Minnesota Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck shared that while the team plans to recruit a quarterback from the transfer portal, he remains confident in the current talent in their quarterback room. Speaking on Sunday, Fleck emphasized his satisfaction with the progress shown by Dylan Wittke and Max Shikenjanski, who have been developing well. Shikenjanski, dealing with the recent loss of his mother, has shown commendable focus and determination. Fleck also noted that Drake Lindsey has made significant improvements since joining the team.
Currently, Lindsey and Wittke are the only scholarship quarterbacks with college experience, and neither has made a start at the NCAA level. Incoming freshman Jackson Kollock, a four-star recruit, and Shikenjanski are expected to contribute to the position, but Fleck reiterated that the team aims to bring in a fifth quarterback to bolster their lineup.
Fleck detailed the team’s criteria for evaluating potential quarterbacks: leadership ability, coaching and development potential, accuracy, decision-making, and the ability to execute the offense as required. “It always starts with; one — can the quarterback lead the team?” Fleck emphasized.
As Minnesota looks to make a move, several transfer candidates have emerged. Reese Poffenbarger from Miami (FL) is a potential fit, although no formal interest has been reported. He previously shined at Albany in the FCS and could be a strong contender for competition with Lindsey. Hank Brown from Auburn, who Minnesota had recruited in high school, is another option. Brown, who started one game for Auburn as a redshirt freshman, has three seasons of eligibility left. Isaac Wilson, brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson and a former high school recruit for Minnesota, also stands out. He played well as a freshman at Utah, with 1,510 passing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024.
Minnesota has also looked at Jacob Zeno from UAB, a former high school target, but he might be headed to an SEC team. While there are many options in the portal, Poffenbarger, Brown, and Wilson are names to watch as potential additions to the Gophers’ quarterback room.
