Eight Buffalo Bulls to know ahead of Minnesota's season opener
The Minnesota Golden Gophers take on the Buffalo Bulls this evening at Huntington Bank Stadium in their 2025 season opener. As we continue to get ready for this evening’s matchup, we take a look at eight Buffalo Bulls, Golden Gophers fans should know.
QB Ta’Quan Roberson
After starting his collegiate career in 2019 with the Penn State Nittany Lions, Roberson now enters his sixth collegiate season. The veteran quarterback is also now with his fourth program after spending time at Connecticut and Kansas State as well. For his career, Roberson has completed 212-of-376 passing attempts (56.4%) for 2,188 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Roberson isn’t much of a threat with his legs, but he can move when needed, with 158 career rushing yards on 53 carries.
RB Al-Jay Henderson
Henderson is the most dangerous member of the Buffalo offense. Last season, the talented tailback totaled 1,078 yards and nine touchdowns on 204 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He also had 19 receptions for 238 yards and one touchdown. As last season progressed, Henderson’s role for Buffalo continued to grow, and so did his level of play. After averaging 7.8 rushing attempts for 27 yards per game over the first five games, Henderson averaged 20.6 carries and 117.9 yards per contest over Buffalo’s last eight games. He was especially dominant in the final four, averaging 129 yards per game.
WR Victor Snow
The biggest threat in the Buffalo passing attack, Snow is coming off a 55-reception, 651-yard season for the Bulls with six touchdowns. He wasn’t overly prolific; he never surpassed 100 yards in a contest, but was a consistent presence. Snow had at least one reception in each of his 13 games played and had nine games of four or more receptions as well.
DE Kobe Stewart
Stewart last season was one of the MAC’s best edge rushers. In 13 games played, he recorded 40 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. He finished last year’s regular season especially hot with eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks over Buffalo’s last four games. The Gophers’ tackles are going to be challenged right off the bat on Thursday.
DT George Wolo
Wolo is entering his sixth year with Buffalo and is coming off a solid 2024 season. The veteran defensive tackle enters 2025 with 49 games played and 102 career tackles, which include 19 tackles for loss and 12.0 sacks. He’ll be a good challenge for the Gophers’ new starting center, Ashton Beers.
LB Dion Crawford
One member of the Bulls’ prolific linebacker room. Crawford, as a sophomore, recorded 59 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Crawford can do it all; he’s strong against the run, he’s a tremendous pass rusher, and he can drop into coverage and perform adequately in that role as well. The outside linebacker is someone that the Gophers’ offensive line and Drake Lindsey are going to have to be aware of throughout Thursday night.
LB Khalil Murdock
Often referred to as his nickname “Red” Murdock, the Buffalo linebacker finished fourth in the country last season in solo tackles with 73 and second in total tackles with 156. He also had 17 tackles for loss and two sacks. The middle linebacker, Murdock, is a tremendous asset for Buffalo against the run. You can be sure he’ll be around the ball on almost every run in the game.
SS Solomon Brown
The former Golden Gopher returns to Minneapolis for the first time since transferring to Buffalo following the 2021 season. After a quiet first season and solid second season with the Bulls, Brown broke out last fall with 66 tackles, two tackles for loss, six pass deflections, and one interception. The strong safety will now be one of the leaders of the Buffalo defense in 2025. With him making his return and his return providing a slight “revenge game” factor, you can bet that Brown will be looking to make a big play or two in this one.
Join Gophers Nation now for $1 your first week and enjoy a complimentary year of The Athletic – included with your membership.
Sign up here: https://www.on3.com/sites/gophers-nation/join/
