University of Minnesota Players in the 2019 NFL Draft

In 2018, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers were shut out at the draft for the first time since 2013. The first year of PJ Fleck saw some predictably tough times, and the result of the draft was no surprise to analysts, despite Fleck’s past success producing NFL talent.

Many of us Gophers fans love to watch the careers progress for our favorite collegiate athletes. Seeing Eric Decker succeed after being drafted in 2010 was awesome, and more recent players such as De’Vondre Campbell and Maxx Williams have also had notable starts to their careers.

Unfortunately for us, the 2019 NFL draft won’t be much friendlier to the Gophers than was 2018. There aren’t too many graduating seniors on the team, and medical redshirts by Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks make that number even smaller. As it stands now, only 11 players are expected to be eligible for the NFL draft.

Let’s take a look at every graduating player for the Gophers, and make a quick prediction regarding their NFL future:

Players with no shot:

Jerry Gibson

On a team that is weak at defensive end (Carter Coughlin is a talented player but is really a linebacker), Gibson hasn’t been able to find much playing time as a 5th year senior. His dedication to the team is awesome to see, but many casual fans won’t even know his name, which certainly is an indicator that he isn’t a future NFL player.

Julian Huff

Julian isn’t quite as athletic as his brother, and the linebacker hasn’t seen the field much this season. The 6’0″ 225 pound Illinois-native doesn’t have the freakish athleticism on most NFL linebackers, and is also undersized. He is the only veteran backup at linebacker, so he is very valuable to the team. However, that won’t translate to the NFL.

Players with a slim chance:

Gary Moore

I really like Gary Moore. While redshirting in 2015, he earned “Defensive Work Team Player of the Year” for his toughness and work ethic, and that has shown as he’s earned his playing time on the interior of the d-line. The 6’4″ 300 pound defensive tackle started 5 games in 2017, despite having to compete for playing time with the likes of Steven Richardson, Merrick Jackson, and Andrew Stelter. He has enough size for the NFL, and certainly has the toughness to get some looks in an NFL tryout. However, he lacks great athleticism and disruptiveness. He’s good at eating up space, but doesn’t record too many tackles or create headaches for offensive linemen. While he’s a good player, he’s not quite NFL caliber. Expect Moore to get a tryout and possibly a 90-man roster spot, but nothing beyond that point.

Jacob Huff

I feel a little rude for placing Jacob Huff in this category, simply because he’s so important to the team. With Winfield Jr. out, Huff is the only experienced safety on the team, and he does a good job. He led the team with three interceptions in 2017, and has gotten those picks by having good instincts and quick thinking (opposed to lucky bounces). He’s a good tackler, and a very solid college player. Still, Huff doesn’t have enough quickness for the next level. While he’s more athletic than his brother, Julian, he isn’t very laterally quick, and that is obvious when comparing him to some of the safeties for Ohio State, Alabama, and other elite programs. Huff will likely get his shot at a 90 man roster due to his work ethic and football IQ, but certainly won’t be drafted.

Jared Weyler

Starting to see a trend? Weyler has been a dependable starter for the Gophers, but doesn’t have the athleticism for the NFL. People take for granted how quick the offensive linemen in the NFL really are, and quicknes will be the biggest thing holding him back. Despite being in his 3rd year as a starter, there are a lot of players like Jared Weyler in college football. He is rugged, reliable, hard-working, and strong, but if you want to be drafted into the NFL as a guard, you need to be dominant and very athletic for your size. Despite doing a good job opening up holes in the running game out of the center position, decent productivity isn’t enough for interior o-linemen. Regularly you see players receive all-conference 1st or 2nd team honors and still not be considered for the NFL draft, and that’s what I’m seeing here. Weyler might sneak into being an All Big-Ten 3rd teamer or honorable mention, and might sneak onto a 90 man roster, but his athleticism will limit his pro future.

Payton Jordahl

I know very little about long snappers this year, as (full transparency here) I usually wait to see what other people say to give myself a shorter list of players to evaluate. For Jordahl, he has been a starter since he was a freshman, and the Gophers have had great special teams throughout that time. I have nothing bad to say about him, as he seems to be one of the better snappers in the country. However, 0-1 long snappers a year will get drafted. The odds of hearing his name called is slim. Regardless, long snapper tends to be a position of “what you see is what you get.” If he’s able to get a tryout, he could possibly make a career for himself as an NFL long snapper. It’s a long shot, but not totally out of the question. If that happens, however, it won’t be in the draft.

Antonio Shenault

The 5’11” 190 pound corner has been a contributor for the Gophers ever since he first arrived on campus. He’s spent two and a half years as a starter, and from everything I’ve seen is a class act. When the gophers secondary was the primary unit involved in the huge scandal of 2016, his name wasn’t on the list. He’s reliable and consistent, and the type of player you like to have on your team. Shenault reminds me a lot of Marcus Sherels on the field, although that isn’t too much of a compliment. Shenault has returned some punts, but doesn’t share the great returning ability. Most of the comparisons have to do with how they play corner. Although Sherels rarely plays defense for the Vikings, he is very consistently mediocre when he does. He gets a lot of tackles because he gives way too big of a cushion. He does a good job tackling and not allowing huge plays, but mainly because he never stops a completion. Shenault is slightly better than Sherels, but only because we’re comparing his college body of work to Sherels’ professional body of work. Shenault allows a lot of receptions, but does a good job preventing catastrophic plays, and is a good tackler. Even though consistency and reliability is very important for NFL cornerbacks, Shenault doesn’t have a lengthy pro career ahead of him. He has decent athleticism and isn’t too small, but doesn’t have any one specialty that makes him stand out, and isn’t a big playmaker. Compare Shenault to some previous Gophers corners and it becomes clear. Jalen Myrick was a better college player, was stronger, ran the fastest 40 yard dash ever by a Big Ten player at the 2017 NFL combine, and yet he was a 7th round pick. Eric Murray was an elite cover corner, and he was only a 4th round pick. Shenault might get a 90-man roster position, and has a shot at making a practice squad if he impresses or puts up good measurables. But his overall NFL projection doesn’t look good.

Players who have a shot at being drafted

Emmitt Carpenter

Carpenter wasn’t great last year, but he is one of the best kickers in the country. A lot of NFL teams are looking for kickers right now, so a good end to the season and good pro day could make Carpenter a 7th round pick. I don’t think he’ll be drafted, but it’s possible if the season plays out well for him. He’s shown the ability to hit field goals of over 50 yards, which very few college kickers can do, and he’s been consistent from long range. Remember that every college kicker misses some kicks. Their legs get stronger after they enter the NFL, their holder and long snapper is more consistent, and they play in more favorable field conditions. Carpenter has the power and accuracy to be an NFL kicker, and certainly has a shot to make a 53-man roster given all the competitions that will be happening next preseason.

Donnell Greene

The starting left tackle for this team doesn’t get enough credit for his play. PJ Fleck isn’t afraid to bench good players if they aren’t abiding by his culture, yet he’s never benched Donnell Greene the couple of times he’s lost his cool. That says something to me about how important this guy is. Donnell has the same amount of experience as Jared Weyler, being a starter for the better part of 3 years. Greene can play either tackle position, although is likely a better fit for right tackle in the NFL since he isn’t a freak athlete. Although Greene doesn’t have great athleticism, he seems to be a little quicker than he’s often given credit for. On top of that, he has plus-size at 6’7″ and 320 pounds. He has decently long arms which help in pass protection, and has done a pretty good job against all of his Big Ten assignments. For him, it all comes down to his measurements. If he shows himself to be fairly athletic, he could be drafted. If his numbers aren’t that impressive, he’ll likely be nothing more than a preseason body.

OJ Smith

The Alabama transfer is a huge run stopper down low, and is decently athletic for someone listed at 6’2″ 320. After sitting out last season due to transfer rules, OJ Smith has basically taken up space for the Gophers down low, and made opposing teams hesitant to run up the middle against us. The former 4 star recruit got an Alabama offer for a reason, and although he didn’t see regular playing as a member of the Crimson Tide, he was sitting behind multiple future NFL starters. His numbers have been far from eye-popping so far as a Gopher, but he’s seen the field ahead of some other good interior linemen. OJ Smith is very similar to Gary Moore, except Smith has a little more of the athleticism that NFL scouts like to work with. He’s more of a disruptor than the stats would indicate, but has still disappointed a little bit, and hurt his draft stock. Unless he has a stellar end to the season, expect OJ Smith to go undrafted and have to earn his spot in the NFL. At this point, he’s no more likely to sign on a 90-man roster as is Gary Moore, but Smith has the potential to greatly increase his stock if he starts making more plays.

Blake Cashman

The former walk-on might have the best shot at being drafted, as he simply can’t stop making plays. Cashman is an okay athlete but not great, and has average size being (generously) listed at 6’2″ 235 pounds. He’s probably closer to 6’1″ 228 right now (which is actually a significant difference), but no one can argue against his production. Some linebackers just have a knack for making big plays, and that’s Cashman. He led the team in sacks as a sophomore, and is leading the team in total tackles and tackles for loss through 7 games. Nothing has been handed to him, and his nose for TFLs will get him significant looks from NFL scouts. (CONTINUE ABOUT ATHLETICISM)

Players who are almost certainly going to be drafted

None.

Players who are locks to be drafted