Fleck excited about Gophers’ 2021 Recruiting Class

The University of Minnesota added 19 players to its roster today on national signing day. Head coach P.J. Fleck and his staff signed players from 10 states, as they put together a highly ranked class during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The class consists of eight position groups, nine offensive players and 10 defensive players. On offense, Minnesota signed one quarterback, one running back, one tight end, two offensive linemen and four wide receivers. On defense, the Gophers added three defensive backs, three linebackers and four defensive linemen.

The Gophers added five players from Illinois, three from Minnesota, three from Texas, two from Georgia and one each from Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio and Washington.

The Gophers added multiple 4-star recruits, and have put together rankings-wise the best four-year recruiting stretch in program history.

The Gophers didn’t get a signature from Omaha CB Avante Dickerson, who gave them a verbal commitment in the spring. He is a 4-star recruit and is still thinking over what he wants to do.

The Gophers, KSTP Sports hears, still have a good shot to land Minneapolis North DE Davon Townley, one of the state’s top recruits. He will wait until February to announce his decision.

Quarterback
Athan Kaliakmanis, Antioch, Ill., Antioch High School

Running Back
Mar’Keise Irving, Country Club Hills, Ill., Hillcrest High School

Tight End
Jameson Geers, New Lenox, Ill., Providence Catholic High School

Wide Receiver
Brady Boyd, Southlake, Texas, Southlake Carroll High School
Lemeke Brockington, Moultrie, Ga., Colquitt County High School
Dino Kaliakmanis, Antioch, Ill., Antioch High School
Dylan McGill, Mesquite, Texas, Mesquite High School

Offensive Line
Cameron James, Chicago, Ill., Simeon Career Academy, Offensive Line
Logan Purcell, Annandale, Minn., Annandale High School, Offensive Line

Defensive Back
Darius Green, Covington, Ga., Newton High School
Steven Ortiz Jr., Goodyear, Ariz., Desert Edge High School
Justin Walley, D’Iberville, Miss., D’Iberville High School

Linebacker
Jack Gibbens, Bulverde, Texas, Abilene Christian University / Smithson Valley High School
Eli Mau, Chanhassen, Minn., Chanhassen High School
Devon Williams, Dublin, Ohio, Dublin Coffman High School

Defensive Line
Austin Booker, Greenwood, Ind., Center Grove High School
Deven Eastern, Shakopee, Minn., Shakopee High School
Luther McCoy, Saint Augustine, Fla., Creekside High School
Jacob Schuster, Tumwater, Wash., Tumwater High School