2015 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

American college football season December 2014 February 2026 2015 Minnesota Golden Gophers football Minnesota Golden Gophers logo.svg 125 Big Ten Conference West Division Big Ten 6–7 2–6 Jerry Kill 5th first 7 games Tracy Claeys remainder of season Matt Limegrover 5th Tracy Claeys 5th Spread 4–3 K. J. Maye Mitch Leidner Briean Boddy-Calhoun Eric Murray TCF Bank Stadium Quick Lane Bowl champion Quick Lane Bowl W 21–14 vs. Central Michigan The 2015 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gophers played their home games at TCF Bank Stadium. They were a member of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. Minnesota finished the regular season with a record of 5–7, 2–6 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for fifth place in the West Division. Despite finishing below .500, the Gophers were invited to the Quick Lane Bowl versus Central Michigan due to there not being enough bowl eligible teams and Minnesota's high Academic Performance Rating. Gophers could still be eligible for bowl berth http://www.foxsports.com/north/story/minnesota-golden-gophers-football-could-still-be-eligible-for-bowl-berth-112815 Fox Sports 2015-12-29 Minnesota defeated Central Michigan 21–14 to finish the season 6–7. They were led by fifth-year head coach Jerry Kill, who resigned on October 28 for health reasons. Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys replaced Kill on an interim basis and was named head coach two weeks later on November 11.Jerry Kill Retires As U football Coach Due to Health Problems Joe Christensen http://www.startribune.com/jerry-kill-retires-as-u-football-coach-due-to-health/337923342/#1 Star Tribune Minneapolis October 28, 2015 October 28, 2015 Tracy Claeys named University of Minnesota football coach http://www.startribune.com/claeys-named-head-coach-of-gophers-football/345750372/ Star Tribune 2015-11-29 Recruiting yes 2015 Beebe, Colton FB Kansas City, KS Piper HS 6 3 248 4.75 December 17, 2014 2 2 2 71 Brooks, Shannon RB Jasper, GA Pickens County HS 5 11 201 4.56 September 11, 2014 3 3 3 73 Buford, Ray ATH Southfield, MI Southfield HS 6 1 193 4.65 July 19, 2014 3 3 3 75 Connelly, Nick OL Red Wing, MN Red Wing HS 6 7 269 5.04 June 24, 2014 3 3 3 72 Craighton, Alonzo DB Geismar, LA Dutchtown HS 6 1 184 4.60 October 13, 2014 3 2 3 77 Croft, Demry QB Rockford, IL Boylan Catholic HS 6 5 192 4.66 June 30, 2014 3 3 3 73 DeLattiboudere, Winston DL Ellicott City, MD Howard HS 6 3 217 4.78 February 1, 2015 3 2 3 NR Dovich, Bronson OL Chaska, MN Chaska HS 6 5 290 N/A May 30, 2014 3 3 3 74 Femi-Cole, Jonathan RB Aurora, ON, CN St. Andrew's College 6 0 218 4.59 July 19, 2014 3 3 2 74 Hall, Mose DL Mobile, AL Murphy HS 6 4 253 5.03 January 27, 2015 3 3 2 72 Hardin, Kiante ATH Webb City, MO Webb City HS 5 10 160 4.55 October 14, 2014 2 2 3 72 Huff, Jacob DB Bolingbrook, IL Bolingbrook HS 5 10 201 4.65 June 5, 2014 2 3 3 76 Huff, Julian LB Bolingbrook, IL Bolingbrook HS 5 11 215 4.70 June 5, 2014 2 2 2 75 Johannesson, James RB Fargo, ND Fargo South HS 6 1 216 4.55 August 22, 2014 3 3 3 73 Johnson, Dior DB Southfield, MI Southfield HS 6 2 195 N/A January 28, 2015 3 4 3 75 Moore, Tyler OL Houston, TX North Shore HS 6 5 317 N/A December 16, 2014 3 3 3 77 Oseland, Quinn OL Springfield, IL Sacred Heart Griffin HS 6 6 303 5.53 August 13, 2014 3 3 3 76 Register, Hunter WR Lafayette, LA Ovey Comeaux HS 6 4 191 4.58 January 21, 2015 3 2 3 74 Rogers, Charlie DB Iowa City, IA Iowa Western CC (JC) 6 1 208 4.47 December 3, 2014 3 3 3 78 Shenault, Antonio DB Roselle, IL Lake Park HS 5 11 180 4.61 October 9, 2014 3 3 3 72 Stieber, Ted OL Akron, OH Archbishop Hoban HS 6 6 298 5.86 June 18, 2014 3 3 3 74 Still, Rashad WR El Paso, TX Andress HS 6 5 200 4.50 January 24, 2015 2 2 2 79 Waters, Jaylen LB Copperas Cove, TX Copperas Cove HS 6 2 230 4.63 July 21, 2014 3 3 3 77 Witham, Bryce TE Grand Rapids, MI West Catholic HS 6 4 240 4.68 January 26, 2015 3 2 3 73 yes 2015 Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com 2015 Minnesota Commitments Scout.com 2015 Minnesota Commitments ESPN 2015 Minnesota Commitments 2015 Minnesota Commitments minnesota 176 135 56 52 62 63 April 12, 2015 no Schedule Minnesota faced all six Big Ten West Division opponents: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin. The Gophers also faced Big Ten East Division opponents Michigan and Ohio State.2015-2016 Schedule http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/minn-m-footbl-sched.html University of Minnesota Department of Athletics October 25, 2015 March 26, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130326033904/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/minn-m-footbl-sched.html dead Minnesota played four non-conference games: TCU of the Big 12 Conference, Colorado State of the Mountain West Conference, and Kent State and Ohio of the Mid-American Conference. Minnesota had one bye week during the season between their games against Nebraska and Michigan. 2015 AP Central September 3 8:00 pm l y TCU 2 TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN ESPN 17–23 54,147 Gophers Drop Their Chances to Knock off Horned Frogs Joe Christensen http://www.startribune.com/gophers-drop-their-chances-to-knock-off-horned-frogs/324290431/ Star Tribune Minneapolis September 4, 2015 October 25, 2015 September 12 2:30 pm w y y Colorado State Hughes Stadium Fort Collins, CO CBSSN 23–20 OT 32,500 Gophers Need OT to Top Colorado State 23-20 Joe Christensen http://www.startribune.com/gophers-need-ot-to-top-colorado-state-23-20/327145951/ Star Tribune Minneapolis September 13, 2015 October 25, 2015 September 19 11:00 am w y Kent State TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN BTN 10–7 52,823 Signals About QB Are Mixed After Gophers Sputter in Win Over Kent State Joe Christensen http://www.startribune.com/gophers-eke-out-10-7-win-over-kent-state/328377701/ Star Tribune Minneapolis September 20, 2015 October 25, 2015 September 26 2:30 pm w y y Ohio TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN BTN 27–24 53,917 Gophers Score on Final Drive to Escape with Win Over Ohio Joe Christensen http://www.startribune.com/gophers-score-on-final-drive-to-escape-with-win-over-ohio/329658971/ Star Tribune Minneapolis September 27, 2015 October 25, 2015 October 3 11:00 am l 16 y Northwestern Ryan Field Evanston, IL BTN 0–27 30,044 Gophers Drop the Ball in Big Ten Opener Jeff Arnold http://www.postbulletin.com/sports/localsports/football-gophers-drop-the-ball-in-big-ten-opener/article_fcec21ec-04e2-5330-8a17-66f520da1b26.html Post-Bulletin Rochester, MN Associated Press October 4, 2015 October 25, 2015 October 10 2:30 pm w y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN ESPNU 41–13 33,780 Purdue Seeking Answers at Season's Midway Point, Travel to Wisconsin Next Jeff Washburn http://www.startribune.com/purdue-seeking-answers-at-season-s-midway-point/332568222/ Star Tribune Minneapolis October 13, 2015 October 25, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151015192324/http://www.startribune.com/purdue-seeking-answers-at-season-s-midway-point/332568222/ October 15, 2015 dead mdy-all October 17 2:30 pm l Nebraska TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN rivalry ESPN2 25–48 54,062 Nebraska Overpowers Gophers for 48-25 Victory Joe Christensen http://www.startribune.com/nebraska-offense-overpowers-gophers-for-48-25-victory/333674631/ Star Tribune Minneapolis October 18, 2015 October 25, 2015 October 31 6:00 pm l Michigan 15 TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN Little Brown Jug ESPN 26–29 50,789 Gophers-Michigan Game Recap Joe Christensen http://www.startribune.com/gophers-michigan-game-recap/339144671/ Star Tribune Minneapolis October 31, 2015 November 4, 2015 November 7 7:00 pm l y Ohio State 1 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH ABC 14–28 108,075 Too Little, Too Late As Gophers Fall 28-14 to Ohio State Joe Christensen http://www.startribune.com/gophers-fall-28-14-to-ohio-state/342777452/ Star Tribune Minneapolis November 8, 2015 November 11, 2015 November 14 7:00 pm l y Iowa 8 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA rivalry BTN 35–40 70,585 Iowa Keeps U Hog-Tied Joe Christensen http://www.startribune.com/hawkeyes-go-hog-wild/349355161/ Star Tribune Minneapolis November 15, 2015 November 18, 2015 November 21 11:00 am w Illinois TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN ESPNews 32–23 47,976 November 28 2:30 pm l Wisconsin TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN rivalry BTN 21–31 52,850 December 28 4:00 pm w y y Central Michigan Ford Field Detroit, MI Quick Lane Bowl ESPN2 21–14 34,217 Roster 2015 Minnesota Golden Gophers y K. J. Maye 1 WR SR C y Isaiah Gentry 2 WR FR y Mitch Leidner 7 QB JR y y C Eric Carter 9 WR SO y Demry Croft 11 QB FR Hunter Register 12 WR FR Chris Streveler 14 WR SO y Desmond Gant 15 WR FR y Conor Rhoda 15 QB SO y Jeff Jones 16 WR FR y Jacques Perra 18 QB FR y Michael Conway 19 WR SO y Adam Mayer 20 WR FR Melvin Holland 21 WR SR y Jeff Borchardt 22 WR SO y E.J. Sardinha 23 WR JR y Rodney Smith 24 RB FR y y Rodney Smith (running back) Shannon Brooks 27 RB FR James Johannesson 27 RB FR Jonathan Femi-Cole 28 RB FR Jerry Gibson 28 RB FR y Louis Tuszynski 29 WR JR y Berkley Edwards 32 RB SO y Rodrick Williams 35 RB SR Charlie Greif 37 WR FR Miles Thomas 41 FB SR Tyler Hartmann 43 FB JR y Gabe Mezzenga 44 TE J y Jacob Kirsch 44 RB JR y Colton Beebe 44 TE FR Nick Hart 45 TE SO y Bryce Witham 49 TE FR Luke Rasmussen 53 OL FR y Connor Mayes 55 OL SO Quinn Oseland 58 OL FR Matt Leidner 60 OL SO y Bronson Dovich 61 OL FR Jared Weyler 62 OL FR y Jon Christenson 63 OL SR y Matt Oldenkamp 64 OL FR y Josh Campion 65 OL SR y Ted Stieber 66 OL FR Brian Bobek 67 OL SR y Issac Hayes 68 OL JR y Chad Fahning 70 OL SO y Tyler Moore 71 OL FR Joe Bjorklund 73 OL SR y Nick Connelly 74 OL FR Noah Kuehn 75 OL FR Alex Mayes 76 OL SO y Foster Bush 77 OL SR y Ben Lauer 78 OT JR y Jonah Pirsig 79 OT JR y Nate Wozniak 80 TE SO y y Duke Anyanwu 81 TE SO y Drew Wolitarsky 82 WR JR y Noah Scarver 83 TE SO y Will Reger 84 WR FR y Lincoln Plsek 85 TE SR Brandon Lingen 86 TE SO Rashad Still 88 WR FR Matt Morse 89 WR FR Dior Johnson 2 DB FR KiAnte Hardin 3 DB FR Adekunle Ayinde 4 DB SO y Jalen Myrick y 5 DB JR Ace Rogers 6 DB JR y Damarius Travis 7 DB SR Daletavious McGhee 8 DB SO y Alex Keith 9 DL SR Antonio Johnson 11 DB SR Cody Poock 12 LB SO y Jonathan Celestin 13 LB SO Zo Craighton 14 DB FR Everett Williams 15 LB SO Jacob Huff 17 DB FR Peter Westerhaus 18 LB SR y y Cedric Dicke 19 LB JR y Julian Huff 20 DB FR Christopher Gray 20 DB FR Craig James 22 DB SO Ray Buford 25 DB FR De'Vondre Campbell 26 LB SR y y Briean Boddy-Calhoun 29 DB SR y C y Chris Wipson 30 LB SO y Eric Murray 31 DB SR C John McKelvey 33 DB JR y Antonio Shenault 34 DB FR Jaylen Waters 35 LB FR Blake Cashman 36 DB FR y Alexander Starks 40 DB SO y Winston DeLattiboudere 46 DL FR y Winston DeLattiboudere III Blake Weber 48 LB SO Jack Lynn 50 LB JR y y Jack Lynn (American football) Yoshoub Timms 52 DL JR y Thieren Cockran 55 DE SR y Nick Rallis 56 LB JR y Joey Mydra 57 LB FR Ray Dixon 59 LB SO y Justin Carr 69 DL JR y Cavonte Johnson 87 DB JR y Gaelin Elmore 87 DL SO Sam Renner 90 DL FR Julien Kafo 91 DE FR y Robert Ndondo-Lay 92 DL SR y Mose Hall 94 DT FR Hendrick Ekpe 95 DL JR Steven Richardson 96 DT SO Scott Ekpe 97 DL JR y Kevin Lapham 98 DL FR Andrew Stelter 99 DE SO Ryan Santoso 18 K SO y y Payton Jordahl 25 LS FR y Andrew Harte 33 K SO y Logan McElfresh 34 P FR y Peter Mortell 37 P SR y Emmit Carpenter 38 K FR y Trey Hansen 39 LS FR Chase Samuels 40 LS FR Justin Juenemann 42 K SO y Jacob Herbers 47 P FR http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/minn-m-footbl-mtt.html December 31, 2015 Jerry Kill (resigned) Tracy Claeys (defensive coordinator / interim head coach / head coach) Brian Anderson (wide receivers) Matt Limegrover (offensive coordinator) Dan O'Brien (asst. defensive backs / co-special teams coordinator / asst. to the head coach) Jeff Phelps (defensive line) Pat Poore (running backs / co-special teams coordinator) Rob Reeves (H-backs / tight ends) Jay Sawvel (defensive backs) Mike Sherels (linebackers) Jim Zebrowski (quarterbacks) Players into the NFL 2016 NFL draft Minnesota Golden Gophers Round Pick Player Position NFL club 4 106 Eric Murray CB Kansas City Chiefs 4 115 De'Vondre Campbell LB Atlanta Falcons Undrafted – Briean Boddy-Calhoun CB Jacksonville Jaguars References Minnesota Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football seasons Category:GameAbove Sports Bowl champion seasons Minnesota Golden Gophers football