Sunday was a jarringly bittersweet day for the Gophers football program.

Minnesota saw defensive coordinator Joe Rossi leave for the same job at Michigan State, but the U added four players via the NCAA transfer portal. All helped fill positions of need.

The two headline additions are Indiana running back Trent Howland, a bruiser at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, and Florida International (FIU) defensive lineman Jordan Guerad, a 6-3, 295-pound nose tackle named first team all-Conference USA this season.

The Gophers also added a defensive end in JUCO product Eddy Toussom from Navarro College in Texas and a cornerback in Ethan Robinson from Bucknell.

Since the end of the regular season in late November, the Gophers have had seven total scholarship players exit via the transfer portal, and with Sunday’s influx, now five players have announced they will come to the U starting in 2024.

Each one of the additions can be tracked to revisions made on the Gophers roster at those position group, considering players who will exit after the Quick Lane Bowl or  players who have already announced their exits via the portal.

Continuing on that logic, here are a few spots where the Gophers might still look to add before the early signing period opens on Dec. 20, or before the transfer portal closes for the winter on Jan. 3.

Wide receiver

Minnesota has three players on the way out: Seniors Chris Autman-Bell and Corey Crooms Jr., and third-year Dino Kaliakmanis in the portal.

Daniel Jackson, who had a team-high 101 targets, has said he will return for 2024 and Le’Meke Brockington is coming off in injury that cost him have the 2023 season.

The U’s third option at receiver was little-used Charlotte transfer Elijah Spencer, but he had only 16 targets on the season. Spencer is back for another year, but another vet would be helpful.

Backup quarterback

With Athan Kaliakmanis the only returning starter leaving via the portal, the U immediately replaced him with Max Brosmer, a transfer from New Hampshire. That tradeoff is about as one-for-one as it gets.

But the U also had third-string QB Drew Viotto leave for home-state Eastern Michigan, and the U only has to-be true freshman Drake Lindsey on its scholarship depth chart for next year.

Minnesota could look to thread the needle here with an incoming QB with some experience but not needing a clear path to be “the guy.” A bridge back-up, if you will.

Toward that aim, the U offered a scholarship to Fresno State QB Logan Fife on Friday. He has completed 63% of his 224 passes thrown across three seasons for the Bulldogs. Fife had yet to post other scholarship offers on social media site X as of Monday morning.

Another tailback

Darius Taylor, a to-be true sophomore, is the projected starter for the Gophers next season, and Howland will now be in the mix. Their rushing styles and contrasting sizes might blend nicely in 2024.

But one more running back could be in the works given how two have left via the portal (Zach Evans and Marquese Williams), while Bryce Williams might decline an available option to return for a seven season next fall.

Linebacker

While the U is currently without a position coach given Rossi’s exit, they could still look to add experience at this spot.

The U’s defensive issues in 2023 season often were caused by youth and inexperience at linebacker. The U has one player on the way out in Western Michigan transfer Ryan Selig, and the Gophers could try again for an upperclassman in a similar mold.

Transfer portal tracker

Incoming player (Previous school)

Dec. 3

QB Max Brosmer (New Hampshire)

Sunday

DT Jordan Guerad (Florida International)

RB Trent Howland (Indiana)

DE Eddy Toussom (Navarro Junior College)

CB Ethan Robinson (Bucknell)

Outgoing player (Next school)

Nov. 28

QB Athan Kaliakmanis

QB Drew Viotto (Eastern Michigan)

RB Marquese Williams

OL JJ Guedet

Nov. 29

WR Dino Kaliakmanis

Nov. 30

RB Zach Evans

Dec. 4 

OL Tyrell Lawrence

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