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Previewing the Gopher Cornerbacks: Upgrade or Downgrade?
A Deep Dive into Minnesota's Revamped Secondary
Key Departures
- Benjamin St-Juste (NFL Draft)
- Jordan Howden (NFL Draft)
- Phillip Howard (Transferred to UCLA)
The Minnesota Gophers enter the 2023 season with a revamped cornerback room, losing three key contributors from last year's squad. Benjamin St-Juste and Jordan Howden were both drafted into the NFL, while Phillip Howard transferred to UCLA.
New Additions
- Ryan Stapp (Junior College transfer from Iowa Western Community College)
- Terrell Smith (Redshirt freshman)
- Jalen Glaze (True freshman)
To fill the void left by the departures, the Gophers have added a trio of new cornerbacks. Ryan Stapp, a junior college transfer from Iowa Western Community College, is expected to start opposite Coney Durr.
Redshirt freshman Terrell Smith and true freshman Jalen Glaze will provide depth and competition to the cornerback group.
Assessment
Assessing the Gophers' cornerback situation is no easy task. On one hand, they lost three experienced players who were key contributors to last year's success.
On the other hand, they have added some talented new players who could potentially fill the void. Ryan Stapp is a proven playmaker at the junior college level, and Terrell Smith and Jalen Glaze have both shown promise in their early careers.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether the Gophers' cornerback group will be an upgrade or a downgrade from last season. However, there is reason for optimism that they can be a strength of the defense in 2023.