Related: Minnesota Gophers Football Transfer Portal Tracker 2023

Minnesota Gophers Zach Evans entering transfer portal

Entering my name into the transfer portal. Respect my decision. pic.twitter.com/kwhOWpGwza

— Zach Evans ㊙️ (@RealZachEvans) November 30, 2023

The redshirt freshman out of Heath, TX entered the season down the list of running backs that were expected to receive a lot of carries in 2023. But, a fumbling problem from transfer Sean Tyler and injuries to freshman phenom Darius Taylor, pushed Evans into the spotlight.

In some games, Zach took advantage, winning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after rushing for 85 yards and a TD vs Louisiana. But, that would be his only TD of a rather underwhelming season overall where he saw his own share of injury issues (6 games: 230 yards, 4.4 YPC). He will have three years to play wherever he ends up.

Darius Taylor, Zach Evans out vs Michigan State

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But, the task Saturday got a lot more difficult early this afternoon, when Minnesota’s pregame injury report came out and both Minnesota B1G Freshman of the Week running backs, Darius Taylor (3x) and Zach Evans (1x). Cody Lindenberg is listed as questionable for what seems like the 47th week in a row.

Here is the #Gophers availability report ahead of today's game vs. Michigan State. Darius Taylor, Zach Evans and Tyler Cooper are out. Cody Lindenberg is listed as questionable. pic.twitter.com/Yv7R5syHro

— Daniel House (@DanielHouseMN) October 28, 2023

Minnesota B1G Freshman of the Week backs will be missed

That’s bad news for the run-loving PJ Fleck, given Taylor (true freshman) and Evans (redshirt freshman) account for 2/3 of Minnesota’s ground game production on the season. I’d imagine the Gopher offense will lean on upperclassmen transfer, Sean Tyler, to get them by vs the underwhelming Spartans.

We’ll see if they can get the job done because we know one thing, Fleck isn’t going to use this as an opportunity to flex the arm of Athan Kaliakmanis and the pass game. Kickoff is at 2:30 PM.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Minnesota Gophers start slow vs Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns

PJ Fleck’s offense struggled to find an identity early on, in part due to silly mental mistakes that put them in bad field position during the 1st quarter. While the offense stumbled out of the gate, Joe Rossi’s defense didn’t even make it to the racetrack.

Tyler Nubin & Co were nowhere to be found for the first two quarters of Saturday’s game, before finally turning it up in the 2nd half. Just one week after allowing 300+ yards and 26 points in the 2nd half of a loss vs Northwestern, here they were again giving up 200+ yards and 17 points in the 1st half vs Louisiana.

𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐀

Peter LeBlanc with the toe tap in the corner of the end zone!

UL – 7
MINN – 0
1Q | 10:36

📺 https://t.co/AJnv4Ct49R
📻 https://t.co/TGTfsvHGqC#cULture | #GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/ryU71AJzJT

— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) September 30, 2023

Gopher defense sleepwalks through 1st half, clamps down in 2nd

But a different defense came out of the Huntington Bank Stadium locker room after halftime. Who knows what woke them up but Rossi’s defense held the Ragin’ Cajuns scoreless for over 1.5 quarters in the 2nd half, until finally allowing a 52-yard touchdown run with 3 minutes remaining in the game.

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By then, however, the Gophers were up three possessions and the game was already over. Minnesota’s defensive performance left much to be desired, especially with Michigan coming to Dinkytown next weekend, but after the 1st half performance, the fact that they rebounded in the 2nd is enough to breathe a sigh of relief.

Transfer, Jack Henderson, continues to be one of the biggest portal pickups of the PJ Fleck era and that is saying something. After a tough start, Tyler Nubin rebounded to make a bunch of plays, including a huge interception late in the 3rd quarter with the Ragin’ Cajuns driving.

2️⃣7️⃣ takeaway!#Gophers x @T_Nubin27
pic.twitter.com/XAZqbcQBvG

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) September 30, 2023

PJ Fleck Returns Gophers offense to bread and butter run, run, run game

On offense, PJ Fleck has crawled completely back into his ground game happy place. Even with Darius Taylor out, PJ Fleck was determined to run Louisiana out of Minneapolis. Redshirt freshman, Zach Evans, got 15 carries (85 yards, 1 TD), senior Bryce Williams got 15 of his own (53 yards, 1 TD).

Both Sean Tyler and (QB) Athan Kaliakmanis got 10 carries apiece, too. For Athan, it was only four short of his passing attempt total of 14. If you’re counting, that’s a 51 to 14 run to pass ratio, about as lopsided as we’ve seen a Gophers offense.

If nothing else, Kaliakmanis was efficient, completing 12 of those 14 passes, including a beautiful touchdown to Daniel Jackson the first of two TD connections between the two.

The Gophers tie it up. 😎@25DanielJackson x @GopherFootball

📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/hWYBCslXLl

— Minnesota on BTN (@MinnesotaOnBTN) September 30, 2023

Fleck knew he could run to victory this weekend and, surprise, he jumped on the opportunity, especially after redshirt sophomore QB, Athan Kaliakmanis threw an explicit interception at the end of the 1st half.

Zach Evans shines in Taylor’s absence; Athan gets few (but efficient) passing reps

How does the Gophers return to their ground game roots help Athan Kaliakmanis in the future or next week vs the Michigan Wolverines, when he will surely have to pass at least 30 times?

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The answer to those questions are yet to be determined. But one thing was for sure, when Minnesota came out of the locker room after halftime. PJ wasn’t going to let his redshirt sophomore QB throw the 2023 season into danger Saturday afternoon.

Zach Evans was the most impressive running back that Minnesota put onto the field Saturday. There’s no doubt that, even after an injury riddled start to his career, Evans and Taylor will be a devastating combination in the Gophers backfield.

First Touchdown for @RealZachEvans. 😤

📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/SIRZaRLM5R

— Minnesota on BTN (@MinnesotaOnBTN) September 30, 2023

If Taylor does return sooner rather than later, I expect Fleck to lean into his new dynamic freshmen duo going forward, much like we saw in 2021, when Mo Ibrahim was injured and the Gophers were forced to turn their run-heavy offense over to freshmen phenoms, Mar’Keise “Bucky” Irving and Ky Thomas.

As mentioned earlier, the Gophers will take on the Michigan Wolverines at home next Saturday night (6:30 pm CDT). The game will be on national TV (NBC).

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

After a long wait, PJ Fleck and the Minnesota Gophers are finally able to get visitors on campus this weekend and the festivities have already started with a bang. Three-star running back Zach Evans, of Rockwall Texas committed to row the boat on Friday night.

The 5’9”, 200 pound Evans held offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Texas, Iowa and Utah, among others. He officially visited Nevada last week, according to 247Sports, and just received an offer from Iowa as well.

THE COMMITMENT pic.twitter.com/Dt21Hypctr

— Zach Evans ㊙️ (@RealZachEvans) June 12, 2021

Minnesota’s success recruiting running backs speaks for itself and Evans will only add to that list. Zach is a tough back who can run with some finesse too. He’s not a burner, but he fits the RPO offense the Gophers like to run.

With the depth in Fleck’s backfield, it’ll probably be awhile before Zach Evans contributes in any major way. Still, with a .8709 composite rating at 247Sports, this is a very nice add for the Minnesota Gophers.

Max Carroll | Minnesota Sports Fan