Last November, Gophers defensive tackle Jalen Logan-Redding shared he would return to the U for a sixth season, and he alluded to fellow interior D-lineman Deven Eastern doing the same.
Through October, Eastern and Logan-Redding’s final year at Minnesota hasn’t gone as planned. That pair of NFL prospects has seen their on-field production and Pro Football Focus grades dip this fall.
“We’re a little inconsistent,” head coach P.J. Fleck told the Pioneer Press. “Part of that is a health issue, part of that’s … fundamentals and technique issue. There’s times we’re really good. Watch Nebraska (a win); we played some of our best football up front. This past week (in a loss at Iowa), we got really high pad level.”
The full health picture for the pair of defensive tackles is unknown, but both have played in all eight games. Logan-Redding suffered a leg injury in Week 2 vs. Northwestern (La.) State and his playing time has dipped roughly 30% of defensive snaps from last season to 39% this year. Eastern missed time in the preseason with an undisclosed ailment; his playing time has been the same at 58% of snaps.
Maryland Terrapins quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) is tackled by Minnesota Gophers defensive back Aidan Gousby (7), defensive linemen Jah Joyner (17) and Jalen Logan-Redding (97) in the first quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
On the year, Eastern — who is on the Senior Bowl 300 top watch list — has 22 tackles, nine pressures and 1½ sacks, while Logan-Redding has six tackles, three pressures and a half sack. Both of their PFF grades have dipped to below-average.
“I don’t necessarily think that they are not having a great year,” defensive coordinator Danny Collins said. “There are flashes there game to game. Again, we have to continue to change our best and know those guys have the same mindset as everybody on our defense. We all have to be better.”
Coming off the humbling 41-3 loss at Iowa, the Gophers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) have a chance to get back on track against Michigan State (3-5, 0-5) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium. The Spartans are one of the worst in the nation in allowing sacks (2.8 per game, 118th in the nation) and the correlated category of tackles for lost yards (7.6 per, 131st).
Minnesota had a field day with a program-record nine sacks in the 24-6 win over Nebraska two weeks ago and could have another banner day this weekend.
Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Riaola had a long day against Minnesota without much room to create yards with his legs. It will be important for Minnesota to corral Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles. Before taking sacks into account, Chiles has gained 421 yards on the ground this season. Michigan State also plays Alessio Milivojevic at QB, but he is not a significant running threat.
The Gophers will play their sixth straight Big Ten game across six straight weeks come Saturday, meaning ailments are stacking up for everyone before next week’s bye.
“It’s that time of the season where everyone is digging deep and playing really hard and going through stuff,” Maverick Baranowski said. “Those two (Eastern and Logan-Redding) have done a great job leading the whole D-line. They are bringing guys like Karter Menz and Jaxon Howard and Jaylin Hicks along with them, so they have been doing a really good job with their leadership this year.”
As a linebacker, Baranowski appreciates Eastern and Logan-Redding and other tackles’ work in the trenches. Stony Brook transfer Rushawn Lawrence has played 43% of snaps, adding 17 tackles and a sack. Hicks, Nate Becker and Riley Sunram are chipping in a handful of snaps each game.
“They scratch and claw,” Baranowski said. “Playing up front, those internal guys, it’s a tough job, and they do it well and never complain, just keep going to work every day.”
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