During spring practices, it was evident that the Minnesota Golden Gophers needed reinforcements at wide receiver. Head coach P.J. Fleck acknowledged the need for depth at certain positions without explicitly mentioning wideout. However, his actions spoke volumes. Four-star transfer receiver Tyler Williams, who played for Georgia last season, visited the Gophers campus on Tuesday and promptly committed to the program.
As a true freshman at Georgia, Williams saw limited action, appearing in two games and catching one pass for four yards against UAB. He participated in spring drills before the Bulldogs brought in additional transfers at WR, prompting Williams to enter the transfer portal.
Williams, a former top 100 recruit in the 2023 class, hails from Lakeland (Fla.) High School. He transitioned from quarterback to receiver during his junior year and excelled in his senior season, catching 28 passes for 399 yards and six touchdowns. He also contributed on the ground with nine rushes for 115 yards and a touchdown, helping his team achieve an undefeated season and a state championship.
During the Gophers’ spring ball practices, Daniel Jackson, the team’s all-Big Ten receiver, was sidelined with a minor injury. Behind him, few reliable options emerged during the three practices open to media. New winter transfer Jaylen Varner, from Division II’s Emporia State, suffered an injury during the first open practice and remained sidelined as of last week. Cristian Driver, a former Penn State player and son of NFL wideout Donald Driver, was also absent. Elijah Spencer struggled with dropped passes, and Le’Meke Brockington failed to make a significant impact. Players further down the depth chart failed to consistently impress.
Williams’ arrival provides the Gophers with a much-needed boost. Given his pedigree and experience at a top program, he is expected to contribute significantly in his first season. He will have four years of eligibility remaining and could potentially play a key role in the Gophers’ season opener against North Carolina on August 29.
The Gophers have been active in the transfer portal, adding several players to their roster. Other notable additions include quarterback Dylan Wittke from Virginia Tech, defensive end Adam Kissayi from Clemson, defensive end Jaxon Howard from LSU, cornerback Victor Pless, offensive lineman Cade McConnell from Vanderbilt, and offensive lineman De’Eric Mister.
