Gophers Land OSU Linebacker Out of Transfer Portal
Although the Minnesota Gophers season is now over, after a condiment drenching victory in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl over Virginia Tech, head coach P.J. Fleck remains hot on the recruiting trail, a streak that began immediately after the regular season ended in November.
The transfer portal has changed the scope of college recruiting and the Minnesota Gophers have seen a lot of early success for their 2025 portal class. This, after 2024 key transfers like Max Brosmer and Marcus Major are off to kick-start what they hope will be pro football careers, either in the NFL or elsewhere.
Minnesota Gophers defense gets a boost from transfer portal
Prior to the Gophers bowl game, Anoka, MN native Cody Lindenberg declared for the NFL Draft, leaving Fleck with a major hole to fill on his defense. Instead of handing the entire job to another player already on roster, the Gophers dove into the portal and pulled out Oklahoma State grad transfer Jeff Roberson.
Oklahoma State LB transfer Jeff Roberson is heading to Minnesota.
— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) January 10, 2025
Had 58 tackles (8.5 for loss), three sacks and an interception this season for the Cowboys:https://t.co/7OS7QmVXay pic.twitter.com/ecNSzzDgkx
Lindenberg was a first-team All-Big Ten player this season so his shoes won’t be easy to fill. But with defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman now in need of a veteran presence who can help make an immediate impact at linebacker, Roberson gives the Gophers exactly that.
What are the Gophers getting in Jeff Roberson?
The four-year Cowboy has four seasons of Big 12 experience under his pads. In 12 games this year, Jeff Roberson recorded 58 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 interception. Last year was Roberson’s first as a starter, and he looked good in that role. So good, in fact, that the Minnesota Gophers offered him one year’s worth of Power 4 football to close out his collegiate career.
2️⃣2️⃣
— Jeff Roberson (@j_roberson22) December 9, 2024
Edited @shotby.Jake_ pic.twitter.com/bYGM78Wsk3
Oklahoma State suffered a nightmarish season in 2024. After winning their first three games, one of which was against FCS powerhouse South Dakota State, they lost nine-straight to close their season at 3-9. Roberson, who is from Oklahoma, visited the Gophers out of high school, according to 247Sports.
So, it only took for him to earn an entire bachelor’s degree, but eventually, they landed their guy. Jeff Roberson will join a linebacker room that already has Maverick Baranowski and Devon Williams in it, so there should be plenty of veteran competition in camp.
Related: 2025 Minnesota Gophers Football Schedule Released + Early Record Prediction
The Minnesota Gophers finished the 2024 season with 8 wins and yet another bowl game victory. But without a doubt, there was a lot of meat left on that bone. In 2025, PJ Fleck & Co will be looking to take that next step as a football program that now has some NIL funds to play with. Can they flip this portal talent into portal production? We’ll soon find out…
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