Gophers Draft Prospects Praise PJ Fleck’s Culture at Minnesota

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Justin Walley, Minnesota Gophers
Credit: Tanner Pearson-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Gophers 2024 season didn’t go as well as planned, but many would argue the program itself took a big step in the right direction. The offense stepped into the 21st century, easily passing the most of any football team in University of Minnesota history.

On defense, the Gophers proved they were more than just Joe Rossi, who left at the end of 2023, to take the defensive coordinator job at Michigan State. Under one-and-done DC Corey Hetherman, the 2024 Golden Gophers defense ranked No. 9 in points allowed (16.9 PPG) and No. 5 in total yards allowed (285.7 YPG).

PJ Fleck coined the phrase “Row the Boat” long before he arrived at the University of Minnesota. But he doesn’t just wear those words out with his mouth. He lives by his favorite motto, and expects the same out of his football players.

Justin Walley, Minnesota Gophers
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The culture PJ has built in Dinkytown, and the way he lives his life, may rub haters the wrong way. But the now eight-year head coach has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he knows how to develop kids with football talent into responsible, hard-working men who excel on the football field.

This week at the NFL Combine, multiple Minnesota Gophers are trying to prove to NFL scouts, coaches and executives that they should spend one of their April draft picks on their football future. When asked about PJ Fleck or the Golden Gophers football program, they’ve gushed over the man and the program that helped raise them into them men they are today.

Justin Walley speaks highly of Minnesota Gophers culture

Justin Walley is one of a record six Minnesota Gophers prospects who received an NFL Combine invite this offseason. The U of M CB1 should hear his name called by the end of the draft on April 27. Once drafted, Walley will have the opportunity to be the next key former Gopher wreaking havoc for an NFL defense.

Walley played his entire collegiate career at the University of Minnesota, a rare feat for any college football player these days. After hearing him talk abou Fleck and the Gophers program at the combine, you can see why he never left, even though he was one of the top cornerbacks in the Big Ten since his sophomore season.

“It’s great. I mean, he really creates a brotherhood. I know in this day and age with NIL and the portal it’s really hard to have a team that’s all in for each other. The culture there just creates that.”

Justin Walley on playing for P.J. Fleck

The premise of a slogan like Row the Boat can’t be hollow. If something like that becomes a goofy tagline then P.J. Fleck immediately struggles with a level of credibility. Walley suggesting that the culture and brotherhood at Minnesota is amazing truly means the players grab an oar and willingly row right alongside their head coach.

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Fleck’s MN Gophers program will never have the same NIL funds or lucrative avenues to land talent against premier schools. That forces the team into a blueprint of development and buy in. The more that Fleck can create a culture where players stay and grow, the better his teams will be for it.

Walley played 49 games for the Gophers across a four-year collegiate career. He racked up 113 tackles along with seven interceptions, two of which came this season. Walley scored his first pick six and had a career-best ten passes defensed as well.

The Minnesota standout showed well in the speed department at the combine as well. Despite sporting a cast on his hand, Walley ripped off a 4.4 time in the 40-yard dash. NFL teams will certainly enjoy utilizing that speed in their secondary.

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As a defensive back, he will be looking to make an impact at the next level. Minnesota has fared well with their safeties at the highest level, but Walley can generate a name for the cornerbacks.

Next season presents a schedule that P.J. Fleck and his team should feel good about. The Minnesota Gophers can compete in virtually every contest they have lined up, and it could result in a double-digit winning record.

Max Brosmer felt Minnesota Gophers culture too

Walley had played for the P.J. Fleck in each of his four collegiate seasons. Minnesota recruited Max Brosmer as a transfer player and he felt the same culture Walley discussed, despite his time being brief. When asked what stuck out to him about his time at the University of Minnesota, Brosmer again pointed to PJ Fleck and the unity his culture breeds.

“Unity I think. After the Michigan game. I think the unity piece was there, but actually proving to ourselves that we can do it. I remember coach Fleck’s postgame speech after Michigan was the most incredible postgame speech I’ve ever heard in my life…The feeling you had in the locker room, after a loss, was nothing that I had ever been a part of. After that we just hit the ground running.”

Max Brosmer on the Gophers unity this season

It’s not at all surprising that Brosmer gets it. He displayed a high level of leadership all season and should have a long NFL career because of his ability between the ears.

The ability to come into a new environment and immediately set a higher standard for your teammates, while also earning their trust, allin a short period of time shows the type of leader the NFL is getting in the Gophers’ one and done QB.

Max Brosmer’s 2,800 yards passing, and 18/6 TD/INT ratio, will go down as one of the best QB seasons in University of Minnesota history. He won’t be day one pick, and could even slip to day three, but there’s no doubt he can add a lot of talent, brainpower and work ethic to whatever NFL locker room he joins.

Culture shows in MN Gophers staying as well

Walley briefly touched on the ever-changing landscape of college football. With NIL money and the transfer portal being prevalent now, players have more opportunities than ever. When guys like Koi Perich and Darius Taylor stick with the program that has begun to build them, it speaks to P.J. Fleck’s culture as well.

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The Minnesota native Perich racked up accolades and quickly earned playing time at Minnesota. He certainly would have had opportunities to play elsewhere. That didn’t happen. Taylor has been a standout in his first two seasons with the Gophers. He could have had other opportunities but isn’t leaving either.

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