Starters: Esezi Otomewo (RS-JR) and Boye Mafe (RS-JR)
Rotation: M.J. Anderson (RS-FR) and Thomas Rush (JR)
The Gophers’ biggest problem at defensive end this season can be boiled down to three words: Setting the edge. The defensive line has struggled at times to set a hard edge, especially against the run, and funnel the ball carrier back toward pursuit. The Wolverines made a point to attack the edge in the season opener, and then Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa had a field day escaping the pocket as the Gophers’ broke contain:
The good news: After struggling mightily to set the edge against Michigan and Maryland, Minnesota took a big step forward in that regard against Illinois and were also better against Iowa.