The Gophers have nine players taking part in this year’s NFL Draft, with multiple expecting to hear their names called.
Since every position requires vastly different types of players, the NFL uses Next Gen Stats to get players’ production and athleticism scores. The production score is based on how productive that player was in college, while the athleticism score is a general athletic performance metric.
Players are also given a prospect grade when going through the combine. A prospect grade is a number given to players to show their potential worth in the NFL draft.
The highest grade someone can receive is an 8.0, which means they are the perfect prospect, while 5.50-5.59 means they will most likely be a priority undrafted free agent.
Aireontae Ersery
Position: Offensive Tackle
Age: 23
Ersery started all 12 games at left tackle in the 2024 season. He blocked for an offense that averaged 26.15 points per game, rushed 115.6 yards per game and threw 222.15 yards per game.
Ersery opted out of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Virginia Tech and declared for the NFL draft. He received a 2025 NFL scouting combine invite.
After the NFL Combine, Ersery ranked eighth among OTs with a production score of 75, fifth among OTs with an athleticism score of 87 and overall sixth OT with a total score of 80.
Ersery Combine Stats:
40-yard Dash: 5.01 seconds
10-yard split: 1.75 seconds
Vertical Jump: 29.5’’
Broad Jump: 9’3’’
Three-cone drill: 7.81 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.82 seconds
Bench press: 25 reps
Ersery’s prospect grade going into the 2025 NFL Draft is 6.25. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein predicts he will be a second-round pick.
Jah Joyner
Position: Edge Rusher
Age: 23
Stats: 66 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.
Joyner played a total of 42 games with the Gophers before receiving an invitation to the NFL combine.
At the combine, Joyner ranked 30th in production score among edge rushers with a score of 59. He ranked 29th among edge rushers in athleticism with a score of 69. In total, Joyner ranked 30th among edge rushers at the combine with a score of 63.
Joyner Combine Stats:
40-Yard Dash: 4.6 seconds
10-Yard Split: 1.67 seconds
Vertical Jump: 30”
3-Cone Drill: 7.33 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.68 seconds
At the Gophers Pro Day, Joyner did 22 bench press reps and had a 4.55-second 20-yard shuttle. His prospect grade going into the draft is 5.97.
Zierlein predicts he will be a sixth-round pick.
Justin Walley
Position: Defensive Back
Age: 22
Stats: Seven career interceptions for 168 yards, 113 solo tackles, 42 assisted tackles and one defensive touchdown.
Walley played 49 games in four years with the Gophers and gave up his last year of eligibility after he received an NFL Combine invite.
At the combine, Walley ranked 24th among CB production scores with a score of 63. He ranked ninth among CB athleticism with a score of 79.
In total, he ranked 20th among CBs with a score of 68.
Walley’s Combine Stats:
40-Yard Dash: 4.4 seconds
10-Yard Split: 1.52 seconds
At the Gophers Pro Day, Walley showed off a 32” vertical, 120” broad jump, 7.01 second 3-cone drill and a 4.36 second 20-yard shuttle. His prospect grade is 5.96.
Zierlein predicts he will be a sixth-round pick.
Daniel Jackson
Position: Wide Receiver
Age: 22
Stats: 208 career receptions for 2,685 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Jackson played 54 games with the Gophers. His total number of receptions is third in program history and his yards are fourth in program history.
Jackson averaged 3.9 receptions per game and was another player who received an NFL combine invitation.
At the combine, Jackson ranked 28th among WRs in production with a score of 66. He ranked 43rd among WRs in athleticism with a score of 61. In total, he ranked 40th among WRs with a score of 64.
Jackson’s Combine Stats:
3-Cone Drill: 6.78 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.07 seconds
His prospect grade going into the draft is 5.85. Zierlein projects that he will be a priority free agent.
Max Brosmer
Position: Quarterback
Age: 24
Stats: 2,828 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, six interceptions and five rushing touchdowns.
Brosmer only played one season with the Gophers after transferring from the University of New Hampshire. He received an NFL combine invitation.
At the combine, Brosmer ranked 13th among QB production with a score of 61. He ranked 13th among QB athleticism with a score of 65. His final rank was 15th among QBs with a score of 61.
Brosmer did not compete in the combine, but had a 4.79-second 40-yard dash and a 1.7-second 10-yard split during the Gophers Pro Day.
Brosmer’s prospect score is 5.83. Zierlein predicts he will be a sixth or seventh-round pick.
Cody Lindenberg
Position: Linebacker
Age: 23
Stats: One career interception, 117 solo tackles, 92 assisted tackles and one forced fumble.
Lindenberg played five years at Minnesota for a total of 38 games. He led the team in 2024 with 94 tackles.
He also received an NFL combine invitation.
In the combine for LB production, Lindenberg ranked 24th with a score of 61. Among LBs’ athleticism, he ranked 19th with a score of 69. In total among LBs, Lindeberg ranked 22nd with a score of 67.
Lindenberg’s Pro Day Stats:
40-Yard dash: 4.71 seconds
10-yard split: 1.69 seconds
Bench press: 20 reps
Vertical Jump: 36.5”
Broad Jump: 118’’
Three-cone drill: 7.01 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.32 seconds
Lindenberg’s prospect grade is 5.8. Zierlein predicts that he will be a priority free agent.
Marcus Major
Position: Running Back
Class: Sixth-year senior
Stats: 78 rushing attempts for 352 yards and three touchdowns. 20 receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown.
Major spent five seasons at Oklahoma before he transferred to the Gophers. He started two of the 12 games he played for the Gophers.
Major’s Pro Day Stats:
40-Yard dash: 4.61 seconds
10-yard split: 1.57 seconds
Bench press: 10 reps
Vertical Jump: 37.5”
Broad Jump: 120’’
Three-cone drill: 7.08 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.45 seconds
Quinn Carroll
Position: Offensive Line
Age: 24
Carroll played three seasons at Notre Dame before transferring to the Gophers in 2022.
Carroll’s Pro Day Stats:
40-Yard dash: 5.59 seconds
10-yard split: 1.89 seconds
Bench press: 29 reps
Vertical Jump: 27”
Broad Jump: 106’’
Three-cone drill: 7.83 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.81 seconds
Tyler Cooper
Position: Offensive Line
Class: Sixth-year senior
Cooper played six seasons with the Gophers. In 2024, he started all 10 games he played for the Gophers as a left guard.
Copper’s Pro Day Stats:
40-Yard dash: 5.15 seconds
10-yard split: 1.82 seconds
Bench press: 24 reps
Vertical Jump: 30”
Broad Jump: 108’’
Three-cone drill: 7.77 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.84 seconds
Gophers head coach PJ Fleck said he could not be prouder of all of the guys going into the NFL draft.
“We take a lot of pride in it,” Fleck said. “We take a lot of pride in developing our players to what they dream of being.”