Gophers in the NFL Reach Program Record with 24 Alumni on Rosters
PHILADELPHIA – A program-record 24 former University of Minnesota Gophers are currently on NFL rosters or practise squads as the 2024 season kicks off, demonstrating the growing success of player growth under head coach P.J. Fleck. This surpasses the previous high of 20 set in 2024, and continues a clear upward trend from 17 in 2023 and 14 in 2022.
Among those making an immediate impact is rookie offensive tackle Jalen Ersery, who has impressed the Houston Texans enough to earn a starting position for their season opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
“He’s been putting in the work and being the sponge, like any Gopher would when you go to the league,” said former Gopher teammate Jack Logan-Redding, who maintains contact with Ersery. “He’s taking all the coaching that you can take.”
Ersery is one of seven players from last year’s Gophers team currently with NFL organizations. They include quarterback Max Brosmer (Vikings),defensive back Jack Henderson (Tampa Bay buccaneers practice squad),tight end Nick Kallerup (Seattle Seahawks),linebacker Cody Lindenberg (Las Vegas Raiders),defensive end Danny Striggow (Jacksonville Jaguars),and cornerback Justin Walley (indianapolis colts),who is currently on injured reserve.
The success of Gophers in the NFL is a point of pride for the coaching staff and a motivating factor for current players. “We take a lot of pride in coaching in terms of developing guys to get to that level, and then it’s awesome for our current guys to see the process of it,” said Gophers defensive coordinator Danny Collins. “Hey, maybe it didn’t start off the greatest when that guy was a freshman, right? And the young guys right now get to see the growth, and they get to see, ‘Hey, that’s what it looks like if you just continue to change your best every single day.’ ”
Since Fleck’s arrival in Minnesota, 19 Gophers have been selected in the NFL draft. the program is currently riding a six-year streak of having at least one player drafted in the first or second round - the longest such streak since 1940-45. sixteen of those 19 drafted players remain active on NFL rosters.
