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“We’re recruiting, we’re developing, we’re retaining more and more talent than we ever have,” Fleck said. “That’s what’s so fun about it. You’re watching our recruiting successes that we’re having, whether it’s in-state or whether that’s out of state, but we’re willing to go wherever it takes to find the right fit for our program. And then once they’re in there, they get to develop.”
The Gophers are picked to finish 11th in the Big Ten in the cleveland.com preseason media poll, and their over/under win total according to Vegas oddsmakers is 6.5. Last year, they finished the regular season with seven wins and in a seventh-place tie at 5-4 in the conference. This year’s schedule has its challenges — trips to defending national champion Ohio State and Big Ten champion Oregon, plus a game at Iowa — but there appears to be a majority of toss-up games. Last year, the Gophers went 3-4 in one-score games. Go 6-1 in those games — like the 2019 team did — and a playoff spot could be there.
Getting there, though, is easier done when typed on a screen or printed on paper. The route for coaches is getting difference-makers on the field, and Fleck points out one in sophomore safety Koi Perich, who’ll see action this year on defense, offense and special teams.
“I thank my stars every day that he’s on our football team because he does a lot more than just make plays,” Fleck said. “He brings the whole floor of the team up and creates a ceiling … for us to be delusional. Koi came here to make Minnesota what it hasn’t been. Period. That’s why he came. And so, that’s a little delusional.”
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