Starting left tackle Aireontae Ersery returning to Gophers in 2024

New quarterback Max Brosmer is pleased with the left tackle's decision.

After a bunch of players rushed to the transfer portal after the Gophers went 5-7 in the regular season, there is now a rising number of key players announcing plans to return to Minnesota in 2024. 

The latest is starting left tackle Aireontae Ersery, who on Tuesday night said "I have decided to come back for another year with Dinkytown Athletes."

That's a good indication that Ersery will benefit from a relationship with the University of Minnesota's Name, Image and Likeness partner, Dinkytown Athletes. As head coach P.J. Fleck has said, without NIL money, good players will leave. 

Ersery's return as the starting left tackle provides immediate support for incoming transfer quarter Max Brosmer, who posted his thoughts about Ersery's decision on X. 

🥹 https://t.co/n1Aqqshwfn

— Max Brosmer (@maxtbro) December 6, 2023

Other players to commit to the Gophers while citing Dinkytown Athletes include wide receiver Daniel Jackson and running back Darius Taylor II. Jackson is one of the top receivers in the Big Ten this season and Taylor was on pace to put up huge numbers before injuries derailed his season. 

The Gophers also were reaffirmed by quarterback commit Drake Lindsey, who threw a state record 52 touchdown passes while leading his high school to the state title in Arkansas. Lindsey posted on X that he is 1,000 percent committed. 

P.J. Fleck has to adapt or die in new college football world