Two Minnesota Gophers Seniors Accept Hula Bowl Invitations

By Eric Strack |

Updated: Nov 21, 2024

Max Brosmer : Minnesota Gophers at Rutgers — Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Believe it or not, the 2024 college football season is almost over. The 6-4 Minnesota Gophers have two Big Ten games remaining, then a bowl game, before they call it another year for the PJ Fleck era.

Given that preseason projections had Minnesota finishing near the bottom of the conference, it could be argued this is already a successful season for Fleck, but there’s a big difference between eight, maybe even nine wins, compared to six or seven.

No matter what happens on Saturday vs No. 4 Penn State, or during any of these last three games, the college football clock is running out for a good chunk of Gophers players. For most of them, these will be the final football games they ever play. Others are trying to take their professional football careers to the next level.

Two Minnesota Gophers accept Hula Bowl invites

On Thursday, two Gopher seniors — QB Max Brosmer and EDGE Danny Striggow — accepted their invite to the Hula Bowl, one of many CFB All-Star showcases that allow scouts to get a look at some of the best players across the country.

Hula Bowl Bound! 👏🏼@maxtbro officially accepted his invite to the Caribe Royale Orlando 2025 Hula Bowl All-Star Game! #SkiUMah | #HulaBowl2025 🏈@GopherFootball @SAGECards @cariberoyale @NFL pic.twitter.com/eWryBLgaZy
— Hula Bowl (@Hula_Bowl) November 21, 2024

Hula Bowl Bound! 👏🏼@dstriggow23 officially accepted his invite to the Caribe Royale Orlando 2025 Hula Bowl All-Star Game! #SkiUMah | #HulaBowl2025 🏈@GopherFootball @SAGECards @cariberoyale @NFL pic.twitter.com/HumxAtpZqe
— Hula Bowl (@Hula_Bowl) November 21, 2024

There are plenty of positives to take away from an up and down Gophers season, with games still left to play. But without a doubt, the change in philosophy offensively has been a sight for sore eyes. We’ve begged and pleaded PJ Fleck to stop playing so conservatively.

Quarterback – Max Brosmer

In reality, all he needed was grad transfer from FCS New Hampshire, Max Brosmer, who he trusts more than most of the offensive coordinators we’ve seen roll through since Kirk Ciarrocca left, then game back, then left again. Fleck has full trust in Brosmer, allowing him to throw the football.

With three games still remaining on the season, Brosmer has thrown the football more times than any other QB in the PJ Fleck era. Even when Tanner Morgan set all of those University of Minnesota passing records back in 2019, he only completed 210 passes, on 318 attempts. In 2024, Brosmer has completed 218 passes, on 325 attempts.

🚣 26/33 CMP
🚣 320 YDS
🚣 4 TD

Max Brosmer's best game of the season sent @GopherFootball to an easy win over Maryland.#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/f8v1VTBv9G
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 26, 2024

While the 2024 Minnesota offense hasn’t packed the same punch as that epic and historic 2019 offense, the point stands. There is no QB Fleck has trusted more than Max Brosmer, who has passed for 2,251 yards, 14 TD and 4 INT on his senior season. His 67.1 completion percentage is by far the best of any QB in school history. The closest is Tanner Morgan, who posted a 62.2 career %.

With one more TD and 279 yards vs Penn State, Brosmer can break into the top 10 in both categories for the best single passing seasons in U of M history. Tony Dungy (1975), Billy Cockerham (1999) and Adam Weber (2008) are all tied for 10th with 15 TDs. Brian Cupito’s 2005 season (2,530 yards) is keeping him out of the top 10, in passing yards.

Rk	Player	Yards	Rk	Player	TD
1.	T. Morgan (’19)	3,253	1	T. Morgan (’19)	30
2.	A. Weber (’07)	2,895	2	A. Weber (’07)	24
5.	M. Leidner (’15)	2,701	8	C. Sauter (’95)	18
9.	C. Sauter (’95)	2,578	9	Asad Abdul-Khaliq (’03)	17
10.	B. Cupito (’05)	2,530	10	3 Tied	15
15.	M Brosmer (’24)	2,251	T-11	M Brosmer (’24)	14

In one year, Max transformed a sluggish and stone-age offense into what now resembles a modern-day passing attack. He did it, not just on the field with his arm, but off the field, with his incredible leadership skills and work ethic. Now, he’ll get a chance to show off all of his abilities to NFL scouts at the Hula Bowl.

Defensive EDGE Rusher – Danny Striggow

Danny Striggow is one of us, from Long Lake, MN. The 2020 Orono High School grad has had a prolific 5-year Minnesota Gophers career, starting every game he’s been available since his redshirt freshman season.

As a junior, Striggow came in 2nd on the team in sacks (6), behind only Jah Joyner (7.5), and tied for 6th in tackles (51). As a senior, he’s piled up the QB just 2.5 times so far, but he is already up to 41 tackles, currently 4th on the Gophers defense. He’s also forced and recovered a fumble.

Striggow, when at his best, is a disruptor in both the run and pass games, where he’s able to set the EDGE when necessary, and get to the QB, when the time calls for it. His PFF grades look more like a good 3-4 OLB at the next level, than he does a 4-3 defensive end pass rush specialist.

One of my favorite #Gophers plays from last year was this Danny Striggow interception against Michigan State.

Love how he recognizes the screen and goes to disrupt it, coming away with the pick. pic.twitter.com/XyANqCY0Ca
— Noel Thompson (@N0ELTHOMPSON) October 28, 2023

This season, Striggow is best in run defense, posting a 72.3 RDEF grade. His 60.9 pass rush grade is more in line with his 59.0 tackle and 56.7 coverage grades. But in past years, he has excelled in coverage, posting a 79.5 coverage grade in 2023 (97 snaps) and a 74.3 coverage grade in 2022.

Striggow’s overall PFF grade has been pretty consistent for all four seasons he qualified. His pressure numbers look the best of his career, according to PFF, where he has already totalled as many QB hurries (13) as he did all of 2023, and just one less pressure. Without a doubt, PFF believes 2023 was Striggow’s best collegiate season.

Year	Snaps	PFF Grade	PRSH Grade	COV Grade	Hurries	Pressures
2024	445	67.1	60.6	56.7	13	20
2023	505	71.5	69.5	79.5	13	21
2022	284	70.4	59.9	74.3	6	11
2021	20	66.6	53.4	NA	0	1
Career	1,254				32	53

PFF

Striggow is having another solid season for another really good Minnesota Gophers defense, which ranks top 20 in the nation in passing yards, total yards and points allowed this season. It’s been one hell of a debut for new defensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh.