The Gophers football team welcomed fifteen new transfer players for the 2025 season, each adjusting to life in Minnesota. Spring practice kicked off on March 20, a few months after the team placed eighth in the Big Ten, with head coach PJ Fleck introducing padded workouts five days later. Despite the spring season being just a week old, Fleck is thrilled with the team’s progress. “I’m amazed at how much these guys—transfers, young high school recruits, and veterans alike—have absorbed and executed in just three days,” he remarked.
The Gophers have increasingly tapped into the transfer portal over the last three years, adding four players in 2023 and 13 in 2024. This year’s transfers include seasoned players like wide receiver Logan Loya, who spent time at UCLA since 2020, and linebacker Jeff Roberson, previously with Oklahoma State, both joining Minnesota this offseason.
Fleck praised Loya’s development, crediting the collaborative efforts of players and coaches. “The portal can either stifle growth or accelerate it,” Fleck said, adding that he believes today’s athletes thrive on high-level challenges, which the program aims to provide.
Veteran players also play a key role in integrating transfers. This year’s group features a balanced mix of offensive and defensive newcomers. Le’Meke Brockington, a wide receiver in his fifth season with the Gophers, has seen plenty of portal players come and go. He’s optimistic about this batch, saying, “It feels like they’ve been here since last season. Logan’s out there—he’s one of the sharpest guys I know.
” Some of these transfers even faced off against Minnesota last year, but Brockington sees that as a positive now: “It’s great to be teammates instead of rivals, helping each other grow and pushing the team to be its best.”
Team camaraderie and leadership are proving vital for the newcomers’ transition. Linebacker Derik LeCaptain, entering his final year, values the fresh perspectives transfers bring. “You get guys from all over, and we can share ideas based on what we’ve seen on the field,” he said. Reflecting on his own early days, LeCaptain credits the guidance he received as a freshman for building his confidence in a new city.
Now, he’s determined to pay it forward. “Those guys invested in me when I got here, and I owe them so much,” he said. “Being a Gopher is a top-notch experience, and I want to lead the way I was led.”
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