Gophers go under the lights for practice at Huntington Bank Stadium

The Gopher football team went under the lights for a practice at Huntington Bank Stadium Thursday night in Minneapolis.

“A lot of guys making plays,” Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said about Thursday’s practice. “I thought today a lot of our best players were making tons of plays on both sides of the ball.”

One of the top players for the 2022 Gophers isn’t really a playmaker but he’s a guy who allows playmakers to do their job. John Michael Schmitz is one of the best offensive linemen in the country. He’s on the preseason watch lists for the Lombardi Award (best offensive or defensive lineman), Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and Rimington Award (best center).

“John Michael has really gelled that position together,” Fleck said about Schmitz and his work with the offensive line. “He’s demanded a lot from them in the offseason. When your best players are your hardest workers they can bring everyone along with them.”

The Gophers open the season against New Mexico State on September 1 at Huntington Bank Stadium.