The Minnesota Golden Gophers re-emerged in 2020 as one of the more underrated college football programs for sending players to the NFL. In fact, five players were drafted last year, which includes Antoine Winfield Jr., whose impressive rookie campaign culminated in a Super Bowl victory with Tampa Bay. Scouts, coaches, and general managers will again be making their way to Minneapolis to view the NFL Draft prospects at the 2021 Minnesota Pro Day.
Minnesota finished the 2020 season with a disappointing 3-4 record. P. J. Fleck’s team announced that they were declining the opportunity to play in any bowl game.
When is Minnesota’s Pro Day in 2021?
The pro day for the Minnesota Golden Gophers will take place on April 1.
Top Minnesota prospects working out at pro day
Rashod Bateman
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman hopes that a strong performance on Thursday can push him to be the first Minnesota prospect selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2006. Furthermore, he wants to have a more successful career than Laurence Maroney, the last player to have that honor.
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Rashod Bateman had an incredibly productive 2019 season, emerging as one of the top big-play threats in college football. He caught 60 passes for 1,219 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He followed that with impressive numbers in a condensed 2020 season (five games): 36 catches, 472 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
Where is Bateman currently projected?
Pro Football Network Chief Draft Analyst Tony Pauline: “Bateman burst onto the scene as a freshman and was a dominant force during his sophomore campaign of 2019. He possesses the size and skill to be a No. 2 receiver at the next level, and Bateman will be a productive wideout in the proper system.”
In response to questions over his speed, Bateman tweeted in February that he had been timed at 4.37 in the 40-yard dash. There have been some impressive performances on the pro day circuit so far this year. If he can repeat his performance at the 2021 Minnesota Pro Day, evaluators can dismiss any concerns.
Bateman currently ranks 29th on Pauline’s big board. In his recent 2021 NFL Mock Draft, Draft Analyst Ben Rolfe gave Bateman to the Baltimore Ravens in the first round at No. 31 overall.
Benjamin St-Juste
Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste is an intriguing prospect. He graduated from the University of Michigan in just two years, playing in a handful of games in his first season before redshirting his second. After graduating, he transferred to Minnesota and instantly became a starter.
St-Juste didn’t light up the stat sheet at either school, though. He finished his college career without an interception. He did, however, have 10 passes defensed in 2019, his only year as a starter. If the Minnesota prospect measures as expected at 6’3″, he’ll be an interesting fit for teams looking at the 2021 NFL Draft for longer CBs to play on the outside.
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Pauline notes: “Off the 2019 film, St-Juste showed a lot of talent and upside for the next level. He was a bit disappointing last year, though a large part of that was due to the way he was used as a nickel back rather than a No. 1 or No. 2 corner. He possesses the size and skill to be used in a variety of systems and comes with a large upside for the next level.”
St-Juste is another one of the 2021 Minnesota prospects who could benefit from a strong pro day performance. One of Pauline’s criticisms was that St-Juste is “a bit slow transitioning to run with opponents.” If he’s able to showcase speed and movement skills, that will ease the concerns.
St-Juste currently ranks 119th on Pauline’s big board. He will hope that a strong performance can help him earn a selection on Day 2 of the draft.
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