Minnesota Golden Gophers preparing for crowd noise versus Iowa

The 4-0 Minnesota Golden Gophers open Big Ten play on the road against the Iowa Hawkeyes this weekend, and are preparing to play in front of a noisy and sold out crowd at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 11:00 am CT.

Speakers on the Gophers' practice field on Tuesday switched from the usual tunes to simulated crowd noise as the Minnesota offense prepared for its first road game since defeating UNLV, 30-27, in three overtimes in the opening week of the season on August 30.

Gophers offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover told TwinCities.com that this was the first time they implemented the crowd noise since the end of fall camp, as it wasn't necessary in the team's three-week stretch of home games.

Minnesota is attempting to start the season 5-0 for the first time since 2004 against a 2-2 Iowa Hawkeyes team that is coming off a 32-31 home loss to Central Michigan.

Andre McDonald Injury: Gophers Wide Receiver Sat Out Saturday After Heart Scare

Minnesota wide receiver Andre McDonald might be active soon, after missing the last three games due to what the freshman told the Minnesota Daily was "a little problem with my heart." McDonald was released from the hospital on Thursday evening and was on the team's injury report as "questionable" with an undisclosed condition.

McDonald missed the previous two games due to an infection in his leg from a turf burn, according to head coach Jerry Kill. He's only caught one pass this season, in the opener against Nevada-Las Vegas on Sept. 8, though the Golden Gophers have been doing fine without him, judging by their 4-0 record.

According to the report, Kill said that McDonald should be fine and ready to go, as he's been examined thoroughly by team trainers. There's no word on what exactly the problem was with McDonald's heart at this point, and it's unclear if further details will ever be provided.

For more on the Minnesota Golden Gophers, check out The Daily Gopher. You can learn more about college football around the country over at SB Nation's College Football hub.

MarQueis Gray Injury: Gophers Quarterback Likely Out Next Week

According to The Star Tribune, it's unlikely that Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback MarQueis Gray will be active on Saturday against Iowa. Gray suffered a high ankle sprain against Western Michigan, and was inactive for this past Saturday's game against Syracuse. Max Shortell made the start for Gray, and helped lead the Gophers to a 17-10 victory with 231 yards and no interceptions.

Coach Jerry Kill said that it would take a "minor miracle" for Gray to be in action on Saturday against Iowa. He said the earliest indication of Gray's status for next week came when he jogged out of the tunnel on Saturday, and at 51 years old, he was able to keep himself ahead of Gray, who couldn't keep up. That indicates the injury is serious and really does show that Gray would have to have something pretty spectacular happen to him to be active on Saturday.

Minnesota is currently 4-0, wrapping up their non-conference slate with the win over Syracuse. They get things started in the Big Ten against Iowa, and have a bye week following that game, so if Shortell manages a strong outing, Gray will have another week to rest. Whether or not there is any quarterback controversy when Gray is ready to come back is another matter entirely, however.

For more on the Minnesota Golden Gophers, check out The Daily Gopher. You can learn more about college football around the country over at SB Nation's College Football hub.

Syracuse Vs. Minnesota 2012: Golden Gophers Defense Comes Up Big In Win

The Minnesota Golden Gophers improved to 4-0 with a 17-10 win over Syracuse on Saturday, fueled by a stout defense that kept pressure on the Orange all game. Minnesota blog The Daily Gopher touched on the defensive performance:

By the end of the night the Gopher defense forced a total of four turnovers, sacked Ryan Nassib 3 times, notched 5 tackles for loss and held Syracuse to 3 points for over 47 minutes of the game. Both sides had more than their share of penalties (8 for us, 10 for them) and the Gophers missed two field goals. But when it mattered most the Gophers came through.

Syracuse came into the game averaging 32.7 points per game in its previous three games. Minnesota travels to Iowa next week to take on the Hawkeyes, who just lost at home to MAC opponent Central Michigan on Saturday.

For all things Golden Gopher, check out The Daily Gopher. Syracuse news and analysis is available at Troy Nunes Is an Absolute Magician. Stay here at SB Nation Minnesota for more coverage of Minnesota football, and SB Nation's college football hub has all the news and analysis you need from around the NCAA.

Orange At Gophers Final Score: Defense Paces Minnesota In 17-10 Victory

The Minnesota Golden Gophers pushed their 2012 record to 4-0 on Saturday night, defeating the Syracuse Orange at TCF Bank Stadium by a score of 17-10. The big story of the night for Jerry Kill's team, however, was the defense.

Minnesota's defense, which looked as fast and as aggressive as they've looked in a long time, relentlessly pressured Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib all night long. The stat sheet only showed three sacks on the evening, but there were many occasions where Nassib was running for his life from the Minnesota front four. The Gophers also forced four Syracuse turnovers, which played a big part in the usually explosive Orange offense only registering three points.

Minnesota got things started early, as Cedric Thompson intercepted Nassib's first pass of the evening. The Gophers were unable to cash in, however, as Jordan Wettstein missed a 44-yard field goal attempt. After a Syracuse punt, however, Minnesota found their way into the end zone, as Max Shortell led the team on a five-play, 58-yard drive that concluded with a 2-yard touchdown run by Donnell Kirkwood to make the score 7-0.

Syracuse answered with a long drive of their own, one that went 13 plays and and 67 yards, resulting in a Ross Krautman field goal from 33-yards out to make the score 7-3 with just under two minutes remaining in the first quarter. That would be the last of the scoring for a while, as the second quarter saw no points scored. Minnesota changed that with their first drive of the third quarter, however, putting together an impressive 12-play, 87-yard drive that saw Kirkwood find the end zone from a yard out to make the score 14-3.

The Orange then put together a long, 15-play drive that saw them get all the way down to the Minnesota 2-yard line, but Brock Vereen hit Nassib just as he was getting ready to throw a pass on third and goal, and the high deflection was snagged by linebacker Aaron Hill for an interception, keeping the score at 14-3.

Minnesota added a field goal by Wettstein in the fourth quarter, a 43-yarder to make it 17-3. Syracuse then answered that with their best drive of the second half, with Nassib moving the Orange 83 yards in nine plays and just over two and a half minutes, concluding the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Sales to close the gap to 17-10. However, Syracuse's onside kick was recovered by the Gophers, and Minnesota ran out the clock for the victory.

When it was all said and done, the Orange actually outgained the Gophers yardage-wise, 350 yards to 341, but that's not indicative of the performance of the Minnesota defense. The four turnovers (two interceptions, two fumble recoveries) by the Gophers really turned the tide of the football game, taking opportunities away from Syracuse and helping Minnesota to go 4-0.

Shortell filled in quite nicely for injured starting quarterback MarQueis Gray, completing 16 of 30 passes for 231 yards. Kirkwood had 99 yards on 28 carries to go with his two touchdowns, and Devin Crawford-Tufts led the Gophers in this one, grabbing three passes for 67 yards.

Minnesota will open up Big Ten Conference play next weekend as they make a trip to Kinnick Stadium to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Gophers will hope to retain ownership of Floyd of Rosedale in this one, and if they do so the bronze pig will stay in Minnesota for the third straight season for the first time since Minnesota won the trophy in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

Orange At Gophers Update: Minnesota Defense Comes Up Huge

Just when it looked like the Syracuse Orange might find the end zone, the Minnesota Golden Gophers defense came up huge when they had to.

Earlier in the drive, what appeared to be a stop was negated by linebacker Aaron Hill's personal foul penalty for hitting Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib late. Syracuse continued marching down the field, aided by two pass interference penalties on Michael Carter.

With Syracuse facing third and goal from the Minnesota 5-yard line, safety Brock Vereen blitzed right through the middle of the Syracuse offensive line and hit Nassib just as he was getting ready to throw. The ball went high into the air, and Hill atoned for his earlier mistake by going high into the air to secure the interception and stop the Syracuse drive. The Syracuse drive had gone fifteen plays and over six minutes of game time to cover 83 yards, but it was all for naught thanks to the third Syracuse turnover of the evening.

Minnesota takes over deep in their own territory, but they remain ahead of the Syracuse Orange with 3:31 left in the third quarter of play, 14-3.

Orange At Gophers Score: Donnell Kirkwood Scores His Second Touchdown

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have opened the second half with a very impressive drive, and Donnell Kirkwood cashed it in to give Minnesota a 14-3 lead over the Syracuse Orange at TCF Bank Stadium.

The Gophers started at their own 12-yard line after a short return by Troy Stoudermire, but Minnesota picked up the yardage in chunks on the drive, notching five plays with double-digit gains. The big one saw Max Shortell drop back to pass and hit Isaac Fruechte for a 34-yard gain that moved the Gophers down to the Syracuse 3-yard line.

It took Kirkwood three chances from there, but he eventually pounded the ball into the end zone, and Jordan Wettstein's extra point made the score 14-3 in favor of the home team.

The Minnesota scoring drive covered 88 yards in 12 plays, and took 4:47 worth of game time to complete.

With a little more than ten minutes remaining in the third quarter in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Golden Gophers lead the Syracuse Orange by a score of 14-3.

Orange At Gophers Halftime: Minnesota Holding On To 7-3 Lead

What was expected to be a shootout has turned into a slugfest, as the Minnesota Golden Gophers lead the Syracuse Orange by a score of 7-3 as we head into the locker room at halftime.

Minnesota got off to a fast start, intercepting the first pass attempt from Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib, but Jordan Wettstein could not convert on a 44-yard field goal attempt, and the game remained scoreless. After forcing a Syracuse punt, Minnesota scored the game's lone touchdown, as Donnell Kirkwood found the end zone from two yards out.

Syracuse answered the Minnesota touchdown with a long, 13-play drive, but they could only get three points out of it, as kicker Ross Krautman hit a field goal from 33 yards out to make the score 7-3 in favor of the Golden Gophers.

The second quarter was scoreless, though the Gophers gave their fans some excitement near the end of it. Quarterback Max Shortell, starting for the injured MarQueis Gray, appeared to find Devin Crawford-Tufts for a 34-yard touchdown pass, but a holding penalty on Jon Christenson negated the play. The Gophers couldn't move the ball any further from there, and the teams went into halftime with Minnesota leading 7-3.

The Gophers have outgained the Orange in terms of total yardage in the first half, 184 yards to 151. The key thus far is that Syracuse has turned the ball over two times, but the Gophers failed to convert either of them into points.

In addition to the 44-yarder he missed early on, Wettstein also missed a 26-yard chip shot in the second quarter, which is another part of why the score remains 7-3.

Max Shortell has shown a good command of the offense thus far, having connected on nine of his fifteen pass attempts for 128 yards. Donnell Kirkwood has led the way for Minnesota on the ground with 12 carries for 38 yards and the game's lone touchdown. For Syracuse, Ryan Nassib has completed eight of fifteen passes for 82 yards and one interception. Jerome Smith is the leading rusher for the Orange with 52 yards on six carries.

We're at halftime at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers lead the Syracuse Orange by a score of 7-3.

Orange At Gophers Score: Syracuse Tacks On A Field Goal To Make It 7-3

The Syracuse Orange answered the Minnesota Golden Gophers' touchdown drive with a scoring drive of their own, but the Minnesota defense stiffened when they had to in order to make sure it was only three points.

Syracuse started at their own 17-yard line, and Ryan Nassib led the Orange down the field. Nassib completed six of eight pass attempts on the drive, and the Orange got all the way down to the Minnesota 14-yard line. However, a false start on Syracuse pushed the ball back, and the Orange's third-down attempt was thwarted thanks to a nice play on defense by cornerback Troy Stoudermire.

The Orange brought in Ross Krautman for a 33-yard field goal attempt, and he hit it from the left hash to cut the Minnesota lead to 7-3. Syracuse's scoring drive moved 67 yards in 13 plays, taking 5:05 off of the clock.

We're near the end of the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers lead the Syracuse Orange by a score of 7-3. A great catch by A.J. Barker has moved Minnesota into Syracuse territory as the quarter comes to an end.

Orange At Gophers Score: Donnell Kirkwood Finds The End Zone

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have drawn first blood in their battle against the Syracuse Orange, as they've gotten into the end zone to take a 7-0 lead.

After forcing a Syracuse punt, the Gophers started with the ball at their own 42-yard line. Freshman K.J. Maye ran the ball on the first couple of plays, and then Max Shortell and Devin Crawford-Tufts hooked up for the big play on the drive, a 40-yard catch and run that put the ball down at the Syracuse 10.

A pass interference call on Syracuse then gave Minnesota first and goal at the 2-yard line, and Donnell Kirkwood handled things from there, breaking a tackle and bursting into the end zone. Jordan Wettstein added the extra point, and Minnesota went ahead by a touchdown with 6:59 left in the first quarter.

The Minnesota scoring drive moved 58 yards in five plays.

With 6:59 left in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Golden Gophers lead the Syracuse Orange by a score of 7-0.

Orange At Gophers Update: Minnesota Fails To Cash In On Nassib's Mistake

A bit of a crazy start at TCF Bank Stadium, as the Minnesota Golden Gophers attempt to push their record on the season to 4-0 at the expense of the Syracuse Orange.

On the opening kickoff, Syracuse's return man appeared to step out of the end zone before taking a knee in the end zone. It could have been called a safety against the Orange, but instead the officials gave Syracuse the ball at the 25-yard line as a touchback.

However, on the first play from scrimmage for Syracuse, a pass from quarterback Ryan Nassib went off of the hands of the hands of the intended receiver and into the hands of Minnesota's Cedric Thompson for an interception.

The Gophers attempted to drive the ball downfield, but an offensive pass interference call on Isaac Fruechte pushed the ball back. Max Shortell found A.J. Barker in the end zone, but the ball was jarred out of his hands by a Syracuse defender.

Minnesota brought Jordan Wettstein in for a field goal attempt, and after a false start penalty turned it from a 39-yard attempt into a 44-yard attempt, and Wettstein pushed it wide to the right.

So, the Gophers were unable to take advantage of the early mistake by Syracuse, and a little less than three minutes into the ball game, we're still scoreless.

Syracuse Vs. Minnesota 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More

The Minnesota Golden Gophers and Syracuse Orange face off Saturday in a non-conference matchup.

Tyrone Carter, Ex-Gophers Safety, To Be Honored On Saturday

Gophers Injury Report Lists MarQueis Gray As Questionable

MarQueis Gray missed a decent portion of last weekend's Minnesota Golden Gophers game and is expected to miss about a month of action, but that didn't stop the team from listing the starting quarterback as "questionable" on this week's injury report.

The goal earlier in the week was for Gray to be Max Shortell's backup and, even though he hasn't practiced this week, that would seem to be the case heading into Saturday's game if the questionable status is legitimate. According to 1500 ESPN, it seems as though that's the case:

As expected, Gophers quarterback MarQueis Gray has been listed as "questionable" on the team's weekly injury report to play on Saturday against Syracuse.

Gray is recovering from a knee and high ankle sprain suffered in the second quarter of the Gophers' victory over Western Michigan last Saturday. As of Wednesday, Gray had not run on his injured leg, but was able to do limited drills with the team's training staff.

Starting center Zach Mottla, linebacker Lamonte Edwards and offensive lineman Joe Bjorklund were also listed as questionable for this week while junior cornerback Martez Shabazz is out at least another week with a dislocated right toe.

Stay with this StoryStream for more news heading into Minnesota's game with Syracuse, and be sure to visit The Daily Gopher for more Gophers football coverage. Also check out SB Nation's college football hub for more analysis from around the country.

MarQueis Gray Injury: Gophers QB Not Healthy Enough To Practice

After spraining his ankle in Saturday's win over Western Michigan, Minnesota quarterback MarQueis Gray remains out of practice and is not expected to see the field this week against Syracuse as reported by 1500ESPN.com's Nate Sandell.

Though head coach Jerry Kill told his senior quarterback to prepare as if he would be the backup for Saturday's game, it's clear that Gray has virtually no shot at seeing the field at this point without being able to practice. Kill did acknowledge that his star passer was improving quite well, but conceded that the two-week timetable might be a tad more accurate.

"He wasn't real fast, to be honest with you, but he did jog and move around," Kill said Wednesday. "Is he ready to go tomorrow? No, but he showed progress. Again, he keeps showing progress. It's day by day. I don't know how long it will be."

Sophomore Max Shortell is expected to start under center against the Orange, and without Gray around to breathe down his neck, may very well be on the verge of creating a quarterback controversy with another strong fill-in performance. While Gray's obvious athleticism and experience should make him the de facto starter when he's close to 100%, it will be interesting to see how things play out heading into Minnesota's Sept. 29 Big Ten opener against Iowa.

Stay with this StoryStream for more news heading into Minnesota's game with Syracuse, and be sure to visit The Daily Gopher for more Gophers football coverage. Also check out SB Nation's college football hub for more analysis from around the country.

MarQueis Gray Injury Causes Conundrum For Freshman Quarterback

Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback MarQueis Gray suffered a high ankle sprain Saturday against Western Michigan and he could miss up to a month of action, so now the Gophers have a problem in how they manage freshman QB Philip Nelson's situation. The redshirt QB has been moved up to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart after the injury to Gray, as noted by Marcus Fuller of the Pioneer Press, which means he's just one play away from entering the game and disrupting the plan to preserve his four years of eligibility.

Sophomore Max Shortell played well when forced to fill in for Gray, and he will be the starter on Saturday night against Syracuse, but the potential for Nelson to be forced into action will be looming until Gray makes his return. The Gophers host the Syracuse Orange at 7:00 p.m. CT on Saturday.

For more on the Gophers, check out The Daily Gopher or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around the country, head over to SB Nation's NCAA news hub.

Minnesota Vs. Syracuse: Zac Epping Continues To Impress With Versatility

Minnesota Golden Gophers sophomore offensive lineman Zac Epping has impressed coaches and likely will see more time at the center position. Epping, who coach Jerry Kill calls the team's "best offensive lineman," started the season at right guard, but moved to center last week following an injury to Zach Mottla.

Epping had never played center until last season, when the Gopher coaches requested that he learn multiple positions along the line. Although right guard is his natural position, Epping could see more time at center this week against Syracuse as Mottla is questionable for Saturday's game. Offensive line coach Matt Limegrover was pleased with the line's performance last week with Epping at C and Caleb Bak at RG and has said that Epping will remain at C at least until Mottla is 100 percent.

If the line continues to play well this week, it is possible that the current unit will remain as starters even upon Mottla's return. The Gophers host the Syracuse Orange at 7:00 p.m. CT on Saturday.

For more on the Gophers, check out The Daily Gopher or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around the country, head over to SB Nation's NCAA news hub.

Minnesota's A.J. Barker Hoping Big Games Lead To Scholarship

Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver A.J. Barker is hoping that his early season performance will lead to a scholarship from the school, as the AP's Dave Campbell writes. Barker, a walk-on, is currently third in the Big Ten in receiving yards despite being forced to pay his own way through school at the moment.

Speaking with Campbell, Barker didn't display much surprise at becoming Minnesota's go-to wide receiver following the departure of Da'Jon McKnight, saying, "I'm probably one of the crazy people out there who did believe that I could do that."

Through three games, Barker has 10 catches for 231 yards and four touchdowns. He's already had two games with over 100 yards receiving for the unbeaten Golden Gophers, although the team may be scrambling for a bit on offense without starting quarterback MarQueis Gray, who is injured.

For all things Golden Gopher, check out The Daily Gopher. Stay here at SB Nation Minnesota for more coverage of Minnesota football, and SB Nation's college football hub has all the news and analysis you need from around the NCAA.

MarQueis Gray Injury Shouldn't Change Gophers' Offensive Strategy

The Minnesota Golden Gophers will start quarterback Max Shortell this week in place of the injured MarQueis Gray, and though the quarterbacks have different playing styles, the Golden Gophers won't change their offensive philosophy much.

Gray leans much more toward the "dual threat" archetype while Shortell is a pocket passer, but Minnesota offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said the underlying offensive philosophy won't change even if plays are called a bit differently with one guy in or another.

From Marcus R. Fuller of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Limegrover likened it to how the Baylor Bears catered to Robert Griffin III's strengths as a quarterback. From Fuller's story:

"We're going to block the same way," he said. "We're going to run the same routes. There are certain parts of it now we can move into that game plan because Max is there that we maybe stayed away from because it wasn't MarQueis' strength. One part goes in, one part goes out. But for the overall continuity, with the whole group, it's not a seismic shift in what our philosophy is."

Gray could miss up to a month with a high ankle sprain. Shortell entered the second quarter of last week's win over the Western Michigan Broncos and threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns.

The Golden Gophers kick off against the Syracuse Orange at 7 p.m. CT Saturday.

For all things Golden Gopher, check out The Daily Gopher. Stay here at SB Nation Minnesota for more coverage of Minnesota football, and SB Nation's college football hub has all the news and analysis you need from around the NCAA.

Max Shortell Confident He'll Do Better As Gophers Starter

Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Max Shortell will start against the Syracuse Orange on Saturday night, and the team is hoping that he won't dwell on the results of his last start, a 58-0 loss to the Michigan Wolverines in 2011. The good news for Minnesota is that Shortell is a year older and Syracuse, of course, is not nearly as good as the 2011 Wolverines team that won the Sugar Bowl. Offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover says that the difference in Shortell's demeanor is obvious.

"There's a definite air of confidence now. He knows he can go out and beat anybody. He's a quarterback. He's got that air about him. Didn't have that last year."

(via Minnesota Star-Tribune)

Shortell is filling in for MarQueis Gray, who injured himself in Minnesota's win over the Western Michigan Broncos. In that game, Shortell completed 10-of-17 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns in relief.

For more on the Gophers, check out The Daily Gopher or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around the country, head over to SB Nation's NCAA news hub.

MarQueis Gray Injury: Goal Is For Gophers QB To Be Backup Saturday

Despite injuring both his ankle and knee in Saturday's win over Western Michigan, Minnesota Gophers quarterback MarQueis Gray could still be in line for backup duties under center this Saturday according to the Pioneer Press.

The senior quarterback tweaked his knee and also suffered a high-ankle sprain on an awkward play against the Broncos, and remains on the mend heading into Week 4 according to head coach Jerry Kill. "He's going to be sore for a couple days," Kill said Tuesday.

"I talked to him yesterday, and I said, 'Your goal is, try to be the backup on Saturday and be prepared to play.' Now that's a pretty drastic goal. We'll see how it works out."

Barring a miraculous upturn in Gray's condition, the Gophers are expected to once again turn to sophomore Max Shortell this weekend against Syracuse. The 6'6, 235-pound Shortell looked impressive while completing 10 of his 17 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns after Gray went down, but still does not present nearly the same type of rushing threat as his predecessor.

Be sure to visit The Daily Gopher for more Minnesota football coverage, and check out SB Nation's college football hub for more news from around the nation.

MarQueis Gray Injury Could Lead To Gophers' Quarterback Controversy

Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback MarQueis Gray suffered a high ankle sprain Saturday against Western Michigan, and he's expected to miss a month or so. In that time, could backup Max Shortell give reason for the coaching staff to question who deserves the snaps when Gray is healthy?

Or, as Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins is arguing, could Shortell force the question of who deserves more snaps.

Scoggins:

The Gophers have two quarterbacks with two different skill sets. They have different strengths, different weaknesses, different personalities.

Gray is a better runner and athlete, Max Shortell is a better passer. The offense relies on both facets, and the coaching staff trusts them in different situations.

So why not use both to maximize that position? It's worth considering to see if a tag-team approach provides some benefits.

Scoggins is basing his argument on one game, one which Shortell entered in the second quarter, against a defense not prepared for his style of play. But still, the point has its merits. Gray has only thrown for 398 yards in nine full quarters of play, and Shortell seems to be much more comfortable in the passing game.

Whatever the split is — and Scoggins explicitly stated he's not calling for a 50-50 split — it's an idea. And it's one Minnesota will be forced to confront in one way or another as Shortell handles the job on his own until Gray's ankle heals.

The Golden Gophers host the Syracuse Orange at 7 p.m. CT Saturday.

For more on the Gophers, head over to the Daily Gopher or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around the country, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Max Shortell Ready To Start For Gophers If Injured MarQueis Gray Out

Minnesota Golden Gophers backup quarterback Max Shortell is ready to play for however long starter MarQueis Gray is out with a high ankle sprain.

Shortell played sparingly as an injury replacement for Gray in 2011, so did have some game experience before he entered the game last Saturday. However, no one expected him to play as well as he did. Shortell completed 10-of-17 passes for 188 yards and only one interception in Minnesota's win over Western Michigan. Head coach Jerry Kill was very impressed with Shortell's performance, according to Phil Miller of the Star Tribune.

"Most people that go to their second-team quarterback in situations like that don't go boom-boom and score," Kill said. "We don't (win) that game [without him]. It's very gratifying to see what Max did when he came in."

High ankle sprains typically sideline athletes for a month, however, Gray has a history of recovering from injuries quickly. Last season, Gray recovered from Turf Toe in only two weeks.

Shortell will look to continue his success next week when Minnesota faces Syracuse.

For more on the Gophers, head over to the Daily Gopher or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around the country, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.