Mariano Sori-Marin is all but a lock to be starting for the new-look Gopher defense when Minnesota opens the season against Michigan at TCF Bank Stadium on Oct. 24, giving the junior linebacker the opportunity to erase some bad memories from a season ago.
When he stepped to the podium Monday afternoon to take questions from the media, it was not long before the Pioneer Press’s Andy Greder made mention of Sori-Marin’s struggles in the 2019 season opener against South Dakota State. With senior Kamal Martin sidelined due to a “coaches decision,” the Gophers relied heavily on Sori-Marin, Braelen Oliver, and Thomas Rush at linebacker and the Jackrabbits feasted on their youth and inexperience.