The Gophers had one major change in the wake of their 1-11 2007 season: The arrival of new defensive coordinator Ted Roof, who was fired as Duke's head coach following the 2007 season.

Roof replaces Everett Withers, who resigned after one nightmarish season to take the same position at North Carolina. Roof becomes Minnesota's sixth defensive coordinator since 2000, and he will be the third coordinator for some of the veteran players.

Roof, who served as defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech under George O'Leary, inherits a defense that ranked among the worst statistically in recent NCAA history. The Gophers finished last nationally in total defense and ranked near the bottom of Division I-A in a number of other categories.

The Gophers are expected to have as many as seven new starters on defense, most of them coming from their 2008 recruiting class. It won't be surprising to see four junior college transfers starting in the secondary alone. Cornerback Traye Simmons and safety Simoni Lawrence highlight that group.

The Gophers will conduct spring practice without top wide receiver Eric Decker, who is playing with the baseball team. Decker set a school record with 67 catches last season and is expected to be one of the premier receivers in the Big Ten next season.

Junior college transfer David Pittman could be a busy man this spring and beyond. Gophers coach Tim Brewster said he plans on using Pittman as a situational quarterback, running back, wide receiver and cornerback.

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