Included in this breakdown are 2019 offers that I think are still relevant. Much of the credit here goes to @Connor Stevens. Names aren't necessarily listed in terms of Minnesota's preference.
Remember, Minnesota’s planning to take about 20 in the 2019 class.
QUARTERBACK
Minnesota will take another quarterback and Hank Bachmeier is of course the big name that everyone knows about. I think Minnesota has probably the best shot of anyone but not necessarily a 50+% chance of getting him. He'll take spring visits and then decide.
TGR quote: “I have family ties there. I think Coach Fleck is in the class of being a top coach in the country. He’s going to be successful. He’s going to be very successful in the next few years. He talks about Minnesota being a sleeping giant, and I definitely see that. I can see the potential in that program and think he’ll turn it around. I was actually talking to (offensive coordinator) Coach Ciarrocca earlier today. I have a great relationship with him. We’ll just talk, talk about anything, great relationship. They just built the [new] facilities there. They’re great facilities as far as some of the best and newest in the nation. I’d have the opportunity to come in and compete right away. From a scheme standpoint, I see myself playing well there as well.”
Max Duggan holds other offers currently from Georgia, Iowa, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Nebraska, UNC, Penn State, and more. He’s really blown up since the Gophers offered a while ago, having cracked the Rivals250 and earning his fourth star and Ohio State offer recently. I don’t think Duggan’s leaning anywhere right now, but Minnesota may be in a tough spot with some of the recent offers.
TGR quote: “Minnesota is great. My relationships are great with Coach Fleck and Coach Ciarrocca. I can talk to them about anything. It doesn’t have to be about football; I can talk to them whenever. If I have any questions they’re super honest with me and I really appreciate that.”
RUNNING BACK
TGR quote: “Coach Fleck texts me everyday. I can just tell he’s an upbeat guy. He always sends me a bunch of information about Minnesota, and Coach Burns is a guy that I kind of already knew before the whole recruiting process. I go to church with his mom, so I know him on a different level than just the recruiting level. They’ve just been trying to get me on campus to see more of what Minnesota’s football program is all about.”
Mingham is a big, 6’2”, 217 pound back that Minnesota offered. He’s a Rivals250 back with 17 other Power 5 offers.
Josh Henderson is currently unrated but holds offers from Boston College, Maryland, Nebraska, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Toledo, and UCF. He picked up his offer on Signing Day so the Minnesota interest is still relatively new.
TGR quote: "We spoke just recently. I love the staff. Great coaches, and great program! I really wanna form a stronger relationship with them."
WIDE RECEIVER
Williams had a big junior season and recently got bumped up to 5.7 from 5.5. He holds other offers from Illinois, Michigan State, Missouri, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, and more. He tells TGR that while he’s heard from Minnesota a lot before, he hasn’t heard from the Gophers as much recently. Still definitely a name to know.
TIGHT END
TGR quote: “Coach Fleck texts me everyday, but otherwise it’s been quiet.”
Billingsley says he hears from Minnesota everyday. He also holds offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa State, Mississippi, Purdue, and Syracuse. He tells TGR that he hears from Minnesota everyday.
TGR quote: “They’ve been telling me about how great the program is,and what they’re building there is going to be great. They text me everyday. I do plan on getting to Minnesota sometime soon.”
Hickman visited for a game earlier this year with teammate and fellow Gopher target Nick Henrich. He’s heard from Minnesota a long time, but the Gophers have stiff competition as he also holds offers from Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Mississippi, Nebraska, and has interest from Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Benhart of course is the other big in-state target, and he holds other offers from Duke, Iowa State, Michigan, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, UCLA, and Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s confident right now, but Minnesota’s definitely a contender in his recruitment.
Turner is from IMG Academy, so the Gophers have the Dunlap/Faalele/Annexstad connection going for them there. He’s listed Minnesota as his leader in the past and told TGR this week that Minnesota and South Carolina are working the hardest to get him. He also holds offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Missouri.
Minnesota has been recruiting John Olmstead since before he blew up and became a top 60 recruit nationally. He now holds a handful of helmet school offers. The Gophers are definitely involved but I don’t think Minnesota should really be considered a contender unless he decides to visit. Notre Dame feels confident about Olmstead right now.
Guedet was offered on Thursday. His only other offer is from Central Michigan, and he has interest from schools like Iowa, Iowa State, Purdue, and Wisconsin. Guedet also visited Minnesota this past fall.
TGR quote: “I really liked the staff at my visits, and our relationship is only getting better from here. The offer is like a dream come true. Since I was little, I shared the dream with my dad of going to play at a huge schools and be a big time player.”
Henry was offered today.
Keegan I believe got a visit from Callahan on Friday. Michigan’s the team to beat, as he grew up a big Michigan fan and now holds an offer from them. He also 14 Power 5 offers.
Wallace, like Olmstead, has a lot of committable helmet school offers, but Minnesota’s involved with him and thus a name to know. Rodas Johnson is similar. He was thought to be a Notre Dame lean, but the Irish just lost their offensive line coach. Some teams are also recruiting him as a defensive tackle.
Clark was in touch with Mo Linguist and holds offers from Cincinnati, Kansas, Oregon State, Rutgers, and Syracuse.
Justin Osborne holds eight other Power 5 offers and says that TCU and Oklahoma are high on his list. He tells TGR that he’s been hearing from Minnesota recently.
Not going to comment on Austin Williams' situation at the moment.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
TGR quote: “I really like them. I have a good relationship with them because I have been up there so much. I went up there three or four times. I like them a lot. Before the Wisconsin game, the big thing that I did was go into Coach Fleck’s office and talk to him before the game.”
DEFENSIVE END
TGR quote: “I’ve been talking to Coach Warinner a lot, and receiving a lot of mail. They’re trying to get me to visit, and I’m still discussing with my parents when we can make it happen.”
Peterson has been a long-time target that’s visited before. He also has an offer from Iowa State.
TGR quote: “Coach Fleck texts me everyday, and I talk to Coach Paup a lot. I really like them. Coach Paup would be a great coach to play for.”
Newsom has also visited Minnesota for multiple games this fall and HYPRR Hangout. He also has an offer from the homestate Hawkeyes.
TGR quote: “It was good. I had a lot of fun there. It was just doing the same thing in building relationships with their coaches. The visit was good...I’ve stayed in contact with the coaching staff at Minnesota. My relationship with them is good. I've enjoyed my visits on campus and talking with the coaches. I look forward to being back to see the new facility and taking an academic visit."
Soli was teammates with Braelen Oliver and holds seven other Power 5 offers.
Hunt is a more recent offer, and holds other offers from Iowa and Kentucky.
TGR quote: “Minnesota told me that they want to build a relationship with me. I’m interested in Minnesota.”
Berghorst holds other offers from Indiana, Iowa State, and Michigan State.
TGR quote: “I’ve been texting back and forth with their coaches, and then Coach Fleck offered me over the phone and we talked for awhile.”
LINEBACKERS
Lytle has visited Minnesota and has been a major target for PJ Fleck and the Gophers for a while. Fleck visited Lytle on Friday. He also holds offers from ten other Power 5 schools and a handful of Ivies.
Henrich has also been in contact with Minnesota for a while and visited this fall. He holds other offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, and Nebraska.
TGR quote: “I have a really great relationship with the Minnesota staff. Coach Fleck has been up a few times and same with Coach Paup. I have a great relationship with both of them. I have a great relationship with Coach Fleck. We talk or text several times a week. I am interested in a great school with great coaching, and Minnesota as all of that and then some.”
Dixon holds ten other Power 5 offers and Michigan seems to be the team to beat right now, but Minnesota’s remained in contact.
TGR quote: “I have been talking to Minnesota. They invited me out for a Junior Day recently on the 27th. Our relationship is definitely growing. We’re talking more and more each week.”
CORNERBACK
SAFETIES
Washington holds nine other Power 5 offers and had Vanderbilt as his favorite early but has kind of re-booted his recruitment and is considering everyone now. He told TGR that Minnesota was flooding him with mail in January and that Mo Linguist would visit later this month.
ATHLETES
Phillips holds other offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and Wisconsin and tells TGR that Minnesota has been in regular contact with him.
Remember, Minnesota’s planning to take about 20 in the 2019 class.
QUARTERBACK
- Unrated Cole Kramer (Eden Prairie)
- 5.9 four-star, No. 4 dual-threat QB Hank Bachmeier (Murrieta Valley, Calif.)
- 5.8 four-star, No. 7 pro style QB Max Duggan (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
Minnesota will take another quarterback and Hank Bachmeier is of course the big name that everyone knows about. I think Minnesota has probably the best shot of anyone but not necessarily a 50+% chance of getting him. He'll take spring visits and then decide.
TGR quote: “I have family ties there. I think Coach Fleck is in the class of being a top coach in the country. He’s going to be successful. He’s going to be very successful in the next few years. He talks about Minnesota being a sleeping giant, and I definitely see that. I can see the potential in that program and think he’ll turn it around. I was actually talking to (offensive coordinator) Coach Ciarrocca earlier today. I have a great relationship with him. We’ll just talk, talk about anything, great relationship. They just built the [new] facilities there. They’re great facilities as far as some of the best and newest in the nation. I’d have the opportunity to come in and compete right away. From a scheme standpoint, I see myself playing well there as well.”
Max Duggan holds other offers currently from Georgia, Iowa, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Nebraska, UNC, Penn State, and more. He’s really blown up since the Gophers offered a while ago, having cracked the Rivals250 and earning his fourth star and Ohio State offer recently. I don’t think Duggan’s leaning anywhere right now, but Minnesota may be in a tough spot with some of the recent offers.
TGR quote: “Minnesota is great. My relationships are great with Coach Fleck and Coach Ciarrocca. I can talk to them about anything. It doesn’t have to be about football; I can talk to them whenever. If I have any questions they’re super honest with me and I really appreciate that.”
RUNNING BACK
- 5.8 four-star, No. 11 RB Jirehl Brock (Quincy, Ill.)
- 5.8 four-star, No. 13 RB Jaren Mingham (Detroit)
- Unrated Josh Henderson (Princeton, NJ)
TGR quote: “Coach Fleck texts me everyday. I can just tell he’s an upbeat guy. He always sends me a bunch of information about Minnesota, and Coach Burns is a guy that I kind of already knew before the whole recruiting process. I go to church with his mom, so I know him on a different level than just the recruiting level. They’ve just been trying to get me on campus to see more of what Minnesota’s football program is all about.”
Mingham is a big, 6’2”, 217 pound back that Minnesota offered. He’s a Rivals250 back with 17 other Power 5 offers.
Josh Henderson is currently unrated but holds offers from Boston College, Maryland, Nebraska, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Toledo, and UCF. He picked up his offer on Signing Day so the Minnesota interest is still relatively new.
TGR quote: "We spoke just recently. I love the staff. Great coaches, and great program! I really wanna form a stronger relationship with them."
WIDE RECEIVER
- 5.9 four-star, No. 17 WR Marcus Washington (St. Louis)
- 5.7 three-star, No. 50 WR Jameson Williams (St. Louis)
- 5.6 three-star Genson Hooper-Price (Houston)
Williams had a big junior season and recently got bumped up to 5.7 from 5.5. He holds other offers from Illinois, Michigan State, Missouri, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, and more. He tells TGR that while he’s heard from Minnesota a lot before, he hasn’t heard from the Gophers as much recently. Still definitely a name to know.
TIGHT END
- 5.8 four-star, No. 6 TE Hayden Rucci (Lititz, Pa.)
- 5.6 three-star, No. 12 TE Jahleel Billingsley (Chicago)
- 5.6 three-star, No. 14 TE Chris Hickman (Omaha)
TGR quote: “Coach Fleck texts me everyday, but otherwise it’s been quiet.”
Billingsley says he hears from Minnesota everyday. He also holds offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa State, Mississippi, Purdue, and Syracuse. He tells TGR that he hears from Minnesota everyday.
TGR quote: “They’ve been telling me about how great the program is,and what they’re building there is going to be great. They text me everyday. I do plan on getting to Minnesota sometime soon.”
Hickman visited for a game earlier this year with teammate and fellow Gopher target Nick Henrich. He’s heard from Minnesota a long time, but the Gophers have stiff competition as he also holds offers from Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Mississippi, Nebraska, and has interest from Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
OFFENSIVE LINE
- 6.0 four-star, No. 5 tackle Quinn Carroll (Edina)
- 5.7 three-star, No. 32 tackle Bryce Benhart (Lakeville)
- 5.7 three-star, No. 30 tackle Charles Turner (Bradenton, Fla.)
- 5.9 four-star, No. 9 tackle John Olmstead (Metuchen, NJ)
- Unrated tackle Austin Williams (Tifton, Ga.)
- 5.8 four-star, No. 18 tackle Trevor Keegan (Crystal Lake, Ill.)
- 5.9 four-star, No. 2 guard Caedan Wallace (Princeton, NJ)
- 5.8 four-star, No. 8 guard Rodas Johnson (Columbus)
- Unrated JJ Guedet (Washington, Ill.)
- 5.6 three-star guard Ira Henry (St. Louis)
- 5.5 three-star Jakai Clark (Loganville, Ga.)
- 5.7 three-star Justin Osborne (Flower Mound, Texas)
Benhart of course is the other big in-state target, and he holds other offers from Duke, Iowa State, Michigan, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, UCLA, and Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s confident right now, but Minnesota’s definitely a contender in his recruitment.
Turner is from IMG Academy, so the Gophers have the Dunlap/Faalele/Annexstad connection going for them there. He’s listed Minnesota as his leader in the past and told TGR this week that Minnesota and South Carolina are working the hardest to get him. He also holds offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Missouri.
Minnesota has been recruiting John Olmstead since before he blew up and became a top 60 recruit nationally. He now holds a handful of helmet school offers. The Gophers are definitely involved but I don’t think Minnesota should really be considered a contender unless he decides to visit. Notre Dame feels confident about Olmstead right now.
Guedet was offered on Thursday. His only other offer is from Central Michigan, and he has interest from schools like Iowa, Iowa State, Purdue, and Wisconsin. Guedet also visited Minnesota this past fall.
TGR quote: “I really liked the staff at my visits, and our relationship is only getting better from here. The offer is like a dream come true. Since I was little, I shared the dream with my dad of going to play at a huge schools and be a big time player.”
Henry was offered today.
Keegan I believe got a visit from Callahan on Friday. Michigan’s the team to beat, as he grew up a big Michigan fan and now holds an offer from them. He also 14 Power 5 offers.
Wallace, like Olmstead, has a lot of committable helmet school offers, but Minnesota’s involved with him and thus a name to know. Rodas Johnson is similar. He was thought to be a Notre Dame lean, but the Irish just lost their offensive line coach. Some teams are also recruiting him as a defensive tackle.
Clark was in touch with Mo Linguist and holds offers from Cincinnati, Kansas, Oregon State, Rutgers, and Syracuse.
Justin Osborne holds eight other Power 5 offers and says that TCU and Oklahoma are high on his list. He tells TGR that he’s been hearing from Minnesota recently.
Not going to comment on Austin Williams' situation at the moment.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
- 5.4 two-star Cooper Beebe (Kansas City, Kan.)
TGR quote: “I really like them. I have a good relationship with them because I have been up there so much. I went up there three or four times. I like them a lot. Before the Wisconsin game, the big thing that I did was go into Coach Fleck’s office and talk to him before the game.”
DEFENSIVE END
- 5.7 three-star Dontay Hunter (Columbus)
- 5.6 three-star Blake Peterson (Beresford, SD)
- 5.5 three-star Mosai Newsom (Waverly, Iowa)
- 5.5 three-star Mataio Soli (Eouglasville, Ga.)
- 5.6 three-star Jalen Hunt (Belleville, Mich.)
- Unrated Adam Berghorst (Zee;and, Mich.)
TGR quote: “I’ve been talking to Coach Warinner a lot, and receiving a lot of mail. They’re trying to get me to visit, and I’m still discussing with my parents when we can make it happen.”
Peterson has been a long-time target that’s visited before. He also has an offer from Iowa State.
TGR quote: “Coach Fleck texts me everyday, and I talk to Coach Paup a lot. I really like them. Coach Paup would be a great coach to play for.”
Newsom has also visited Minnesota for multiple games this fall and HYPRR Hangout. He also has an offer from the homestate Hawkeyes.
TGR quote: “It was good. I had a lot of fun there. It was just doing the same thing in building relationships with their coaches. The visit was good...I’ve stayed in contact with the coaching staff at Minnesota. My relationship with them is good. I've enjoyed my visits on campus and talking with the coaches. I look forward to being back to see the new facility and taking an academic visit."
Soli was teammates with Braelen Oliver and holds seven other Power 5 offers.
Hunt is a more recent offer, and holds other offers from Iowa and Kentucky.
TGR quote: “Minnesota told me that they want to build a relationship with me. I’m interested in Minnesota.”
Berghorst holds other offers from Indiana, Iowa State, and Michigan State.
TGR quote: “I’ve been texting back and forth with their coaches, and then Coach Fleck offered me over the phone and we talked for awhile.”
LINEBACKERS
- 5.7 three-star, No. 22 OLB Spencer Lytle (Anaheim)
- 5.5 three-star Nick Henrich (Omaha)
- 5.7 three-star, No. 21 OLB Lance Dixon (West Bloomfield, Mich.)
Lytle has visited Minnesota and has been a major target for PJ Fleck and the Gophers for a while. Fleck visited Lytle on Friday. He also holds offers from ten other Power 5 schools and a handful of Ivies.
Henrich has also been in contact with Minnesota for a while and visited this fall. He holds other offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, and Nebraska.
TGR quote: “I have a really great relationship with the Minnesota staff. Coach Fleck has been up a few times and same with Coach Paup. I have a great relationship with both of them. I have a great relationship with Coach Fleck. We talk or text several times a week. I am interested in a great school with great coaching, and Minnesota as all of that and then some.”
Dixon holds ten other Power 5 offers and Michigan seems to be the team to beat right now, but Minnesota’s remained in contact.
TGR quote: “I have been talking to Minnesota. They invited me out for a Junior Day recently on the 27th. Our relationship is definitely growing. We’re talking more and more each week.”
CORNERBACK
- 5.8 four-star, No. 16 CB Nyquee Hawkins (Orange, NJ)
SAFETIES
- 5.7 three-star, No. 27 safety Sebastian Castro (Oak Lawn, Ill.)
- 5.6 three-star Malik Washington (Lilburn, Ga.)
Washington holds nine other Power 5 offers and had Vanderbilt as his favorite early but has kind of re-booted his recruitment and is considering everyone now. He told TGR that Minnesota was flooding him with mail in January and that Mo Linguist would visit later this month.
ATHLETES
- Unrated Jason Williamson (Owatonna)
- 5.7 three-star, No. 44 WR Cam Phillips (Westerville, Ohio)
Phillips holds other offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and Wisconsin and tells TGR that Minnesota has been in regular contact with him.
