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Gophers' Aireontae Ersery named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year

Ersery was also named first team All-Big Ten by both coaches and media.

Will Ragatz

Sep 10, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers offensive lineman Aireontae Ersery (69) blocks Western Illinois Leathernecks defensive back JJ Ross (1) in the second quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Sep 10, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers offensive lineman Aireontae Ersery (69) blocks Western Illinois Leathernecks defensive back JJ Ross (1) in the second quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. / Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
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Minnesota left tackle Aireontae Ersery has been named the 2024 Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in the Big Ten, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Ersery was also named a first team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media.

It was an excellent redshirt senior season for Ersery, who is a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In his third year as the Gophers' starting left tackle, he helped protect Max Brosmer and pave the way in the running game for Darius Taylor and Marcus Major. Minnesota finished the regular season 7-5 and averaged 26.3 points per game.

Ersery left last Saturday's game against Wisconsin due to injury and likely won't play in the Gophers' bowl game as he turns his attention toward the NFL Draft. He finishes this season with a very strong 79.9 PFF grade on 691 snaps, though it was a slight step down β€” mostly in run-blocking β€” from his 84.0 grade in 2023. In pass protection, he allowed just 13 pressures and one sack all year.

Listed as 6'6", 330 pounds, Ersery has all the traits of a first-round draft pick at the tackle position. He's ranked as PFF's No. 4 OT and No. 17 overall player.

Rashod Bateman (2021) and Laurence Maroney (2006) are the only Gophers who have been first-round picks in the last 20 years.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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