Gophers without 7 starters for Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Virginia Tech
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The University of Minnesota football team faces Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl Friday night at Bank of American Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Gophers will be without seven starters, and 10 players total for the sixth bowl game under P.J. Fleck. Four defensive players, and four offensive players are either injured or opting out.
The offensive players
What we know: Wide receiver Daniel Jackson, running back Marcus Major and offensive linemen Aireontae Ersery and Tyler Cooper will not play Friday. Ersery, Cooper and Jackson all have NFL aspirations, and Major is out with an injury. Ersery is likely a top-100 pick, and Jackson had 75 catches for 863 yards and four touchdowns this season.
The defensive players
Why it matters: Justin Walley, Cody Lindenberg, Darius Green and Jah Joyner are among the defensive players not playing against Virginia Tech. Walley, Lindenberg and Joyner have NFL aspirations, and Green was in and out this season with injuries.
Walley had 42 tackles, one sack and five interceptions this season. Lindenberg led the defense with 94 tackles, had five tackles for loss and one sack. Joyner had 32 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks along with nine quarterback hits.
What’s at stake
Gophers and bowl games: The Gophers are seeking their eighth straight bowl victory, and are looking to win their sixth straight under Fleck. The winning coach of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl will also get a bath of mayonnaise after the game.
The Gophers would finish the season 8-5 with a win, and be 58-39 under Fleck in eight seasons.