So, who will be the next Gopher QB1, now that Max Brosmer is moving on to the NFL? That is the biggest question surrounding PJ Fleck and offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh this offseason.

Minnesota Gophers getting closer to naming their 2025 starting QB?

Heading into spring, the Gophers had a few possible options for their new quarterback. The frontrunner is Drake Lindsey, a third-year junior who might be the most talented arm to wear maroon and gold since Fleck took over in 2017.

Looking forward to more TD drives @Drakelindsey5! 🚀 #RTB #SkiUMah #Gophers https://t.co/ilJSphqbUH pic.twitter.com/yX2WsQt9rm

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) December 12, 2024

His competition? Two transfers that signed out of the portal late last year — Virginia Tech’s Dylan Wittke and Georgia Tech’s Zach Pyron. Wittke — who has never thrown a collegiate pass — came in as a much longer shot to win the job than Pyron.

He played 19 games in three years at Georgia Tech, completing 88 of 155 passes (56.8%) for 5 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Lindsey got on the field in only three games last season, tossing five passes, completing four of them (including a touchdown).

On Thursday, though, we may have gotten our first major giveaway on who is winning the MN Gophers offseason QB competition when the aforementioned Zach Pyron re-entered the transfer portal just four months in Minnesota.

Confirmed: #Gophers quarterback Zach Pyron has entered the transfer portal, a source confirmed to @PioneerPress on Thursday. (@mzenitz and @PeteNakos_ on it.)

Context: The Georgia Tech transfer didn’t receive many reps during Minnesota’s open spring practices.

— Andy Greder (@andygreder) April 17, 2025

Zach Pyron went to Georgia Tech as a four-star quarterback with quite a bit of hype surrounding him. He was the 18th best quarterback in the country and the 15th best player out of Alabama, overall (247Sports). Pyron earned all-state honors twice in high school, along with four all-region teams and four all-county teams.

He was also named Alabama state football MVP in 2019, as a senior, after leading his high school team to three state championships, over the course of his four seasons at the helm. Unfortunately for Zach, he hasn’t been that type of QB at the college level, and now he is onto his second team in less than a half-year.

Drake Lyndsey looks like the next starting QB at Minnesota

Since then MN Gophers sophomore Tanner Morgan went off in 2019 for 3,200 yards, 30 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions — throwing to two of the best wide receivers in program history, in Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman — Minnesota’s offense struggled to find a groove through the air. That moved Fleck to a type of offensive conservatism not seen in modern American football since the 90s.

Related: PJ Fleck, MN Gophers Receive First Commit of New High School Recruiting Class

But last year, we saw all of that change with the arrival of FCS transfer, Max Brosmer, who the coaching staff was able to trust in a way that they had never experienced before and he repaid them with 2,828 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

As it appears now, Drake Lyndsey will be the next starting quarterbackk of the Minnesota Gophers. We’ll see if he can take the torch, after everything he learned from one year sitting behind Brosmer.

However, head coach PJ Fleck isn’t slacking off; instead, he’s been grinding away at recruiting, leveraging the transfer portal like a pro. Today, some of that work paid off when he pulled a quarterback out of the portal.

Minnesota Gophers land Georgia Tech transfer QB Zach Pyron

Georgia Tech transfer quarterback Zach Pyron made it official today, he’s committed to the Gophers. After spending his last 3 seasons at Georgia Tech where he only started four games, he decided to hit the transfer portal. Now, he’s bringing his talents to Dinkytown.

Hebrews 11:1 pic.twitter.com/9SsOD31MVc

— Zach Pyron (@zach_pyron_05) December 11, 2024

Pyron was a big deal coming out of high school back in 2022. He was a 4-star recruit who was ranked as the 18th best quarterback in the country and the 15th best player in Alabama by 247Sports.

Who is new Gopher QB Zach Pyron?

Pryon racked up accolades like other big stars in high school. He was a football standout, earning two-time all-state honors, four-time all-region, and four-time all-county recognition. He was also named state MVP in 2019 and took home region MVP honors twice. He led his team to three state championships over the course of his four seasons as the starting quarterback.

Zach Pyron went into Georgia Tech as a true freshman and quickly made his mark. He started in two games where he threw for 565 yards, with three touchdowns and three interceptions. However, in his second year after redshirting, he didn’t see any starting action.

🎯🎯@zach_pyron_05 ➡️ @ChrisElko6 pic.twitter.com/4IF7nfmW4j

— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) April 14, 2024

Related: 2025 Minnesota Gophers Football Schedule Released + Early Record Prediction

Last season when star QB Haynes King was sidelined with an injury Pyron stepped up, starting in two games. He threw for 409 yards with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. But Pyron’s not at all just a pocket passer, he’s got some legs on him too. He amassed 271 rushing yards and scoring 6 touchdowns on the ground over his three seasons with the Yellowjackets.

This is a very solid pickup for PJ Fleck and crew, adding some serious talent and depth to the quarterback room. We’re now looking at what could be an exciting quarterback battle between sophomore Drake Lindsay and Pyron, who comes in with two years of eligibility left.