The Gophers were in helmets and jerseys with no shoulder pads, so there wasn't any hitting in Saturday's practice, which was open to the public and drew a throng of people along the south sideline. Some quick observations:
* Mitch Leidner is back in charge. He was held out of 11-on-11 drills during spring practice, while recovering from left foot surgery. Today, he had no limitations. He got all the first-team reps. He threw a pick six (returned by Cody Poock) but hit several other throws to Rashad Still, Drew Wolitarsky and Co. Leidner also pulled the ball down and ran on one play in 11-on-11.
* Tight end Brandon Lingen was limited in practice. Coach Tracy Claeys said he was just being cautious with the team in no pads and Lingen coming off shoulder surgery.
* Several number changes of note: Shannon Brooks is No. 23. Rodney Smith is No. 1. Melvin Holland Jr. is No. 5. Ray Buford is No. 21. Jerry Gibson is No. 9. Wilson DeLattiboudere is No. 88.
* Some newcomers who stood out to me (in the limited amount that I saw them): WR Tyler Johnson No. 6, CB Antoine Winfield Jr. No. 11, CB Coney Durr No. 16, WR Phillip Howard No. 25, LB Carter Coughlin No. 45, LB Kamal Martin No. 44, CB Kiondre Thomas No. 31 (Eric Murray's old number), S Eric Amoako No. 30, RB Kobe McCrary.
* True freshman WR Drew Hmielewski had shoulder surgery and will take a medical redshirt, Claeys said.
* Isaiah Gentry is still a receiver to watch -- when he's healthy. Gentry sure looks the part, at 6-4, 225 pounds. He was running around fine out there today, but knee and hamstring injuries have slowed his development, so he'll have to prove he can stay healthy.
* The first-team offensive line looks impressive, big and confident: LT Garrison Wright, LG Connor Mayes, C Tyler Moore, RG Vincent Calhoun and RT Jonah Pirsig.
* A few surprises in the first-team defense -- Andrew Stelter over Steven Richardson at DT, Ray Buford over KiAnte Hardin at CB. The first D-line was Elmore, Scott Ekpe, Stelter, Hank Ekpe. First LBs were Celestin, Poock and Lynn. First DBs: Myrick, Travis, Ayinde, Buford.
* Seth Green's throwing motion looks a little quicker and he really has some zip on the ball. Mark Williams, the other true freshman QB, wears two gloves a la Teddy Bridgewater. Williams was on one side of the field, working with the true freshmen, but after going through spring practice, Green was over with the veterans. The QB rotation in 11-on-11 went: Leidner, Croft, Green, Leidner, Rhoda, Williams.
