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Minnesota Countdown to Kickoff: No. 46 DE Lucas Finnessy
One day closer.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers’ 2025 season opener against the Buffalo Bulls on August 28 at Huntington Bank Stadium is just 46 days away. Moving into our player spotlight with 46 days remaining is Gophers sixth-year senior defensive end Lucas Finnessy.
The Sussex, Wisconsin native enters his final year of collegiate eligiblity with 24 career games played, all coming over the past two seasons. After not seeing the field oer his first three seasons, the former Hamilton High School (WI) standout on played in 11 games in 2022 and 13 games last season, recording 17 tackles in the process.
Finnessy was a conesnus three-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting cycle. He committed to the Golden Gophers over offers from Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Miami (OH), Ball State, North Dakota State, Illinois Statea, and South Dakota.
This fall, Finnessy will likely be a main rotational piece at RUSH end, starting opposite of Anthony Smith. While Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding are the likely starters inside. Finnessy won’t be given the starting job, however. He’ll have to battle at least Jaxon Howard for the starting spot. Redshirt sophomore Karter Menz could also potentially figure into the equation.
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