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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Gophers' safety Winfield Jr. may apply for medical redshirt

MINNEAPOLIS-If star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. can't recover from his hamstring injury this season, the Gophers will explore applying for a medical redshirt for him to gain an additional year of eligibility.Winfield, a sophomore, was carted off ...

Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) celebrates after making a tackle in their game against Buffalo last month at TCF Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) celebrates after making a tackle in their game against Buffalo last month at TCF Bank Stadium. Winfield will apply for a medical redshirt after suffering an injury against Maryland. Jesse Johnson / USA TODAY Sports

MINNEAPOLIS-If star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. can't recover from his hamstring injury this season, the Gophers will explore applying for a medical redshirt for him to gain an additional year of eligibility.

Winfield, a sophomore, was carted off the practice field after initially hurting his left hamstring in preseason camp on Tuesday, Aug. 8. He returned to play in all three nonconference game before pulling the same hamstring in the first quarter of a 31-24 loss to Maryland on Saturday, Sept. 30.

In order to be granted the "hardship waiver," or medical redshirt, NCAA bylaws stipulate that the season-ending injury in a team sport occurs when the player has not participated in more than three contests or 30 percent of the school's games-whichever number is greater.

Winfield's injury occurred with about 27 percent of the season complete (3 1/4 games into the 12 in the regular season), but since it came was the fourth game, that number is larger.

"From what we have talked about, within our program, he can still apply for it and the possibility of him getting it is still very high because it's happened in the first half of the season and (within) 30 percent," Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said Monday, Oct. 16. "... So we are still looking into all of that. Again, it's not-we'll just see as he continues to progress (and when he might) be back. But we know we are going to investigate that, if we have to."

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Fleck said the Gophers are being careful about Winfield's health. Minnesota (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) will start the second half of the season Saturday against Illinois (2-4, 0-3) at TCF Bank Stadium.

"It's one of those injuries that can take a long time, and he's already hurt it once, reinjured it again, so now we want to be really cautious with it," Fleck said.

Winfield, the son of former Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield, has 20 tackles, two pass breakups, a sack and a blocked field goal this season.

The Gophers sought and obtained a medical redshirt after safety Damarius Travis injured his hamstring in the first game of the 2015 season and didn't return to action. He returned for a fifth season in 2016 and led team with 83 tackles.

Fleck still mum on QB

Fleck does not plan to name a starting quarterback before Saturday's game.

"I'm still thinking through (who will start), but I won't announce that," he said. "I'm going to keep that in-house."

After replacing starter Conor Rhoda in the second quarter, backup Demry Croft led a fourth-quarter rally in the 30-27 loss to Michigan State last Saturday, Oct. 14.

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Croft completed 11 of 20 passes for 163 yards, with three touchdowns and an interception against the Spartans. He also had seven rushes or scrambles for 31 yards and kept other passing plays alive by stepping up in the pocket to avoid the rush.

After throwing for just 101 yards in the 31-17 loss to Purdue, Rhoda was 5 for 12 for 53 yards against Michigan State. Fleck pointed to a few fumbles and other miscues by Rhoda against the Spartans.

Fleck named Rhoda, a fifth-year senior from Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, the starter after a 48-14 victory over Oregon State on Saturday, Sept. 9, in part because of his leadership skills.

Croft, a redshirt sophomore, was suspended for two games after that and did not play against Purdue.

Fleck said he likes what he has seen from Croft since he returned to the team.

"I think he has shown that in the last two weeks that he can mature and that he can grow up," Fleck said. "I'm proud of the effort and the progress he's made."

Injury absences

The Gophers don't appear close to returning any injured players

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Minnesota played without offensive tackle Nick Connelly, receiver Phillip Howard and cornerback Kiondre Thomas against Michigan State.

Defensive tackle Steven Richardson, tight end Brandon Lingen and guard Vincent Calhoun suffered ankle injuries against the Spartans.

"We got some more guys hurt this past game, too, so this is going to be very interesting," Fleck said.

Fleck said some injured players could be out for the season, but he declined to identify them.

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