Minnesota's late-arriving kicker Luke Drzewiecki quickly made a new home and a strong impression

Minnesota's late-kicking recruit Luke Drzewiecki quickly made himself at home and left a strong impression on his new team this season. Before arriving in Minnesota, the fifth-year kicker had only been in the Gophers' system for two months when he made his debut in a game against Iowa. Drzewiecki, who was only recently cleared by a federal judge to return for his fifth year, was spotted dining alone with quarterback Drake Lindsey in the team's training facility and approached to connect with his new teammate.

Although Drzewiecki's move to Minnesota was unexpected, he has quickly made the most of his situation. He was inspired to join the team by a court ruling and a FaceTime call from Gophers coach P.J. Fleck, who reached out to Drzewiecki's former coach at New Mexico just a few days before the deadline. Drzewiecki quickly began practicing with the team and made his debut in a game against Iowa, where he kicked a 46-yard field goal to seal the victory.

Since then, Drzewiecki's contributions on and off the field have been impressive. He has made 23 consecutive field goals this season, the longest active streak in the country, and has been selected as the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week twice. Drzewiecki has also become a valued member of the team's locker room, regularly reaching out to introduce himself to other players and showing kindness to those sitting alone.

His talent and character have made a significant impact on the Gophers program, and he has quickly become an integral part of their success.