Minnesota Gophers Pro Day - Greg Simbeck/The Forkball
The University of Minnesota football team held its annual Pro Day yesterday at the team’s practice facility at Athletes Village. Attendees participated in the vertical jump, the bench press, the long jump, the 40-yard dash, and various passing and defensive drills.
Pro Day Participants
Of the 16 athletes that took part in the day, nine were players from the Gophers 2023-24 team. The Gopher participants were safety Tyler Nubin, tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford, wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell, wide receiver Corey Crooms Jr., running back Sean Tyler, defensive tackle Kyler Baugh, cornerback Tre’Von Jones, edge Chris Collins, and long snapper Brady Weeks.
NFL Teams Represented
Teams represented by scouts at the event included the Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, and Arizona Cardinals. Included in this group was Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell who spent considerable time observing the passing drills.
Also in Attendance at the Pro Day
Another person in attendance at the Pro Day was Gophers’ coach P.J. Fleck watching his former players pursue their NFL dreams. Also, we got a sneak peek at incoming Gophers’ quarterback Max Brosmer as he worked the receivers out in the passing drill. The New Hampshire transfer exhibited a powerful arm, bringing hope for an improved passing game this upcoming season.
Pro Day Interviews
Some of the participants spoke to the press after the session. Nubin mentioned how grateful he was to have been a Gopher. Also, he was particularly thankful for the leadership and guidance from former teammates like Antoine Winfield Jr., Terell Smith, and Jordan Howden throughout his time at Minnesota.
Spann-Ford spoke about former Gophers tight end Max Williams and how much he has helped him as he prepares for pro ball. Autumn-Bell, who suffered numerous injuries during his days at Minnesota talked about the beyond the headlines contributions he made to help the team.
Altogether, these individuals displayed maturity, determination, and grace. And lastly, a special shoutout goes to long snapper Weeks. At the culmination of his interview, he made a point to shake the hand and thank everyone in the media who was in attendance. Altogether a classy move that embodied a classy group of players.
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