...as among the best in the conference. Three other starters return -- tackle Adam Haayer and guards Ryan Roth and Derek Burns. Sophomore Jake Kuppe, 6-foot-7, 330 pounds, started one game last year and will battle Jeremiah Carter for...

...341 rushing yards by Michigan backs as the Wolverines rallied from deficits of 31-21 and 21-7. Minnesota guard Derek Burns was asked if the Gophers' offensive line was encouraged by how well Michigan ran against Illinois. "Definitely...

...were so good on Saturday that the roles were reversed. "I can't give them enough credit," said Minnesota center Derek Burns, who helped clear the way for Redmon and Barber in the Golden Gophers' 28-19 victory over Michigan State. Barber...

...the Metrodome to figure out who gets to keep it. "It's our rival, so we'll be ready," said Minnesota center Derek Burns. "No one on this team has ever beat Wisconsin. So that's an added motivation for sure. There have been a couple...

...year we wouldn't go to a bowl game, well, the first thing on my mind would be, 'I want the Axe,"' said center Derek Burns. "It feels better than anything." Abdul-Khaliq, woefully inconsistent last year and the first half of the season...

...Kuppe, sr.; WR Antoine Burns, sr.; LB Phil Archer, jr. KEY DEPARTURES: WR Ron Johnson, RB Tellis Redmon, C Derek Burns, FS Jack Brewer, DE Greg White, OT Matt Anderle, OG Akeem Akinwale WHAT THEYRE SAYING: Mason, on how hed grade...

...position players have one of the top offensive lines in the Big Ten to guide them. Along with Hamilton at center, Derek Burns will be at left guard, Ryan Roth will play right guard, Jake Kuppe will play right tackle and Adam Haayer lines up...

...125 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. "Defenses are definitely adjusting to try and contain Ron," said center Derek Burns. "They'll put a safety over to his side to get a double coverage situation. He's had a lot of shorter catches...

...bowl eligible -- Minnesota has little margin for error. "We know how many wins we need to get to a bowl," center Derek Burns said. "Success is often put on the shoulders of the seniors. We've got to strive to keep the morale up." HEAD...

...never had three teams in a row finish over .500. "How the season turns out, you put that on your seniors," said Derek Burns, the anchor of the offensive line who made a flawless move from guard to center this year. "So we're a little disappointed...