CFB Experts Should Do Their Research on MN Gophers’ Blossoming Superstar

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Drake Lindsey, Minnesota Gophers
Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Gophers are 3-1 to start the 2025 season and they could be 4-0, had they remained disciplined against a mediocre Cal Golden Bears squad.

But the most positive development so far in 2025 has been the incredible performance of young quarterback, Drake Lindsey. The redshirt freshman had big shoes to fill after Max Brosmer completed one of the best seasons in Gopher QB history in 2024.

The now Minnesota Vikings rookie spent considerable time, during his lone season in Dinkytown, grooming Lindsey for this moment. So far, it’s paid off as he’s completed 65.8% of his passes for 958 yards and 7 touchdown vs 2 interceptions through four games.

PFF says Minnesota Gophers QB Drake Lindsey is ELITE

Beyond standard statistics, Drake Lindsey stands out even more. In fact, the Arkansas kid is currently graded as the No. 2 quarterback in all of college football by Pro Football Focus (90.8), behind only Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby (92.2).

Lindsey edged out Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, who is on his sixth year of college football. Sorsby is also an upperclassman (junior). Lindsey, on the other hands, is just a redshirt freshman with only four starts under his collegiate belt.

With Ohio State on deck for the MN Gophers, Lindsey will have an opportunity to show his abilities under a national spotlight against the No. 1 ranked team in the country, and their suffocating defense. The Buckeyes will be lead by fellow redshirt freshman, Julian Sayin, a top 10 Heisman candidate.

ESPN “expert” sleeping on Lindsey and Arch Manning?

What was once the Power 5 has become four top conferences with the teardown of the Pac-12. ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranked all 68 quarterbacks among those Power 4 schools. Unfortunately he hasn’t watched Drake Lindsey enough, because he currently ranks him as the No. 42 quarterback in the country.

Lindsey enjoyed a nice performance against Rutgers, throwing for 324 yards and three touchdowns in a win. He’s 15th nationally in success rate (52.8%) despite rarely throwing at or behind the line, though he’s averaging only 10.6 yards per completion against power-conference opponents. There’s absolutely no run threat here, but safe passing combined with strong defense should produce at least seven or eight wins.

Bill Connelly – ESPN

Who knows where Lindsey would have checked in had he performed a bit better against Cal. What is notable is that the quarterback directly in front of Lindsey is none other than Texas Longhorns starter Arch Manning.

Manning is not expected to declare for the NFL Draft after this season, and his slow start has all but guaranteed that to remain the case. However, seeing him ranked in the 40s is jarring nonetheless.

Maybe we won’t see the blossoming young MN Gophers QB ultimately overtake Manning on draft night, But at this point, it’s certainly possible, should Lindsey perform in big moments, like the one he will get Saturday night in Columbus.

Drake Lindsey from Minnesota Gophers to 1st round pick?

Personal quarterback coach Quincy Avery has been talking up Lindsey for a while now, and he’s lived up to expectations. From everything we have seen so far out of the MN Gophers QB, a future first round grade makes a ton of sense. And playing in the Big Ten, he’ll have no shortage of opportunities to prove himself on a big stage.

And playing in Minnesota, not only does he have a chance to put the Gophers onto the CFP map, but also set all sorts of school records in the process. The next one is a big one too, when Minnesota kicks off at The Horseshoe against Ohio State on Saturday night.

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