Max Brosmer grabbed a black dry-erase marker and went to a white board inside the Larson Football Performance Center in late December. The Minnesota quarterback was preparing for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, but he took time to draw up a passing concept the senior transfer brought from New Hampshire to the Gophers.

Brosmer drew Xs and Os for a three-by-one formation that was implemented by offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh and became a staple of the U offense in 2024. He sketched routes for three pass catchers on one side of the line, the lone receiver on the other and the tailback next to Brosmer in the shotgun.

Then Brosmer ticked through the memorable times the routes led to big completions last fall. There were plenty to pull from as he set a program record for completions (268).

“I hit this versus Michigan to Elijah (Spencer),” Brosmer told the Pioneer Press. “I hit this to Jameson (Geers) against Maryland in that drive for that field goal before halftime. Hit this to Elijah against Maryland as well. This one to (Le’Meke Brockington) … I threw this about 45 times this year.”

Brosmer’s intelligent preparation and savvy execution are traits that make the sixth-year college player a late-round NFL draft prospect this week. The Georgia native is ranked the 13th-best QB and is projected to be a sixth- or seventh-round pick, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.

If Brosmer’s name is called, he will become the first Gophers quarterback drafted since 1972, when Craig Curry was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the eighth round.

But the best example of Brosmer’s cerebral command of an offense came against Rhode Island in September. Late in the third quarter of that 48-0 blowout, the Gophers lined up in that three-by-one formation. Brosmer completed a “go” route to the outside receiver, Brockington, for a 29-yard touchdown.

“That ball is not supposed to go there,” Harbaugh said in April. And when Brosmer came to the sideline, Harbaugh needed to know how he knew to throw it there.

Brosmer told his coach it was the particular coverage look that reminded him of what he saw at New Hampshire against Rhode Island in 2022. He took advantage of no safety over the top, and that completion was a game-winning 26-yard toss with 17 seconds remaining.

“He can remember so much,” Harbaugh marveled.

When NFL scouts have asked Harbaugh about Brosmer during the draft process, Brosmer’s work ethic is among the top things he tells them about.

“It’s a number of different things, but I just talked about how hard of a worker he is,” Harbaugh shared. “He’s going to be able to come in and learn your system.”

At UNH, Brosmer was an honors student en route to a biomedical sciences degree, so he has the book smarts. When he came to the U as a one-semester graduate student, he took classes to stay eligible, but his focus was on football.

“When he went to the (NFL Scouting Combine), Max told me that he had watched our season probably 12 times,” Harbaugh said.

Harbaugh clarified that that included every offensive play across the 13-game season. It’s a diligent process he has tried to pass on to his Gophers heir apparent, redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey.

“Watch every game, every play, as many times as you can from the season,” Harbaugh relayed. “See how much you can remember and take notes on every play, regardless if it affected you or didn’t affect you, because he’s just registering that in his mind.”

Another impressive aspect of the formation Brosmer brought to the Gophers from the FCS level is that it’s filled with “read” routes, meaning a pass-catcher’s paths are determined by the defense’s coverage.

“It’s cool to be able to have guys that are like, ‘Oh, it’s a cool play,’ ” Brosmer said. “But like, actually, dive into it and really, really care about what you install and run hell of it every single week.”

Then Brosmer kept adding examples.

“Hit this to Elijah against North Carolina, going down on the last drive,” Brosmer continued. “I hit that one to D-Jack (Daniel Jackson) against Wisconsin.”