Gopher QB Speaks on Recent Arrest; PJ Fleck Choosing Not To

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Drake Lindsey, Minnesota Gophers
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Minnesota Gophers recently wrapped up their spring game, meaning the 2026 college football regular season is still a ways off. That’s bad news for Gopher football fans who are more excited for the upcoming season than just about any in recent memory.

Where is all that anticipation coming from? The enter the year with the best quarterback talent in program history, Drake Lindsey, ready to begin his second full season as starter and de facto team leader.

Lindsey looked really good as a redshirt freshman last season, tossing for 2,382 yards (63.2%), 16 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions (four of which came in his worst outing of the season @ Iowa). There are high hopes now for year two, especially as he begins to garner legitimate NFL Draft steam.

MN Gophers QB Drake Lindsey faces music after offseason arrest

Unfortunately, Drake didn’t start the year off making the headlines PJ Fleck was very proud of, after being arrested on minor drinking and fake ID charges this offseason, just months before his 21st birthday.

On Tuesday, Minnesota’s QB and face of Fleck’s program talked with media for the first time since his arrest, where he faced the music, answering multiple questions from media over what he learned and how his teammates have handled it, though he declined to get into details of the arrest.

“As a leader of the football team, you certainly can’t make those decisions. I’ve obviously learned a lot from them, and grown a lot. I apologize to the administration, our staff, all the players, and I’ll grow from this and continue to.”

Drake Lindsey

The Gophers quarterback said he apologized to his teammates early on, following the incident, and that he’s done so many times since.

He hit all the buzzwords, noting that he’s learned from the experience and will continue to take accountability for his actions. Drake Lindsey also praised his teammates coaches for having his back through the entire thing.

PJ Fleck doesn’t want to talk about Lindsey arrest publicly

While Linsey refrained from getting into details about his offseason arrest, P.J. Fleck declined to really get into it at all, repeatedly telling reporters that it’s something the Minnesota Gophers are handling internally and declining to confirm or deny whether or not Lindsey’s internal discipline will include any missed games.

PJ did mention, however, that this issue is “not considered in the past,” as far as he and the University is concerned. What exactly that means and whether or not we will ever see the effect of said discipline is to be determined.

“First and foremost, Drake’s just got to make better decisions, just like all of the players on our team. Take accountability for those decisions, learn from those decisions, and be better for it. That’s the only thing you can do with your football team is continue to educate them, and I know he’ll be way better for it.”

P.J. Fleck

Fleck certainly isn’t thrilled having his starting quarterback in the news for reasons other than projected success in the 2026 season. However, as long as Lindsey can put this behind him and stay out of trouble moving forward, this shouldn’t have much effect on his long-term outlook as a college or NFL QB.

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