Gophers QB Max Brosmer: Transfer portal 'wild new world'

"So when I got here I fell in love with the process and the culture and the team."

Minnesota Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer didn't want to take long picking his new school after entering the transfer portal last fall – but even his short stint in what is basically college football free agency, it was a wild ride. 

"I wanted to get in and out of the portal as quickly as I could as long as I was going to the school that fit me the best," Brosmer told reporters Wednesday as Gophers spring practices opened.

The grad student joined the Gophers after a successful career at the University of New Hampshire in the FCS. He threw for 8,713 yards and 70 touchdowns in three full seasons for the Wildcats.

Brosmer committed to Minnesota in early December. He noted the transfer portal is a "wild new world," saying he didn't fully realize how crazy it would get "until I got in."

"I was lucky enough that I had some schools reach out pretty early when I got in the portal," Brosmer said. "I didn't know what to expect when I got in and Minnesota was one of the first school's to [reach out].

"Once I saw that Minnesota came in I was like 'Might as well check it out.' I heard a lot about the program. I head a lot about coach Fleck and the culture. That's kind of the player that I am, I take value in culture and the team. So when I got here I fell in love with the process and the culture and the team."

Minnesota certainly wasn't the only team in on Brosmer this winter. On3 had the 6-foot-2 FCS passing leader as the ninth-best quarterback in the portal earlier this winter.

"I think there was a handful of schools that you kind of have to sort through," Brosmer responded when asked about his interest in other schools. "That's how the portal is for a lot of people sometimes. You got to figure out who actually wants you, who doesn't. One of the things that I had taken a lot of weight to was you want to go to a school that wants you the same way that you want to go to that program."

Brosmer joins the Gophers after a season in which they had one of the worst passing attacks in the country. Fleck's offense ranked 126th (out of 133) in passing yards per game (143.3). 

Under Fleck, the Gophers have finished a season averaging over 250 passing yards a game just once, back in the 11-win 2019 season when Tanner Morgan averaged 253.3 yards per game. Minnesota has been ranked outside of the top 100 in passing each of the last four seasons. 

Brosmer, meanwhile, averaged 317.8 yards per game in 2023.

"I think it's the challenge that excites me and [offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh] and the team," said Brosmer when asked about difference in styles. "You could easily walk into the school that has the best passing attack in the country and you have these high expectations placed upon you as you get there. Coming into a school where a new challenge is set forth is super, super exciting."

P.J. Fleck stayed with Gophers for 'love' of Minnesota

Max Brosmer / University of Minnesota