QB
Commits: Neil McLaurin, Tanner Morgan, and Reyondous Estes
Minnesota is full at quarterback.
RB
Commits: Mohamed Ibrahim and Dominik London
Right now, Toledo Central Catholic three-star Michael Warren is the top option at running back, and Stockbridge (Ga.) three-star Jalen Holston is the backup plan, although that's not to say they'll for sure get Holston. Warren just decommitted from Toledo. He has a child and it's important he stays near home, which is why he was originally committed to Toledo. He just visited Cincinnati this weekend, which is of course closer to home. Minnesota thinks they can get him, though. I'm told that he really wants to play Power 5 football though, too, so this will be interesting. Holston is a Virginia Tech commit. Both will visit this weekend.
I don't think Caleb Huntley is really much of a target anymore as the Gophers shouldn't have an issue getting to 28. However, Huntley has heard from Fleck, so if the Gophers for some reason end up both missing on Warren and Holston plus have room in the class (doubtful), then I would think Huntley will be in play.
WR
Commits: Demetrius Douglas, Harry Van Dyne, Christopher Bell
Shawnee mission (Kan.) Bishop MIege three-star and Missouri commit Jafar Armstrong visited this weekend, and Notre Dame is hoping he'll visit this weekend. He'll have Missouri, Minnesota, and Notre Dame all in for official visits on Wednesday. It came as a big surprise to Missouri that he visited, and I think that side has some confidence he'll stay a Tiger. There's confidence here that Armstrong will be a Gopher. We shall see. Notre Dame has playing time to sell, so I wouldn't count them out either.
East St. Louis (Ill.) four-star Jeff Thomas, the No. 8 receiver in the country, is best friends with Rey Estes. Minnesota has made their calls and pushed hard for Thomas, but last I heard the staff doesn't expect anything to come of it. Estes and the staff will obviously make a big push to get him on campus this weekend.
Iowa City West four-star Oliver Martin, Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage three-star Pitt commit Dontavious Butler, and Fort Wayne (Ind.) Snider three-star Penn State commit Mac Hippenhammer have all heard from Minnesota but I'm not expecting anything to come of it, especially Martin and Hippenhammer. I could see Minnesota pushing hard for Butler to take an official this weekend if Armstrong visits Notre Dame this weekend (which is likely) and Thomas doesn't visit Minnesota (also likely).
TE
Commits: Jake Paulson, Nate Umlor, Nate Bursch
Minnesota is done at tight end. Paulson is a do-it-all tight end, that honestly I really like at defensive end too. Umlor and Bursch are more of the blocking type. Both of them have position flexibility too, but I think Umlor would be more likely to move.
OT
Commits: Blaise Andries, Eric Abojei, Kyle Sassack
Massillon (Ohio) Washington three-star Thayer Munford is the big target here, although I'm told out of Ohio that he's an Ohio State lock. Not expecting anything to come of the recent offer to UCLA commit Jaxson Kirkland.
OG/Interior Line
Commits: John Michael Schmitz
DE
Commits: Esezi Otomewo
Hopkins two-star Boye Mafe is obviously the big target here. I'll maintain that Minnesota is the leader as I've said for months, but honestly nothing would surprise me with Mafe anymore. I think at times he's been unsure of what he wants and that's led him to saying things and not following through with them. He likes Fleck more than Claeys, and has said that he'd like to stay near home and would take pride in being a Gopher, even though his actions indicate he's itching to get away.
DT
Commits: Tyrone Chambers, Joshua Croslen, Noah Hickcox
Paramus (N.J.) three-star Corey Bolds picked up an offer from Fleck tonight and has elected to visit Minnesota this weekend over Ole Miss. I'll reach out to people tomorrow to figure out who the other players are in Bolds' recruitment, but I would assume Rutgers, where he visited this past weekend, is also being considered. Again, I haven't had any conversations about Bolds yet, but if he's cancelling his Ole Miss visit and only recent visit was Rutgers, that bodes well for Minnesota.
Madison (Fla.) two-star USF commit Kelvin Kegler visited this weekend and has a committable offer. I think that he genuinely liked his Minnesota visit more than USF, but he's been a little too hesitant to back off his USF commitment. I've also been told of signs that he isn't even that interested in Minnesota. So, we'll see.
Peoria (Ill.) three-star Illinois commit Kendrick Green, a target since the beginning under Claeys, has continued to hear from PJ Fleck's staff. Newer names are McKeesport (Pa.) two-star Syracuse commit Curtis Harper and Akron (Ohio) Hoban defensive tackle Jabari Taylor. Either could visit if Minnesota doesn't think they'll get Bolds. I don't believe the Gophers would take five DTs this class.
LB
Commits: Trenton Guthrie
Muskegon (Mich.) three-star Nebraska commit Andrew Ward has heard from Minnesota recently, and I would assume the Gophers are pushing for a visit.
With so much young talent at linebacker, this isn't really a huge position of need.
CB
Commits: Trey Creamer
As you all know, Iowa is a player for Creamer after visiting this past weekend. Rutgers has also had some contact with him. Creamer is reportedly still solid to Minnesota, but it wouldn't be the first time he's told Minnesota what they want to hear before. I hope to have a mid-week update on Creamer that paints a better picture on Creamer. I would assume he's heard from Sawvel at Wake Forest but can't confirm that. The last I heard from Creamer was a day and a half after Sawvel took the job, and Creamer still hadn't heard from him.
There's a chance Richmond (Texas) George Ranch three-star Samuel Barnes visits this weekend. He has a top six of Baylor, Colorado, Kansas State, Minnesota, Oregon, and UTSA. He visited Colorado in early December, Kansas State last weekend, and UTSA the weekend before.
Minnesota's also had contact with North Carolina commit CJ Cotman of Clearwater (Fla.), but he won't be visiting this weekend and is firm to North Carolina.
While Douglas was committed by Fleck's staff as a receiver, there's a chance he could also end up as a DB.
S
Commits: Adam Beck and Kendarian Handy-Holly
I don't think there are any serious safety targets at this time. Recent offer Evan Fields just created a final list that didn't include Minnesota.
K
Commits: Grant Ryerse
The Gophers currently have 24 and will likely sign 28.
How do I see the class ending? I think they're aiming right now for:
Commits: Neil McLaurin, Tanner Morgan, and Reyondous Estes
Minnesota is full at quarterback.
RB
Commits: Mohamed Ibrahim and Dominik London
Right now, Toledo Central Catholic three-star Michael Warren is the top option at running back, and Stockbridge (Ga.) three-star Jalen Holston is the backup plan, although that's not to say they'll for sure get Holston. Warren just decommitted from Toledo. He has a child and it's important he stays near home, which is why he was originally committed to Toledo. He just visited Cincinnati this weekend, which is of course closer to home. Minnesota thinks they can get him, though. I'm told that he really wants to play Power 5 football though, too, so this will be interesting. Holston is a Virginia Tech commit. Both will visit this weekend.
I don't think Caleb Huntley is really much of a target anymore as the Gophers shouldn't have an issue getting to 28. However, Huntley has heard from Fleck, so if the Gophers for some reason end up both missing on Warren and Holston plus have room in the class (doubtful), then I would think Huntley will be in play.
WR
Commits: Demetrius Douglas, Harry Van Dyne, Christopher Bell
Shawnee mission (Kan.) Bishop MIege three-star and Missouri commit Jafar Armstrong visited this weekend, and Notre Dame is hoping he'll visit this weekend. He'll have Missouri, Minnesota, and Notre Dame all in for official visits on Wednesday. It came as a big surprise to Missouri that he visited, and I think that side has some confidence he'll stay a Tiger. There's confidence here that Armstrong will be a Gopher. We shall see. Notre Dame has playing time to sell, so I wouldn't count them out either.
East St. Louis (Ill.) four-star Jeff Thomas, the No. 8 receiver in the country, is best friends with Rey Estes. Minnesota has made their calls and pushed hard for Thomas, but last I heard the staff doesn't expect anything to come of it. Estes and the staff will obviously make a big push to get him on campus this weekend.
Iowa City West four-star Oliver Martin, Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage three-star Pitt commit Dontavious Butler, and Fort Wayne (Ind.) Snider three-star Penn State commit Mac Hippenhammer have all heard from Minnesota but I'm not expecting anything to come of it, especially Martin and Hippenhammer. I could see Minnesota pushing hard for Butler to take an official this weekend if Armstrong visits Notre Dame this weekend (which is likely) and Thomas doesn't visit Minnesota (also likely).
TE
Commits: Jake Paulson, Nate Umlor, Nate Bursch
Minnesota is done at tight end. Paulson is a do-it-all tight end, that honestly I really like at defensive end too. Umlor and Bursch are more of the blocking type. Both of them have position flexibility too, but I think Umlor would be more likely to move.
OT
Commits: Blaise Andries, Eric Abojei, Kyle Sassack
Massillon (Ohio) Washington three-star Thayer Munford is the big target here, although I'm told out of Ohio that he's an Ohio State lock. Not expecting anything to come of the recent offer to UCLA commit Jaxson Kirkland.
OG/Interior Line
Commits: John Michael Schmitz
DE
Commits: Esezi Otomewo
Hopkins two-star Boye Mafe is obviously the big target here. I'll maintain that Minnesota is the leader as I've said for months, but honestly nothing would surprise me with Mafe anymore. I think at times he's been unsure of what he wants and that's led him to saying things and not following through with them. He likes Fleck more than Claeys, and has said that he'd like to stay near home and would take pride in being a Gopher, even though his actions indicate he's itching to get away.
DT
Commits: Tyrone Chambers, Joshua Croslen, Noah Hickcox
Paramus (N.J.) three-star Corey Bolds picked up an offer from Fleck tonight and has elected to visit Minnesota this weekend over Ole Miss. I'll reach out to people tomorrow to figure out who the other players are in Bolds' recruitment, but I would assume Rutgers, where he visited this past weekend, is also being considered. Again, I haven't had any conversations about Bolds yet, but if he's cancelling his Ole Miss visit and only recent visit was Rutgers, that bodes well for Minnesota.
Madison (Fla.) two-star USF commit Kelvin Kegler visited this weekend and has a committable offer. I think that he genuinely liked his Minnesota visit more than USF, but he's been a little too hesitant to back off his USF commitment. I've also been told of signs that he isn't even that interested in Minnesota. So, we'll see.
Peoria (Ill.) three-star Illinois commit Kendrick Green, a target since the beginning under Claeys, has continued to hear from PJ Fleck's staff. Newer names are McKeesport (Pa.) two-star Syracuse commit Curtis Harper and Akron (Ohio) Hoban defensive tackle Jabari Taylor. Either could visit if Minnesota doesn't think they'll get Bolds. I don't believe the Gophers would take five DTs this class.
LB
Commits: Trenton Guthrie
Muskegon (Mich.) three-star Nebraska commit Andrew Ward has heard from Minnesota recently, and I would assume the Gophers are pushing for a visit.
With so much young talent at linebacker, this isn't really a huge position of need.
CB
Commits: Trey Creamer
As you all know, Iowa is a player for Creamer after visiting this past weekend. Rutgers has also had some contact with him. Creamer is reportedly still solid to Minnesota, but it wouldn't be the first time he's told Minnesota what they want to hear before. I hope to have a mid-week update on Creamer that paints a better picture on Creamer. I would assume he's heard from Sawvel at Wake Forest but can't confirm that. The last I heard from Creamer was a day and a half after Sawvel took the job, and Creamer still hadn't heard from him.
There's a chance Richmond (Texas) George Ranch three-star Samuel Barnes visits this weekend. He has a top six of Baylor, Colorado, Kansas State, Minnesota, Oregon, and UTSA. He visited Colorado in early December, Kansas State last weekend, and UTSA the weekend before.
Minnesota's also had contact with North Carolina commit CJ Cotman of Clearwater (Fla.), but he won't be visiting this weekend and is firm to North Carolina.
While Douglas was committed by Fleck's staff as a receiver, there's a chance he could also end up as a DB.
S
Commits: Adam Beck and Kendarian Handy-Holly
I don't think there are any serious safety targets at this time. Recent offer Evan Fields just created a final list that didn't include Minnesota.
K
Commits: Grant Ryerse
The Gophers currently have 24 and will likely sign 28.
How do I see the class ending? I think they're aiming right now for:
- One running back with Warren definitely being most likely (however, he's not a lock by any means)
- One wide receiver
- Boye Mafe
- One defensive tackle and I'm confident they'll be able to get one of the recruits listed above
- One cornerback
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