Back to the Michigan Wolverines Newsfeed

Minnesota rowing the boat with walk-on freshman as starting QB

No pressure, Zack Annexstad, but the last guy to do it eventually won the Heisman Trophy.

First for Annexstad will be starting Minnesota's Aug. 30 game against New Mexico State, just the second QB to start an FBS opener as a walk-on true freshman.

Baker Mayfield was the first, at Texas Tech, before he transferred to Oklahoma.

That means P.J. Fleck is rolling the dice a bit in his second season with the Gophers, but the other option was redshirt freshman Tanner Morgan.

"Both of them are really good athletes," Fleck said. "As we continue to develop quarterbacks, I think (Annexstad is) a really elite passer and he can find a way (to run).