MINNEAPOLIS -- Mitch Leidner has returned to lead the Minnesota huddle with a finally healthy left foot.Hes bringing 35 games of experience with him.After enduring his share of struggles with accuracy and injury over the first part of his career, Leidner turned a corner during the second half of his junior season despite playing through the pain and limitation in his left foot that essentially dogged him since the third game of his sophomore year. Now hes one of the Big Tens most seasoned players, getting national acclaim as one of the top NFL draft prospects at his position.As a native of the Twin Cities area, having played at Lakeville South High School, Leidner has occasionally bristled about the complaints from fans that have come with the job as the quarterback of the states only major college. Leading the Gophers to victories over rivals Iowa and Wisconsin and a spot in the conference championship game would be a sweet way to finish as a fifth-year senior.Id probably just retire right after that. Go move up to northern Minnesota and never talk to anybody the rest of my life, he said, jokingly. But I guess on a serious note, it would just feel really good.Leidner, who has a 16-13 record as a starter, first hurt his left foot Sept. 13, 2014, in a loss at TCU.My big toe was basically floating around in my shoe, he said Thursday, as the Gophers prepared to begin fall practice.The injury was aggravated early in the 2015 season, and Leidner had surgery to repair torn ligaments right after the Quick Lane Bowl win over Central Michigan. He sat out of spring practice to recover, but his presence around the program this year has been as large as any player since, probably, quarterback Adam Weber concluded his career in 2010.All Ive got to say about Mitch is thats a man on a mission, said tight end Brandon Lingen. Ive never seen a guy more dedicated to a cause in my life. Its definitely been infectious, too.Leidner, a bruising scrambler with 1,129 yards and 23 touchdowns rushing in his career, used a diet change to drop about 20 pounds. The goal is to play this season at around 230 pounds.Hes put a tremendous amount of effort in, coach Tracy Claeys said.Leidner spent another summer at Peyton Mannings passing camp, picking the brain of the now-retired NFL star. He met again with a sports psychologist offered through the athletic department. He connected with new offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, who grew up in the same suburb as he did. The back-to-normal lower body will undoubtedly be the biggest boon, helping him better avoid pressure in the pocket.Its going to make a huge difference, Leidner said.Down the stretch last year, he often wore a walking boot all week, taking it off only for practice.I always knew I was going to play in the back of my mind, no matter what condition I was in, Leidner said. At practice, throwing on the run and things like that sometimes was just impossible for me, but I knew that in the game Id get enough adrenaline pumping that Id be good to go.Particularly at wide receiver and on the offensive line, the Gophers have some areas that will be watched closely this month and next. Theres no concern about the quarterback, though.I think its comfortable for other guys on the team to know that Ive played in that many games, to know theyre stepping into the huddle with a guy whos been there before, whos played Michigan before, whos played Ohio State a couple times, and they know that I can get the job done in those certain situations, Leidner said. Discount Football Jerseys . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Football Jerseys China .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. http://www.cheapfootballjerseysoutlet.com/ . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. Wholesale Football Jerseys . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. CANCUN, Mexico -- LeRon Smith made a crucial observation and followed it with a confident prediction sitting among his teammates on the bench Tuesday night.The Auburn forward watched again and again as Texas Techs Aaron Ross drove into the paint, hollered for the ball and hopped for easy layups. He watched as his teams lead got smaller and smaller, too.I was sitting on the bench, I asked, `Why doesnt someone just block his shot? Smith said. I said, `Theres no way Im going to let him get that layup.Smith came up with the block, swatting Rosss potential tying layup with four seconds left out to Texas Techs Zach Smith, who sailed a 3-pointer over the basket at the buzzer, and the Tigers held on for a 67-65 win in the Cancun Challenge.Mustapha Heron scored 15 points, Daniel Purifoy added 11 and Jared Harper netted 10 for Auburn (4-0), which led by 15 points with 11:15 left.Aaron Ross led the Red Raiders (3-1) with 17 points, Keenan Evans had 13 and Devon Thomas and Smith added 11 and 10, respectively. Smith grabbed 10 rebounds.Texas Tech is an NCAA tournament-caliber team, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. Theyre going to have a really good year. They didnt didnt get off to a very good start in either half and we did. I thought we played really good basketball in the first half.It was all Tigers at halftime. They led by 15 and dominated from midrange and added five 3-pointers. But the Red Raiders began to chip away and turned the rebounding battle in the second half, pulling down 20 to Auburns 11.Meanwhile, the Auburn offense went cold. Dunas snapped 4:18 skid without a field goal with a steal and fast-break layup to make it 65-59 with 1:18 to play.It didnt slow the Red Raiders, who continued a 28-15 run that ended when Thomas hit a layup with 32 seconds left to cut Auburns lead to 65-63. But the Tigers got free throws from Harper, who was 6 for 10 from the line but hit two in the final 225 seconds to keep the game out of reach.ddddddddddddHE BIG PICTUREAuburn: The Tigers are 4-0 for the first time since 2011-12 and four underclassmen are helping them get it done. Bryce Brown, Jared Harper and Daniel Purifoy entered the game averaging in double figures and all chipped in equally against the Tigers. Auburn will try to win its fifth straight for the first time since 2004-05 on Tuesday.Texas Tech: Although they couldnt take the lead late, the Red Raiders, on their fourth head coach in six years, were able to keep the game within range. They did so with some explosive plays, including Zach Smiths furious slam dunk that cut Auburns lead to 53-45 with 7:52 left.PROTECTING THE RIMMaybe assistant coach Chuck Perkins overheard Smith as he noticed Ross cutting free to the basket?Pearl said Perkins suggested they put Smith in the game late. He had played just over 12 minutes to that point.Coach Persons suggested that I put LaRon in and I went with it, and it was a great call, Pearl said. Because LaRon is our best rim protector. . LaRon had some rebound baskets, he had some offensive rebounds and he was our best rim-protector at a very, very big time.LEARNING AND WINNINGHeron did plenty on the offensive side. Pearl noted the game began to shift as the true freshman got deeper into foul trouble. Heron picked up his third early in the second half and Texas Tech took advantage, getting inside the defense to sink 18 points in the paint over the final 20 minutes.The rebounding thing, it really swung in the second half. It energized them, Pearl said. I thought we stopped guarding in the second half. . Hes got to continue to guard and that, I think opened the door a little bit to Texas Techs run.UP NEXTBoth teams continue in the Cancun Challenge tomorrow. 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