Minnesota Gophers Football All-Big Ten Honors and Conference Awards – 2024

2024 had all the makings to be one of the best football seasons in modern day Minnesota Gophers history. They ended with one of the best defenses in the nation. It ranked top 15 in points (13th – 17.5 PPG) and yards (8th – 290.9 YPG) allowed. They also ranked 15th in passing yards allowed per game (178.3) and 23rd in rush yards allowed (112.6 YPG).

On offense, New Hampshire graduate transfer Max Brosmer took the University of Minnesota passing game into the modern age of college football. For the first time in PJ Fleck’s tenure as head coach, the Golden Gophers passed the ball (31.8 passes per game) more times than they ran it (30.7 rushes per game).

Unfortunately, an early season stumble vs North Carolina, paired with a but kicking vs Iowa and an inability to close in close games vs Penn State and Michigan led to a mediocre 7-5 overall record and 5-4 Big Ten record, which was good for 9th place in the new 18-team format.

The Minnesota Gophers’ most likely bowl destination is the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, according to one insider report. That’s not exactly the finish you would have hoped out of possibly the most optimistic football season in recent memory, barring 2019.

2024 Minnesota Gophers All-Big Ten Honors – Offense

• 1st Team
  • LT Aireontae Ersery(unanimous)
• Honorable Mention
  • WR Daniel Jackson (unanimous)
  • RB Darius Taylor (unanimous)
  • C Tyler Cooper (unanimous)
  • OL Quinn Carroll (media)

On Tuesday, though, the Big Ten honored a couple handfuls of 2024 standout Golden Gophers, in major ways. While the All Big Ten offensive team was rather light on maroon and gold, 1st round draft prospect Aireontae Ersery was the one Gopher who made the list as a unanimous 1st team left tackle. He also won the Rimington-Pace Award, for best offensive lineman in the Big Ten.

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 to Aireontae Ersery, the 2024 Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year! #B1GFootball x @GopherFootball pic.twitter.com/H8hscz0VW9

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) December 3, 2024

Ersery has played 691 snaps in 2024. It is not yet known whether the projected 1st rounder will stick around and play in the Gophers’ bowl game. Minnesota sure could use his 79.9 overall PFF grade (75.4 RBLK, 80.0 PBLK). According to PFF, Ersery allowed just one sace on the season, and 13 total pressures.

The only other Minnesota players mentioned were honorable mentions, WR Daniel Jackson, RB Darius Taylor and offensive linemen Quinn Carroll and Tyler Cooper. Jackson, a senior who will be entering the 2025 NFL Draft, caught 75 passes for 863 yards and 4 touchdowns this season. Darius Taylor has collected 873 yards and 9 touchdowns on 185 carries, so far this season, prior to the Gophers’ bowl game.

2024 Minnesota Gophers All-Big Ten Honors – Defense

• 1st Team All Big Ten
  • S Koi Perich (unanimous)
  • ILB Cody Lindenberg (coaches)
• 2nd Team All Big Ten
  • CB Justin Walley (coaches)
  • ILB Cody Lindenberg (media)
• Honorable Mentions:
  • DT Anthony Smith (unanimous)
  • OLB Danny Striggow (unanimous)
  • CB Ethan Robinson (unanimous)
  • OLB Jah Joyner (unanimous)
  • DT Jalen Logan-Redding (media)
  • CB Justin Walley (media)
  • ILB Maverick Baranowski (media)

As mentioned, the Minnesota Gophers had one of the best defenses, not just in the Big Ten, but in the country. Thus, they did have a greater representation in the end of season awards. Whether or not enough players made the list is certainly debatable.

Nonetheless, we did see a couple of 1st team representation, including freshman Koi Perich, who was named a unanimous 1st Team All Big Ten selection by both coaches and media members. The Esko, MN grown Gopher totalled 5 interceptions on the season, which led the Big Ten, along with 42 tackles and a forced fumble, all with just a half-dozen starts.

Koi Perich. Koi Wonder.

A name to know for @GopherFootball. True freshman. pic.twitter.com/sX4NU4YAXX

— Connor Onion (@ConnorOnion) October 27, 2024

Linebacker Cody Lindenberg was named to the 1st Team by coaches, 2nd team by media. Cornerback Justin Walley made 2nd team coaches and was forgotten about, by media. DT Anthony Smith, OLB Danny Striggow, CB Ethan Robinson and OLB Jah Joyner were all named honorable mention from both coaches and media. DT Jalen Logan-Redding, Justin Walley and Maverick Baranowski were all named honorable mentions by media.

2024 Minnesota Gophers All-Big Ten Honors – Special Teams

• 2nd team
  • RS Koi Perich (media)
• Honorable Mention
  • LS Alan Soukup (unanimous)
  • RS Koi Perich (coaches)
  • K Dragan Kesich (media)
  • P Mark Crawford (media)

One season after being named 1st Team All Big Ten, place kicker Dragan Kesich dropped down to a measly media-only honorable mention, in 2024. Koi Perich was named honorable mention by the coaches and 2nd team returner, by the media. Long snapper Alan Soukup (unanimous) and punter Mark Crawford (media) were also named honorable mention by both the coaches and media.