New quarterback now a priority in the transfer portal

GOPHERS FOOTBALL >> RECRUITING

With Pyron out, U will start looking for another option at the position

Gophers quarterback Max Shikeniakski, left, twirls a football during a photoshoot as fellow quarterbacks, from second left, Drake Lindsey, Dylan White and Max Brosmer wait their turns during the football team’s media day on July 11 in Minneapolis. JOHN AUTEY — PIONEER PRESS

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By Andy Greder

agreder@pioneerpress.com

The Gophers’ football program is expected to go back into the NCAA transfer portal to find another quarterback after Zach Pyron decided to leave the U last week.

Pryon, who received fewer team reps than other backups during the final two open spring practices, entered the portal Thursday and immediately landed at South Alabama on Friday.

It was a quick U-turn for Pyron, who transferred from Georgia Tech to Minnesota for spring semester in January. With 19 games of collegiate experience, he represented a veteran QB option for Minnesota in 2025.

The 2024 starter, senior Max Brosmer, is hoping to be picked in the April 24-26 NFL Draft.

Going into spring ball in late March, Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck billed the set of 15 total practices as a fresh quarterback competition between frontrunner Drake Lindsey, Pyron and others. But Lindsey’s role as the presumed starter quickly came into focus.

Backups Max Shikenjanski and Dylan Wittke received more reps than Pyron in the two sessions open to reporters on April 8 and 15. Shikenjanski is a third-year walk-on from Stillwater, Wittke a third-year transfer from Virginia Tech. True freshman Jackson Kollock of Laguna Beach, Calif., and redshirt freshman walk-on Jeremiah Finaly are further down the depth chart.

The Gophers are high on Lindsey, a four-star recruit from Fayetteville, Ark., but the 6-foot-5 signal caller played sparingly in only three games during his true freshman year. He completed 4 of 5 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown in 2024.

Wittke had mop-up duty in one game last season, while the other three have yet to play a game in college.

The NCAA transfer portal remains open for players through Friday, though players can commit to new schools after that deadline. It’s unclear how quickly the U will pursue and land another, presumably veteran, QB for next fall.

Over three years at Georgia Tech, Pyron had completed 88 of 155 passes for 995 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions from 2022-24.

Another consideration is how college football team rosters are expected to be capped at 105 players going into this fall. Taking into account incoming freshmen, Minnesota is currently over that limit and will need a handful of players to move on.

The Gophers open next season against Buffalo on Aug. 28 at Huntington Bank Stadium.