In conjunction with our College Football’s Best series, highlighting the top plays, players, highlights, and moments from all 133 teams, we’re here to showcase the best the Minnesota Golden Gophers have had to offer in 2023. Who has stood out? What units are turning heads?
And who from Minnesota is among the top mentions in our College Football’s Best series this season?
Minnesota Golden Gophers Best of 2023
At College Football Network, we watch every game. Every player. Every team. And our notebooks are chock full of top players, plays, highlights, and moments. Today, I’m emptying the notebook.
Below, find Minnesota’s noteworthy players, groupings, or units, all listed under a different category: good, great, grand, or wonderful. Every team across the country has put forth their best efforts in 2023, and through four weeks of action, those players deserve notoriety for what they’ve put forth this season.
Highlighting the best with a line from the one and only Chris Farley, welcome to this season’s Good, Great, Grand, Wonderful!
For all 133 teams, head over to College Football’s Best of 2023.
Jump to the rest of the teams from the Big Ten Conference: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin
Good: Aireontae Ersery, LT
What a season so far for Aireontae Ersery as he’s proven more than capable of stepping into the leader role at left tackle for the second season in a row.
He’s been great in pass protection for Athan Kaliakmanis but has shown something extra on the ground, clearing massive rushing lane after massive rushing lane.
Great: Maverick Baranowski, LB
Leading the team with 28 tackles, Baranowski has 28 stops and flies around the field well in each facet. He’s recorded two pass breakups in coverage and shown he can run the alley well.
Grand: Tyler Nubin, S
The all-everything safety has flashed brilliance this season as well, recording two interceptions, including a crucial red-zone INT against Nebraska. Tyler Nubin is a bonafide stud.
Wonderful: Darius Taylor, RB
A potential special player has emerged for the Gophers this season. Darius Taylor has been terrific in all facets since he came on against Eastern Michigan in Week 2.
The stat sheet may say four games played, but he recorded just one carry in Week 1 and all but three of his 532 yards on the ground have come in the past three weeks.
He’s dominant between the tackles and even better in space. The freshman phenom from Detroit has everyone wondering how they missed him on the recruiting trail.