steady, versatile Minnesota linebacker with special-teams grit
Joey Gerlach enters 2026 as a returning redshirt senior linebacker for Minnesota, valued more for reliability and versatility than splash plays. In 2025, he appeared in 9 games and recorded 11 tackles before an injury sidelined him late, and his broader Gophers career shows a steady climb from special teams to rotational linebacker work. A former three-star in-state recruit, he brings size (6-foot-3, 225 pounds), toughness, and a team-first profile that coaches tend to trust. He looks like a good fit for programs that want depth, effort, and disciplined play at linebacker.
