It’s setting up to be big year for the Gophers football program in the NFL Draft.

One indication of how large its draft class might be later this spring is coming into focus with invitations for players to attend the scouting combine in Indianapolis. Left tackle Aireontae Ersery headlines Minnesota’s draft class — The Athletic has him as the 50th overall prospect — while other U players are also headed to Indiana Feb. 27-March 2.

Quarterback Max Brosmer has received an invite, the Pioneer Press confirmed this week. Defensive end Jah Joyner and linebacker Cody Lindenberg also are going, according to KSTP-TV. Receiver Daniel Jackson got an invite to Indy, his mother shared on social media Tuesday. These have not been made official by the U.

Since the combine started in 1987, the Gophers’ record for combine attendees stands at five in both 2001 and ’02.

If the U gets to five (or more), it will be the continuation of a recent upswing. Minnesota had four go to the combine in three of the past five years (2020, ’22 and ’23). The U, in turn, had five players drafted in 2020, four in 2022 and three in 2023.

Another indication for a potentially bountiful amount of NFL draft picks is how players perform in the college all-star games and practices leading up to them.

Ersery, Lindenberg and Joyner each took part in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Lindenberg forced multiple turnovers in practices, while Joyner registered a sack in the game and Ersery, the Big Ten offensive lineman of the year, more than held his own throughout. Defensive linema Danny Striggow joined them as an injury replacement after playing in the Hula Bowl.

Brosmer, guard Tyler Cooper and cornerback Ethan Robinson took part in the Shrine Bowl; Robinson was a late addition to that event.

Brosmer impressed during Shrine Bowl drills and was named to the West squad’s all-practice team. In the game, he completed a few passes but also threw an interception returned for a touchdown.

After the combine, the Gophers will host their annual pro day on campus in March. Cornerback Justin Walley, guard/tackle Quinn Carroll and kicker Dragan Kesich are also on the radar going into the April 24-26 Draft in Green Bay, Wis.

Last year, Minnesota had two seniors invited to the scouting combine — safety Tyler Nubin and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford. Nubin was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round, while Spann-Ford was an un-drafted free agent signing by the Dallas Cowboys.

New assistant coach

The Gophers are in line to hire Central Michigan defensive line coach C.J. Robbins to replace Dennis Dottin-Carter as its rush ends coach, sources confirmed to the Pioneer Press.

Robbins, who was a three-year starter at Northwestern, was on staff at Minnesota for two years in 2020-21. Dottin-Carter is being promoted to D-Line coach with Winston DeLattiboudere taking the same role with the Arizona Cardinals.

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