Minnesota left tackle Aireontae Ersery continues to be ranked among the best players in college football this preseason, ranking as the 59th best player in the country entering this season, according to a recent ESPN Top 100 list.

“The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Ersery is entering his third season as a starter at tackle and could be one of the best offensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft,” the story said. “He was selected to the All-Big Ten second team in 2023. His 86.7 run-blocking rating from Pro Football Focus trails only Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, who was selected 14th overall in April’s NFL Draft.”

A product of Ruskin High School in Kansas City, Missouri, Ersery came to Minnesota as an inexperienced offensive tackle and played just three years of football before signing with the Gophers as a three-star recruit.

He’s earned a wealth of preseason accolades this summer, and it’s clear he’s one of the best offensive linemen in the country. In fact, there are only seven offensive linemen ranked higher on ESPN’s list.

Ersery’s run blocking is so good that it has earned him comparisons to “Mike Tyson at his best.”

Under PJ Fleck, Minnesota has become known for its run-heavy offensive scheme, and they will have all the tools to continue that trend this season. Ersery is surrounded by an experienced group of offensive players, including four starters from last season.

Minnesota is currently six years without producing an NFL draft pick and everything indicates that Ersery will continue that trend in 2025. The only question is how far he gets…