Summer days are getting shorter. Football is coming. To make you the fan at your tailgate most informed on the top, middle, and bottom of Minnesota's depth chart, Ski-U-Blog is previewing each position group on the roster. As always, the first installment of this series covers the Gophers' pass-catchers.
Likely Starters
Where else to start but where things left off?
That's Jalen Smith, then a redshirt freshman from Mankato, making his second fantastic touchdown catch to defeat New Mexico in overtime of Minnesota's bowl game. Smith led the Gophers with 15.0 yards per reception over the course of the season, becoming a legit deep threat thanks to his speed and ball-tracking ability. He also gained the 4th-most receiving yards ever by a Minnesota freshman.
Excluding Maxx Williams, who only played two seasons before leaving for the NFL, every past player in the above table ranks in the program's top 10 in career yards. Such a strong start tends to be the first chapter in a successful tenure in maroon and gold.
