Former Minnesota standout Aireontae Ersery is joining the Houston Texans as the 47th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He becomes the first Gopher offensive lineman to be selected that high since Brian Williams, who was a first-round pick in 1989. A three-star recruit from Missouri, Ersery was a consensus top-20 prospect in the state when Minnesota brought him in for the 2020 recruiting class. He made an impact early, starting as a true freshman against Nebraska during the COVID-19 season. Over the next three years, he went on to start 38 consecutive games for the Gophers at left tackle, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in both 2023 and 2024.
Ersery is the third Gopher offensive lineman drafted in the past four years, following John Michael Schmitz (2023 second-round pick by the New York Giants) and Daniel Faalele (2022 fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens). Before Faalele, the last time a Minnesota offensive lineman was drafted was in 2006, with Greg Eslinger and Mark Setterstrom.
With Ersery’s selection, Minnesota has now produced a first or second-round pick in six straight drafts (2020-2025), a streak that hasn’t been matched since 1940-1945. The Gophers have also had at least one draft pick in every draft from 2019 to 2025, a streak not seen since 2002-2008.
Ersery, a three-year starter at left tackle, is known for his strength and power, although he’s not a natural bender, which affects his leverage and ability to mirror moving defenders. Well-versed in Minnesota’s outside zone scheme, he is more consistent in power and inside zone blocking. His size, quickness, and hand strength make him formidable in pass protection, though his upper-body anchor leaves him vulnerable to hand counters.
With development, he has the potential to become a solid starting tackle, especially on the right side, though his success will depend on the matchups he faces.
Meanwhile, Gopher cornerback Justin Walley was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round (80th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. Walley, the 11th Gopher defensive back drafted since 2014, made an impact during his 49 games at Minnesota, recording 155 tackles (113 solo), four tackles for loss, one sack, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, seven interceptions, and 27 pass breakups—ranking fifth in school history.
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