Gophers football: Receiver Elijah Spencer becomes consistent contributor

The state of the Gophers’ receiving corps going into the 2024 season — outside of clear-cut No. 1 Daniel Jackson — did not look very promising.

In open practices last spring, one of the biggest issues was Elijah Spencer — penciled in to be No. 2 —  had come down with a nagging case of the drops.

It was particularly disappointing because it was the opposite of what the message coming out of his matter-of-fact, end-of-2023 meetings with coaches. After transferring in from Charlotte, he had only nine receptions for 65 yards and three touchdowns last season.

“We talked specifically what they have to get better at,” head coach P.J. Fleck told the Pioneer Press. “One of the things that we needed Elijah to be better at was, be reliable.”

This fall, Spencer has become dependable, tripling his reception total through eight games with 28 grabs for 365 yards and four touchdowns, with four games remaining. After a tough spring, Spencer has only one drop across 36 targets this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

On Saturday, he turned in his best game as a Gopher — nine catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns — in the 48-23 blowout of Maryland.

“I think it’s just the opportunity that presents itself,” Spencer said postgame. “I’m not the one calling anything. I see myself as a player and I’m just out there, doing my job to the best of my abilities. If you need me to catch 100 passes, I will catch 100 passes. If you need me to block 100 times, I will block 100 times.”

Fleck tried to emphasize how it can be difficult for players to transfer to the Power Four conferences and expect immediate results. But Spencer’s production drop-off a year ago was steep after he had 57 receptions for 943 yards and nine touchdowns in his sophomore season at Charlotte. The big-play aspect, 16.5 yards per catch with the 49ers, did not carry over, as he averaged 7.2 yards per grab a year ago.

Going into Year 2 at Minnesota, Spencer needed to dedicate himself to what was being asked of him.

“He made some plays for us last year, but I think it took him another year to really master the level of confidence that he has in himself to be able to do it at this level,” Fleck said. “I think that is what everyone is seeing (now).”

Spencer’s commitment and confidence was on display in his first touchdown catch against the Terrapins. Offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh called a passing play where Spencer is not one of quarterback Max Brosmer’s primary options. But Spencer ran his route hard, and Brosmer could see Spencer getting open after a mesh concept with Le’Meke Brockington. Brosmer’s lofted pass found Spencer at the back of the end zone.

“You see him working on his craft every day in practice, real meticulous with his details,” said Jackson, who had nine receptions for 117 yards and two TDs. “If something doesn’t go exactly right, he is going to be the first one in there to correct it. … Being hard on himself and judging himself to how a coach would. I think he’s doing a great job of being consistent and continuing to grow.”

Fleck said Spencer is an “outside-the-box thinker,” who will come into his office to talk about just about anything, including spirituality. It can catch Fleck off-guard. On his KFAN show, Fleck said Spencer reminds him of Pedro Cerrano from the baseball movie “Major League.” In the flick, Cerrano calls on voodoo to help him hit curveballs.

Spencer is very in-tune to mind, body and spirit, Fleck said, and said Spencer would be barefoot all the time, if he could get away with it.

“I think he has matured beautifully, and you can see what type of player he is going to be,” Fleck said. “NFL scouts are asking about him, and it’s fun to talk to people about him, because last year he was far away from where he is right now.”