So
P 47 Jacob Herbers Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Brian Anderson (wide receivers)
  • Matt Limegrover (offensive coordinator)
  • Dan O'Brien (asst. defensive backs / co-special teams coordinator / asst. to the head coach)
  • Jeff Phelps (defensive line)
  • Pat Poore (running backs / co-special teams coordinator)
  • Rob Reeves (H-backs / tight ends)
  • Jay Sawvel (defensive backs)
  • Mike Sherels (linebackers)
  • Jim Zebrowski (quarterbacks)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: December 31, 2015

Players into the NFL

See also: 2016 NFL Draft
Round Pick Player Position NFL club
4 106 Eric Murray CB Kansas City Chiefs
4 115 De'Vondre Campbell LB Atlanta Falcons
Undrafted – Briean Boddy-Calhoun CB Jacksonville Jaguars

References

  1. ^ Christensen, Joe (October 28, 2015). "Jerry Kill Retires As U football Coach Due to Health Problems". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  2. ^ "Tracy Claeys named University of Minnesota football coach". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  3. ^ "Gophers could still be eligible for bowl berth". Fox Sports. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  4. ^ "2015-2016 Schedule". University of Minnesota Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on March 26, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  5. ^ Christensen, Joe (September 4, 2015). "Gophers Drop Their Chances to Knock off Horned Frogs". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  6. ^ Christensen, Joe (September 13, 2015). "Gophers Need OT to Top Colorado State 23-20". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  7. ^ Christensen, Joe (September 20, 2015). "Signals About QB Are Mixed After Gophers Sputter in Win Over Kent State". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  8. ^ Christensen, Joe (September 27, 2015). "Gophers Score on Final Drive to Escape with Win Over Ohio". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  9. ^ Arnold, Jeff (October 4, 2015). "Gophers Drop the Ball in Big Ten Opener". Post-Bulletin. Rochester, MN. Associated Press. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  10. ^ Washburn, Jeff (October 13, 2015). "Purdue Seeking Answers at Season's Midway Point, Travel to Wisconsin Next". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Archived from the original on October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  11. ^ Christensen, Joe (October 18, 2015). "Nebraska Overpowers Gophers for 48-25 Victory". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  12. ^ Christensen, Joe (October 31, 2015). "Gophers-Michigan Game Recap". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  13. ^ Christensen, Joe (November 8, 2015). "Too Little, Too Late As Gophers Fall 28-14 to Ohio State". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  14. ^ Christensen, Joe (November 15, 2015). "Iowa Keeps U Hog-Tied". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
Categories