Minnesota QB Drake Lindsey locked in for 2026 season
Minnesota’s most important part of their roster for the 2026 season is officially locked on. On the Go Gophers Podcast hosted by the voice of the Gophers, Mike Grimm, rising redshirt sophomore quarterback Drake Lindsey confirmed that he’ll be returning to the Twin Cities for next season.
“I got my stuff done right after the Axe game, so I decided I was obviously going to come back. There wasn’t any other thoughts in my mind. I love this coaching staff, and I really feel like I’m developing into an NFL quarterback with the offense rerun.
“I love this coaching staff,” he continued. “I really feel like I’m developing into an NFL quarterback here with the offense we run. How good Coach Harbaugh and Keegan (O’Hara) are, and Eric Koehler and Coach Simon, how good they are at developing. I really feel like, and obviously Coach Fleck as a man and also as a quarterback and situationally.”
Lindsey believes he’s taken a huge step in his own development and is excited to see how he continues to grow.
“I really feel like I took a huge step this year,” he said. “And when I look back, I mean, from freshman year to now, I’ve seen huge increases in every part of my life, not even football. So I think having another year or two or three under these coaches and this place, I really think I can grow and be a really, really good quarterback and a really good person. So, yeah, there was no doubt in my mind. And I’m really excited to come back for another year here.”
The Fayetteville, Arkansas, native is the second Gopher player to confirm their return for the 2025 season, joining wide receiver Jalen Smith.
Lindsey, in his first season as the Gophers’ starting quarterback, showed plenty of promise and upside, completing 63.2% of his passes for 2,235 yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions.
His best performance of the season was a 31-for-41 day against Rutgers, throwing for 324 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-28 come-from-behind win for the Gophers. He also threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns in Minnesota’s season opener against Buffalo and for 264 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-28 loss to Northwestern at Wrigley Field in November.
