Tag: Antoine Winfield

Safety Antoine Winfield would be a welcome addition to Cowboys secondary

The Golden Gophers star makes up for a lack of height with an impressive set of skills honed by years of study with his NFL veteran father.

It goes without saying that family means a great deal to Jerry Jones. More than once during his ownership, Jones has made a place at the Cowboys table for someone based on bloodlines. Whether it’s a training camp opportunity for Larry Allen’s progeny or a long career that goes from backup quarterback to offensive coordinator to head coach for the son of longtime Dallas scout Jim Garrett, the patriarch overseeing America’s Team knows that someone’s DNA can often tell a lot about their approach to Xs and Os.

Antoine Winfield, Jr. doesn’t have a huge body of work to put on his college football resume. The tale of the tape on the Minnesota safety won’t bowl anyone over. But discounting the 5-foot-9-inch Winfield solely because of his height or passing on him due to the injuries that cost him the better part of back-to-back seasons would be a mistake. He does have that name, after all. And that might just be enough to make Jones and his family take a closer look for the Cowboys.

Winfield made a strong debut for the Golden Gophers in 2016, starting nine of the team’s 12 games as a true freshman. But a hamstring injury ended his 2017 season after just four games. A Lisfranc fracture in his foot cut his 2018 season short, again after four outings, and put him in a wheelchair. Winfield returned in 2019 and enjoyed a stellar campaign that saw him named a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and earning honors as a unanimous first-team All-American and the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year.

After playing in just 30 games over four seasons, Winfield is leaving Minnesota with two years of eligibility remaining. He hopes to be an early draft pick later this month… just like his father before him.

Antoine Winfield, Sr. was selected with the 23rd overall pick in 1999’s draft. That’s the last time a defensive back shorter than 5-foot-10 was drafted in the first round. (It’s happened just six times since 1967.) But Buffalo and head coach Wade Phillips took a chance on the cornerback out of Ohio State.

After five seasons with the Bills, Antoine Sr. signed with the Vikings as a free agent. Over nine more years in Minnesota, he made three Pro Bowls and found a spot on the 50 Greatest Vikings team before he was even done playing.

Once retired, Antoine Sr. dedicated himself to teaching the art of covering wide receivers to his teenage namesake. The lack of height in the Winfield genes meant that Antoine Jr. would have to mirror his father’s style, one that emphasized positioning and smarts over pure physicality.

“Every coach I had there in Minnesota, they preached turnovers, turnovers, turnovers,” Winfield Sr. told ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. “So I had to study. I told [my son] at a very early age that that’s how you make a name for yourself. That’s how you separate the good players and great players. Guys who create turnovers. It’s all about the ball… The only advantage you’ve got, especially with so many receivers in the NFL now being the size of Calvin Johnson, is to put yourself in the best position to play the ball. You can’t win every battle, but you can win your share if you have a good idea of where the ball is going to go. You only know that by studying what they’ve done and what their tendencies are. I knew I couldn’t run and jump with them, so that was the only chance I had.”

Junior learned well. In the biggest game of the Gophers’ season, Winfield snagged two interceptions. One of them killed a Penn State drive to help seal the upset win over the 4th-ranked Nittany Lions. The play saw Winfield break off his primary responsibility covering the post and sprint toward the sideline, all because he spotted something in a receiver’s alignment that he had recognized from film study.

“At a young age, I just always was watching my dad do the things that he needed to do to be a great player,” Antoine Jr. said. “The No. 1 thing was always film study. You have to learn what offenses do, who they’re throwing to. You have to know who is getting the ball, how running backs carry the ball. And you have to know it in practice, not just games. So my goal is to get one takeaway in practice every day. If you make it a habit in practice, you’ll do it in a game, and that’s how you get on the map.”

Winfield Jr. is on the map now. It remains to be seen, though, exactly where on the map most teams have him. Part of that is due to his size. Part is because of his injuries. A convoluted episode in college that resulted in a suspension doesn’t help, either. But some of the unknowns around Winfield’s draft stock are just a byproduct of the position he plays.

“Safety is the toughest position to evaluate, at least in my opinion,” draft guru Todd McShay said. “There is so much space, they’re in the back end, and you’ve got to really look to figure out what they’re seeing, what they’re trying to do and how they’re reacting. A lot of guys, they don’t jump out, but Antoine just jumps out. He knows when to study the receiver, and he knows when to get his eyes on the quarterback. That’s tough to teach. Anyone who has played defense at all knows that it’s tough to teach their eyes to move from one to the other. He does such a great job with that.”

Safety has long been an area of need for Dallas. The offseason signing of HaHa Clinton-Dix is encouraging, but leaves Xavier Woods, Darian Thompson, and second-year man Donovan Wilson as the only other safeties on the Cowboys roster. Winfield Jr. would be the shortest of that bunch by a full two inches.

LSU’s Grant Delpit and Alabama’s Xavier McKinney are considered the class of the 2020 draft class at the safety position. Winfield may actually be better, but he is a staggering six inches shorter than Delpit. It could come down to how much stock some teams put on sheer size… and how much faith other teams put in things like lineage.

Winfield will get a shot with some team, whether it’s the Cowboys or elsewhere. As he has for his entire career, he will be relying once again on the ballhawking instincts developed over years of study with Dad.

“It helps to have a dad like Antoine Winfield Sr. grinding tape with you,” McShay added, “but some of that, you either have it or you don’t.”

Giants select Jedrick Wills in latest CBS Sports mock draft

The New York Giants select Alabama OT Jedrick Wills and two others in the latest CBS Sports mock draft.

In the latest NFL mock draft, Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports has the New York Giants doing the very obvious by taking a left tackle, a safety and an edge rusher.

The picks are based on need and it can be questioned if these are the best players for the job. The Giants did a decent job filling some needs in free agency and many are hoping they don’t do that here in the draft but rather bring in the most talented players they can to build upon.

Round 1, Pick 4: Jedrick Wills Jr., offensive tackle, Alabama (6’4″, 312)

Wills was dominant last season for Alabama and he’ll solidify the right side of the Giants’ O-line, which is great news for Daniel Jones.

With all four top tackles on the board, I would have rated Wills fourth, so my pick would have been Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs or Mekhi Becton of Louisville. That is, if the pressure to take Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons didn’t overtake me.

Round 2, Pick 36: Antoine Winfield, Jr., safety, Minnesota (5’9″, 203)

The Giants add a talented safety with NFL pedigree to their secondary.

Would not be my choice. I don’t like 5-foot-9 safeties (see Jayron Hosley). They get eaten up by tight ends and we’ve seen that way too often. The taller Ashtyn Davis of Cal was still on the board here, as was Iowa edge rusher A.J. Epenesa. I would have gone with one of them at this spot.

Round 3, Pick 99: Alex Highsmith, EDGE, Charlotte (6’3″, 248)

The Giants need to find some pass-rush help off the edge, and Highsmith is the type of prospect who can have an early impact.

I like Highsmith but only would have gone with him here if I didn’t take Epenesa. Still you can’t have too many pass rushers, so the more the merrier I guess.

Who and what to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine: Safeties

The Lions Wire staff has identified which safeties Detroit Lions fans should be watching at the 2020 NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine on-field workouts begin Thursday, February 27th in Indianapolis but the safeties won’t take the field until the final day of on-field drills — Sunday, March 1st.

This is the final article in this year’s Lions Wire NFL Combine series, where the writing staff has identified players they will be tracking in order to determine potential fits within the organization.

If you missed the previous articles in this series, be sure to check out our quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, interior defensive linemen, EDGE rushers, linebackers, and cornerbacks previews.

Safety traits to evaluate

There are several on-field drills that emphasize a player’s abilities and the main areas Lions’ scouts will likely be focusing for the secondary are:

  • Balance through the hips, watch when they’re asked to flip sides
  • Backpedal, quick feet
  • Fluid speed/acceleration when they change direction
  • Tracking with their eyes
  • Natural hands catching

Grant Delpit, LSU

Suggested by: Max Gerber and Scott Warheit

Once considered a lock for the top-10, parts of Delpit’s skill set were exposed in 2019, including a surprising lack of consistency as a tackler. If teams attribute this decline to injury — he was and currently is dealing with a banged-up ankle — then he could be higher on NFL boards then most perceive right now.

While the tackling issues will likely be a problem for teams — especially the Lions — he has a ton of other skills, that collectively are difficult to find in one package. Delpit is highly intelligent, possesses sideline-to-sideline range, is explosive to the ball, can drop in the box and can roam centerfield.

That positional versatility will be appealing to the Lions and if they want to use Will Harris in the box more in 2020, Delpit is arguably the best single-high safety in this class.

Xavier McKinney, Alabama

Suggested by: Derek Okrie

McKinney has more positional flexibility than he gets credit for — having played in the box, over the slot, and single-high at Alabama — and has an incredibly reliable skill set. He is highly intelligent, an aggressive tackler, comfortable in space, can cover tight ends and running backs, and has a nose for the ball. McKinney is another top option, who if added to the Lions secondary, would give them three position-fluid athletes.

It wouldn’t be at all surprising if McKinney was the top safety on the Lions draft board.

Ashtyn Davis, California

Suggested by: Bryce Rossler

Another safety capable of playing single-high, over the slot, and in the box, Davis’ instincts aren’t as polished as McKinney or Delpit, but he could be the next safety off-the-boards immediately after them. Like Delpit, he is most comfortable up top where he can use his track athlete range to attack. Davis has a nose for the ball and the aggressive demeanor to make plays, filling the playmaker role the Lions are desperate for in their secondary.

Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyme

Suggested by: Scott Bischoff and Ty Finch

At 6-1, 217 pounds, Dugger is a rare athlete who looks like a linebacker but has a safety-like range. His physical strength and nose for the ball always keep him in the play, even when it looks like he will get lost in the wash. His lack of experience playing high-level competition is his only true knock but he showed the gap was much smaller than anticipated when at the Senior Bowl last month.

In the Lions scheme, he would fit into the Tavon Wilson role, and if you are a fan of Isaiah Simmons but don’t want to pay the high cost, Dugger is a player to keep on your radar on Day 2.

Antoine Winfield, Minnesota

Suggested by: Erik Schlitt

Despite being listed as a redshirt sophomore, Winfield is not as young as he appears, turning 22 years old during the season after receiving two medical redshirts in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, he lit the Big Ten on fire with nine turnovers —  seven interceptions and two forced fumbles — and is capitalizing on his momentum by making the jump to the next level.

Winfield is strong in coverage and run support, using angles and excellent fundamentals to close down lanes. He is most comfortable at the single-high position, relying on his intelligence, instincts, and closing burst to make plays on the ball.

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Jordan Chinn, Southern Illinois

Suggested by: Jeff Risdon

At 6-3, 219 pounds, Chinn joins Dugger — and Isaiah Simmons if you consider him a safety — as draftable options with rare size for the position. He looks like a box safety/undersized linebacker but his background as a corner shows through when he is tasked with covering a tight end or running back. With the Lions, Chinn would likely fill the Tavon Wilson role.

Brandon Jones, Texas

Suggested by: Matt Urben

Jones trusts his eyes and has the speed to run will all sorts of offensive skill players at the intermediate and deep levels, but his best work is when he stays in zone concepts rather than man coverage. In the Lions scheme, Jones would fit in mostly as a single-high safety with the potential to occasionally drift over tight ends and wide receivers in the slot.

Antoine Brooks, Maryland

Suggested by: Zack Moran

A box safety who can live in shallow zones but not man coverage, Brooks is an aggressive tackler who will make his living as a situational/reserve defender and special teams standout. Fitting him in the Lions scheme will be challenging but he could fill the Tavon Wilson role if he wasn’t asked to cover as often.

Tanner Muse, Clemson

Suggested by: Sonja Greenfield

At 6-2, 230 pounds, Muse is bigger than a few of the true linebackers in this class. With the Lions, he could be an option as a Miles Killebrew replacement, as he can contribute on every special teams unit and could be a situational reserve WILL linebacker.

Patriots 4-round mock draft: Bill Belichick finally lands Gronk’s replacement

A small-school prospect with major upside.

As the 2020 NFL combine approaches, it’s time to dive deeper into mock drafts, with multiple-round projections of how the draft will go. It’s all in good fun at this point in the process, with plenty of evaluation and rumor milling still to go. Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling put together a four-round mock draft, which features three selections from New England.

The Patriots traded away their second-rounder for receiver Mohamed Sanu, and while they are likely to get two third-round compensatory picks (Trey Flowers, Trent Brown), the NFL has yet to award those selections. So Easterling skipped them for now. Here’s a look at the Patriots’ three picks.

23. Antoine Winfield, Jr. | S | Minnesota

Here’s what Easterling wrote on the selection:

“Another safety not named Grant Delpit? Don’t be surprised. Tom Brady’s future is obviously the big question mark, and finding him another pass-catcher could be a priority here if he returns. That said, the Pats need to address their need for youth on the back end of the defense, and Winfield’s combination of physical and mental tools would be a perfect match.”

It’s fun to consider the Patriots drafting Brady’s successor, a tight end (like Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet) or a receiver (like LSU’s Justin Jefferson). But the Patriots need to get younger at safety, where Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung are entering their mid 30s. McCourty is also a pending free agent, and may depart this offseason. Even Duron Harmon looks like a candidate to be a cap casualty, even if that feels unlikely. Winfield isn’t a sexy pick, but it’s the type of selection Bill Belichick likes to make.

87. Adam Trautman | TE | Dayton

The Senior Bowl standout showed that, while he spent his college career at a lower level of competition, he is physically capable of competing with some of the nation’s best college players. But what about the best pros? Here’s what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said about Trautman:

“Trautman is a fluid big man, and his basketball background shows at the catch point with his ability to adjust and attack. His routes need fine-tuning and his blocking is based more on effort than technical understanding right now, although he doesn’t lack in intensity or effort in either category. Overall, Trautman doesn’t have the body of work versus top-level competition, but his athleticism and pass-catching traits for a player his size make him a highly intriguing prospect, projecting as a player who should crack the starting lineup as an NFL rookie.”

Considering the Patriots were woefully understaffed at tight end in 2019, they’d be wise to stock up on talent at the position in the draft and during free agency. It’s much clearer than last season: Rob Gronkowski isn’t coming back. They should act accordingly.

115. Robert Hunt | OL | Lafayette (pick from CHI)

With the Patriots potentially set to lose both Joe Thuney and Ted Karras in free agency, New England may want to keep restocking with young talent in hopes one of their picks will prove ready to start. The Patriots have Hjalte Froholdt, a 2019 fourth-round pick who spent his rookie season on IR. New England also traded for Jermaine Eluemunor. Add in Hunt, and they should have a satisfactory level of competition for the starting job at left guard.

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Like father, like son: How Antoine Winfield Jr. echoes the play style of his Pro Bowl dad

Antoine Winfield established a notable career in the NFL. Now, his son and namesake is getting ready to do the same thing.

In 2012, his 14th and final NFL season, Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield showed that he still had more than enough left in the tank. At age 35, per Pro Football Focus, Winfield allowed 67 receptions on 97 targets for 660 yards, 277 after the catch, no touchdowns, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 75.1. He was released by the Vikings in March of 2013 in a cost-cutting move, signed with the Seahawks in April, 2013, and abruptly retired in August. Winfield finished his career (five seasons in Buffalo, and nine more with Minnesota) with 27 interceptions, over 1,000 total tackles, and three Pro Bowl berths. He didn’t allow a touchdown in coverage in any of his final three seasons.

That would have been enough to keep the Winfield name solid in NFL history, but we’re about to get another dose of it. Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr., fresh off a seven-interception campaign for the Golden Gophers, decided to make himself available for the 2020 draft after a season in which he put all prior injury issues to rest (he had played just eight combined games in 2017 and 2018). It’s an ideal time for him to do so, as the value of safeties with legitimate deep-third athleticism and preternatural field-reading skills has never been higher.

As Winfield, Jr. recently told me, he had a head start on the football knowledge from his father, and that started early on. The result is a player whose understanding of offensive intentions provides a serious advantage as he transitions to the NFL level.

“Man… pretty much everything,” he said, when I asked him what his father taught him about the game. “He started me off young, so at a young age, I was out there doing footwork drills with him, watching film, and pretty much everything, football-wise. I learned a lot from him.”

Which seems pretty standard until you watch Winfield, Jr. on the field and you see him intuit things at a different level.

Dec. 14, 2008: Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Steve Breaston in the third quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 35-14. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

“Yeah, it comes from him, and from film study. Him teaching me how to watch film. When he was in the pros, we’d sit in the bedroom, and he’d be looking at film, and I’d be watching him breaking it down. Showing me what the receivers do, and the route concepts, and everything.”

As for the prior injury stuff, he says, not to worry.

“Yeah, I’m feeling just fine.”

And with that, on to the plays.

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Antoine Winfield Jr. declares for NFL Draft

In 30 career games with the Gophers, Winfield Jr. had nine interceptions and three sacks.

Antoine Winfield Jr., who has had a fantastic career with the University of Minnesota as a defensive back, is making himself eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft.

In 30 games with the Gophers, Winfield Jr. had nine interceptions and three sacks. He was named an All-American in 2019 as a redshirt sophomore.

Winfield Jr. is the son of former Vikings great Antoine Winfield. Winfield was one of the best-tackling cornerbacks the league has ever seen.

The younger Winfield is expected to be a late-first or second-round pick.

The Vikings could use some help in the defensive backfield. It’s certainly something to keep an eye as the draft approaches.

2020 NFL draft: Antoine Winfield, Jr. scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield, Jr.

Antoine Winfield, Jr. | S | Minnesota

Height | 5-10

Weight | 205

College Bio

College Stats

Right now, all my focus is on Auburn, just for the bowl game. So, any decision that I will make will probably be after the bowl game.” -Winfield, Jr. to Twin Cities Pioneer Press on turning pro

Strengths

If the name Antoine Winfield sounds familiar to you, it should. Winfield, Jr. is the son of former Buffalo Bill and Minnesota Viking Antoine Winfield. It wasn’t that long ago that he was roaming the secondary on NFL fields. The son of the former Jim Thorpe Award winner however isn’t living off the legacy of his dad, he is quite the ballhawk himself.

The redshirt sophomore may be undersized in terms of what current front offices want but don’t let his stature confuse you, there is a lot of fight in Winfield. With his smaller compact frame, Winfield isn’t afraid to lay the wood on ball carriers where he can deliver ball separating hits. Very sound tackler at the collegiate level with over 80 combined tackles this season.

Ball skills. Ball skills. Ball skills. When you watch him roam the secondary there is no question that Winfield has all the traits you want at safety. He did secure a few balls on tip drills for interceptions but it was his ball tracking that really stands out. Uses his tracking skills to get in prime position to bring down the ball or force an incompletion. Even against taller receivers, Winfield will climb the ladder to make the play. Even when you don’t think he is anywhere near position to make a play he flies to the ball. His ability to click and close can’t be understated.

Weaknesses

There are really only two knocks to his game that I believe will hurt his draft stock. Winfield being a bit undersized might be a deterrent for some defensive coaches and schemes. With some teams deploying big slots (tight ends), he could struggle with the size and power.

Also the fact that he has been injured for two of his four seasons at Minnesota. That could be a red flag for some teams but the interview process will be key.

The other is the fact that Winfield really only has one season of big time production. This season he has been huge and teams should focus on the traits and less so about his production at the college level.

Bottom Line

Winfield could very well return to Minnesota in 2020 with two years of eligibility left due to being granted medical redshirts. Should he declare, he is the type of player that can make an impact.

Projection: Late Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: 3-round holiday mock for Panthers

For our first 2020 NFL mock draft, let’s try to find some potential gifts for the Panthers in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft.

With Christmas right around the corner, this time of year is all about presents. For our first 2020 NFL mock draft, let’s try to find some potential gifts for the Panthers in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft.

11. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

Derrick Brown
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Carolina’s defensive interior rotation could look very different next year and they need some new blood. Brown is an unbelievable athlete for his size and is so powerful against opposing offensive linemen. With few upcoming free agent IDL this year and next, landing Brown with the No. 11 pick to help upgrade what has been a disappointing interior pass rush should make Panthers fans feel like it’s Christmas in April.

Other options: Oregon QB Justin Herbert, LSU S Grant Delpit, LSU CB Kristian Fulton

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Jeff Okudah snubbed on Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year

Ohio State University’s Jeff Okudah wasn’t named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. Needless to say, he was snubbed.

Jeff Okudah is widely praised as the second-best defensive prospect set to enter the NFL Draft, and best overall defensive back. His only competition for overall defensive player is teammate Chase Young, who was was recently awarded the Big Ten’s Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year.

For Okudah though, he did not receive the honor of the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. While Okudah may very well be the best, it was Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield Jr. who was given the award.

Winfield Jr. is a stellar corner. He’s fourth in the nation in interceptions with seven, and those have been a major factor in why Minnesota has just two losses.

However, his numbers are better because he’s actually thrown at. Most quarterbacks choose to run their first read at Shaun Wade or Damon Arnette, two other Ohio State corners that may also be drafted.

Okudah isn’t often targeted. That kills his numbers. While he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team, Okudah should’ve been noted as not just the conference’s but the nation’s best corner.

He recently garnered some praise in CBS Sports’ recent mock draft. Selected fourth overall by the Dolphins, columnist Ryan Wilson noted that Okudah was an absolute monster against Michigan.

“Okudah had his best game of the season on Saturday against Michigan, shutting down every Michigan WR he lined up against.”

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It was shocking. Shea Patterson actually opted to test Okudah instead of just not looking to that entire side of the field.

Okudah has just 20 solo tackles and three interceptions on the year. It’s not a shocker that his numbers are significantly worse than Winfield Jr.’s. Winfield is a viable selection for the award, but that doesn’t make him the conference’s best corner.

We have a feeling the NFL scouts and executives will agree with us when it’s all said and done.

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Five Minnesota players who Badger fans need to know

Here are five Minnesota Gophers who Badger fans should keep a close eye on throughout Saturday’s matchup between Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The matchup Badger fans have been eagerly anticipating all season is finally upon us, as No. 12 Wisconsin will look to take back Paul Bunyan’s Axe from No.10 Minnesota in the Twin Cities on Saturday afternoon in this year’s rendition of one of college football’s most heated rivalries. As if the game was in need of any more hype, this year’s showdown between these two bitter foes will also serve as a Big Ten West championship game, with the winner destined for a berth in the conference title game in Indianapolis.

It’s been a dream season for head coach P.J. Fleck’s Golden Gophers, whose only loss of the season to this point came a couple of weeks ago against Iowa in a thriller at Kinnick Stadium. Fleck has clearly elevated his program to new heights, and after Minnesota’s beatdown of the Badgers at Camp Randall at the end of last season, it appears as though the days of Wisconsin’s consistent dominance over its border rival are over.

It was a bit of a surprise to find the Badgers listed as 3-point favorites in this one as of Wednesday morning, but after getting embarrassed by the Gophers last season, it would be shocking if they don’t come to play on Saturday. However, make no mistake, it will be an uphill battle for Wisconsin to slow down this Minnesota squad in what is sure to be a hostile atmosphere on the road. These aren’t the Gophers Badger fans have grown accustomed to routinely pounding anymore, as Fleck has a squad loaded with talent, especially on offense.

Here are five players on the opposing sideline who Badger fans should keep a close eye on throughout the game.

Tanner Morgan – Quarterback

2019 stats: 67.9% passing, 2,679 yds, 26 TD, 5 INT

Morgan has been a revelation under center for the Gophers this season, emerging as one of the Big Ten’s top quarterbacks seemingly out of nowhere after not even serving as Minnesota’s full-time starter last year. His production has been key to the program’s shocking level of success in 2019.

The Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist is the conference’s leader in passing yards and trails only Ohio State’s Justin Fields in passing touchdowns and passing efficiency rating. Morgan is a good bet to throw for at least 200 yards each time out, reaching that benchmark in seven of Minnesota’s 11 games this season.

Wisconsin’s secondary struggled yet again against Purdue last weekend, which isn’t great news for the Badgers as they prepare to stifle the most potent aerial attack they have seen all season aside from Ohio State. If defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard doesn’t come up with some effective schematic changes to bolster the passing defense, Morgan and his talented wide receiver corps are going to shred the Badgers all afternoon.

Tyler Johnson – Wide Receiver

2019 stats: 66 rec, 1,025 yds (15.5 avg), 10 TD

Nov 9, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Tyler Johnson (6) catches a one handed touchdown pass over Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Keaton Ellis (2) in the first half at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota could have the two best wide receivers in the conference, and there’s a case to be made that Johnson is at the top of the list.

The senior is putting the finishing touches on a marvelous career in the Twin Cities, and he’s doing so with a bang. Johnson is already over 1,000 receiving yards for the second year in a row, leading the conference in that category as well as receiving touchdowns. The only player he trails in receptions is the next one on this list.

Johnson had a solid outing in Minnesota’s victory over Wisconsin last season (four catches for 76 yards), and he enters Saturday’s matchup on a bit of a hot streak, having gone over 100 receiving yards in the Gophers’ last three games.

NEXT: Rashod Bateman/Antoine Winfield Jr./Carter Coughlin

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