Each of Brent and Michelle Lingen’s children has been able to compete in athletics at the collegiate level: middle child Sarah earned All-Summit League honors as a swimmer at the University of Denver; youngest child Hannah competes in dance at UMD; and the oldest child, Brandon, became the primary starting tight end on the University of Minnesota football team from 2015-17.
Growing up, Brandon recalls many boys in the neighborhood gathering to play football and watching the Vikings offense being led by Duante Culpepper and Randy Moss. While he began playing organized tackle football in 4th grade, Brandon participated in a wide range of activities including baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, student council, and band. As a 5’ 8” and 150-pound freshman student athlete at Wayzata High School, Brandon decided to focus on football.
Through a steady training regimen of lifting weights, watching film, and constant practice he developed quickly and caught his first varsity pass as a sophomore in a game vs Prior Lake. In the state semifinals of two undefeated teams, he played a bigger role in the memorable game in a decisive 42-0 Wayzata victory over Cretin-Derham Hall led by star quarterback Conor Rhoda.
In 2014, Brandon, now 6’ 4” and weighing 240 pounds, graduated with the lofty rating as the 5th best Minnesota football recruit by one scouting organization. He states he was not heavily recruited—he had missed the football season his junior year due to an injury–despite interest expressed by the Air Force and eagerly joined the Gophers. “It was in my backyard. I had been on their radar as a sophomore and developed a relationship with the tight ends’ coach,” he says of explaining his decision. “I had been watching Adam Weber [Gophers quarterback from Mounds View] and Marion Barber III from Wayzata. It was a dream come true.”
Brandon must have made an immediate impression on the Gophers’ staff. He played in 11 games as a true freshman, including one start. A memorable game his first year was vs TCU. “I was nervous as heck. We had three tight ends in a play which had lots of pre-snap motions. Maxx [current NFL player Maxx Williams] basically put me in my spot to line-up,” Brandon says, laughing. His sophomore year was highly productive, starting 10 of the 12 games and having 33 pass receptions. Brandon caught two touchdown passes vs Purdue and totaled 111 receiving yards in the game vs Michigan. The results landed him on the All-Big Ten honorable mention list.
“Unfortunately, I got to the medical staff well,” Brandon reports of his junior year. During his collegiate career, Brandon suffered a torn labrum, broke his collar bone twice, and suffered concussions. He missed 10 games due to injury as a junior before bouncing back to start 8 of 11 games his senior year when he shared the Butch Nash Award for competitiveness on the field and in the classroom with defensive lineman Andrew Stelter (Owatonna).
There may have been an opportunity to play professionally, but Brandon was hindered from training due to injuries and opted instead for long-term health. He graduated with a degree in supply chain and operations management from the Carlson School of business in 2018 and landed a position as an indirect sourcing buyer at Land O’ Lakes where he had served an internship.
The excitement of playing at TCF stadium in front of a cheering home crowd is a fond memory. Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City “was a hostile environment; there wasn’t much room between the sidelines and fans. It was always rocking, always loud . . . a fun rivalry and to be a part of that history.” Coach PJ Fleck was hired as head coach Brandon’s senior year and feels he was treated fairly. Brandon expresses excitement for the upcoming Gophers’ season and how Coach Fleck has the team going by implementing the current “Row the Boat
Minnesota Athletes 