Minnesota Countdown to Kickoff: No. 35 Derik LeCaptain
The countdown to Minnesota’s 2025 season opener against the Buffalo Bulls at Huntington Bank Stadium on August 28 is down to just 35 days. The Golden Gophers just wrapped up their Big Ten Media Day appearence at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Wednesday and now will return home and get ready for fall practices to begin this upcoming week.
As we continue our countdown to kickoff series, moving into the player spotlight for the Gophers, is the most experienced member of the roster, seventh-year linebacker Derik LeCaptain.
The Gardner, Wisconsin native is entering the final year of his lengthy career. Through his first six seasons, LeCaptain has appeared in 50 games including starting 39 games over the last four seasons. He notably missed the 2023 season with an injury.
LeCaptain was originally a two-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting cycle and chose to walk-on with the Golden Gophers after a standout career at Southern Door High School in Brussels, Wisconsin over FCS scholarship opportunities.
As a true freshman in 2019, LeCaptain earned himself playing time in four games, all on special teams. He would appear in all seven games of the 2020 season before playing each of the next 26 games over the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Throughout those two seasons, LeCaptain was versatile for the Gophers, playing on both defense and special teams. The 2022 season was a career best for LeCaptain, recording 12 tackles and one pass deflection in 13 games.
On top of that, he moved from linebacker to running back during the 2021 season to help the Gophers depth at running back. He ended that season with three rushing attempts for 31 yards and one touchdown as well as one reception for 11 yards.
He would miss the enitre 2023 season due to injury but returned last fall, playing in all 13 games as a special teams standout. He recorded one tackle.
In 2025, LeCaptain is expected to once again to mostly contribute on special teams while being a depth peice on the Goplden Gophers defense.
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No. 38: Former Gophers K Emmitt Carpenter
