‘Ultimate Alpha.’ Gophers wide receiver Autman-Bell seeks to cross the soul of his opponents

A quarterback had expired in the Gophers’ game at Colorado last week, and the Buffaloes were performing the type of rope-a-dope formula that almost resulted in a no upset. 5 Texas A&M a week earlier.

The Gophers, however, responded with a solid center-right in the form of Chris Autman-Bell, and Colorado has never been the same.

Returning from missing the first two games of the season with a leg injury, Autman-Bell managed a 32-yard pass from Tanner Morgan to the Buffaloes 13-yard line, pointing the ball for a twist grip.

Two games later, the Gophers took a 6-0 lead and were on their way to a 30-0 victory. Their top wide receiver not only led the team with four catches for 79 yards, but he also uplifted his spirit.

“Anytime he’s got the ball in his hands,” said Gophers offensive coordinator Mike Sanford Jr., “he’s literally looking to go through the soul of another human being which is great to watch. “

Autman-Bell’s presence cannot be underestimated for the Gophers, who play Bowling Green on Saturday before returning to the Big Ten on Oct. 2 at Purdue. The fifth-year senior is the last remaining player in the expanded triumvirate which also included Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman, a group that terrorized opposing defenses for a total of 174 catches, 2,908 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2019.

Now Autman-Bell is the gray beard of a group of receivers who also draw on sophomores Daniel Jackson, Dylan Wright, and Mike Brown-Stephens. His return provided a much needed jolt.

“It wasn’t a big game, but it was a game where all of a sudden, ‘Yeah, our guy is back,'” said Sanford.

For Autman-Bell, the return of that August 12 injury hasn’t just fueled their competitive needs. It also renewed the sense of family he has with the Gophers.

“It was great, especially not just playing the game, he said, but being back on the pitch with my brothers.”

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Basketball, then football

Growing up in Kankakee, Ill., A town of about 28,000 people located about 60 miles south of downtown Chicago, Autman-Bell made a name for himself as a basketball player, starting for Bishop McNamara High School in sophomore and eventually leading the Fighting Irish to the state semifinals as a senior.

“He entered high school thinking he wanted to be a varsity basketball player, but he was so successful as a football player that he made the transition,” said coach Adrian Provost. Bishop McNamara’s basketball court.

In football, Autman-Bell helped the Fighting Irish win the Class 2A State Championship as a junior, previewing the attention to detail and tenacity that is displayed with the Gophers.

“He gets as much fun blocking and doing the little thing as he does catching passes,” Autman-Bell football coach Rich Zinanni told Bishop McNamara. “You knew a 50/50 ball, it was going to come low.”

Autman-Bell broke a hand in the season opener as a senior and missed the rest of the football season, but Gophers coach PJ Fleck, then at Western Michigan, had already received commitment to play for the Broncos and stayed with him.

When Fleck left western Michigan for the Gophers in early January 2017, Autman-Bell wasn’t sure what that would mean for him.

“Chris was really nervous,” said Provost. “He loved West Michigan, but Coach Fleck was a good reason to go to West Michigan. Chris was a bit in limbo and was hoping to hear from Coach Fleck. We were on a bus ride home after playing Providence Catholic, and Coach Fleck called and offered him. Chris accepted on the phone on our bus. ”

Much of the decision, Autman-Bell said, was whether Morgan was heading to Minnesota as well.

“He’s not a friend, he’s a brother to me,” Autman-Bell said. “Being together at Western and coming here together and having this brotherly love, that’s my guy. I’m sure he’ll be at my wedding, and I’ll be his.”

Morgan said: “It was an instant connection, from a friendship standpoint. We’re different, but we’re also very similar.… Our journey has brought us here, and I’m grateful to be a part of its history. ”

Growing with waffles

With the Gophers, Autman-Bell went from a red-shirted freshman who caught 28 assists in a complementary role, to a sophomore who saved the Gophers at Fresno State with a spectacular fourth take, to the rear of the area end who forced overtime, to his current role as senior statesman.

“He’s the Ultimate Alpha, and that’s what you want,” Sanford said.

Gophers wide receivers coach Matt Simon, who signed Autman-Bell in western Michigan, has seen him develop as a leader.

“He did an amazing job developing young guys to have his mindset and attitude,” Simon said. “His leadership with these guys was frustrating for him at first. But he became more patient with it. Development does not happen overnight. His leadership has shifted from frustration to patient but demanding at the same time. ”

It was playing against Colorado. When Wright caught a 39-yard pass, he also moved the ball to his left arm just before he was touched, a no-no for a team preaching “the ball is the program.”

“Chris is right there after Dylan gets tackled,” Simon said. “He’s right there talking to him after shielding the ball and lying to him.… He’s literally another coach on the pitch.”

The fact that he’s back on the pitch and contributing in a variety of ways makes things even better for the Gophers.

“I’m not the type of receiver who just wants to play games and get out of the way,” Autman-Bell said. “I like to block, I like to be physical. I like to do more than just catch the ball. You are more of an offensive weapon when you are more than catching.”

Fleck added: “We were so grateful to find him.”