The Minnesota Gophers will have a new starting quarterback Saturday when they play their first-ever conference game against Maryland.
Mitch Leidner will miss his first game since 2014, and Conor Rhoda will make his first start in a Gophers uniform.
That left us with just one question: Who is Conor Rhoda?
#Gophers WR Drew Wolitarsky said QB Conor Rhoda had big smile on his face on chance vs Maryland. Drew said Leidner will still be at practice
— Andy Greder (@andygreder) October 11, 2016
Rhoda, who is from St. Paul, is a 2013 graduate of Cretin-Derham Hall. He led the team to a 6-3 record as a senior throwing for 1,400 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also ran for 550 yards and three more scores.
Here are a few of his highlights from high school.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsTTWPIv7qk
The walk-on doesn’t have a lot of game experience at Minnesota. He’s appeared in one game this year and one game in 2014, and has thrown just two passes at the U of M.
But he beat out Demry Croft for the Gophers backup quarterback job this year. Minnesota wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky told reporters that Rhoda will throw it around.
“He likes to sling the rock. We’ll tape our fingers this week,” Wolitarsky told reporters Tuesday. “I see a lot of similarities between them.”
In an interview earlier this month with Gophersports.com, Rhoda said the best part about playing for Minnesota is that it’s close to his family.
“All my relatives, my grandparents are always at the games. So it’s really nice,” Rhoda said. “I would say that’s probably the best aspect of it. Just playing for your hometown, all my high school buddies, just so many different people are able to watch and kind of see how I’m doing. That’s what really makes it awesome.”
