The overall rank of the Gophers football program’s 2026 recruiting class is strong: 24th in the nation, per 247Sports composite ranking as of Tuesday morning.
“A top 25 class, especially in this day and age where there’s all kinds of moving parts, I think is really, really good,” Allen Trieu, an analyst for 247Sports, told the Pioneer Press. “Minnesota is, I know, involved a little bit in NIL, but not really to the level of some of these other schools.
Minnesota Gophers head coach PJ Fleck gives fans the thumbs up after the Gophers’ 31-28 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a NCAA football game at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
“So, I think to be able to recruit without doing that and have a top 25 class just tells you the job that the staff can do. (Head coach) P.J. Fleck always had that ability to recruit. That stands out right away.”
Minnesota’s class has 31 total commits, which is tied for fourth most in the nation, behind Bill Belichick’s rebuilding job at North Carolina (39), West Virginia (35) and the top-ranked overall class, Southern Cal (34). The U is tied with Wake Forest, while Georgia (30) and Miami Hurricanes (29) are next.
When factoring in average ranking per recruit, the Gophers’ class rank dips to 36th in the country.
Here are six takeaways on the Gophers class:
In-state success
The Gophers continue to bring in the best the state of Minnesota has to offer. In 2026, that includes the three of the top four ranked recruits: defensive lineman Howie Johnson of Forest Lake, tight end Roman Voss of Jackson and offensive tackle Andrew Trout of Cold Spring. Those three are among the top five overall prospects in the U’s class for next year.
RELATED: Who’s in the Gopher football top-25 ranked 2026 recruiting class?
“They’ve done a great job of protecting the state the last couple years,” Trieu said. “There’s been high-end kids who have a chance to leave the state of Minnesota.”
The second-ranked recruit in the state, Pierce Petersohn of Dodge Center, wanted to play tight end in college and that position was first promised to Voss. Petersohn then committed to Penn State, but flipped to Virginia Tech after James Franklin changed jobs.
Wins to the east
The Gophers also went into Wisconsin and took its top in-state recruit, offensive tackle Gavin Meier of Janesville, and its third-ranked recruit, athlete Lamont Hamilton of Racine.
“Going over there and winning a couple of recruiting battles and then beating Wisconsin on the field, that’s something that you have to do when you’re at the University of Minnesota,” Trieu said, including the 17-7 win over the Badgers in the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe on Saturday.
The Gophers also got offensive lineman Beckett Schreiber from Madison and tight end George Rohl of Ellsworth.
The Badgers did not gain a commitment from any Minnesota high schooler this cycle. Both schools sought Iowa Central Community College linebacker Taylor Schaefer, and the Badgers got the commitment from the Brussels, Wis. native.
Strength of class
Trieu pegged defensive line as the strongest position in the Gophers’ class. Besides Johnson, the Gophers also got four-star edge Aaden Aytch out of Lafayette, Ind.
“That’s such an important position,” Trieu said. “If you can get guys who can get to the quarterback and create some disruption, you’ve seen the success a couple of years ago. Anthony Smith was this huge recruit for them (in 2022), and you see how much of an impact guys like that can have. To get a class with, I think, several difference makers of that position is hard to do.”
Prospects who got away
The Gophers had seven recruits this cycle back out of their pledges to Minnesota, including two four-star offensive linemen: Daniel McMorris (committed to California) and Mataalii Benjamin (Utah). Receiver Kai Meza also went to Cal.
The Texas Longhorns snagged two commitments away from the U: running back Jett Walker and tight end/linebacker Charlie Jilek.
Kansas State came in and flipped two of Minnesota’s three transfer commits from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College: receiver Derick Salley and safety Michael Graham. But Hutch defensive tackle KJ Henson has stayed with the U.
Sleeper?
Defensive lineman Jeremiah Benson is considered a low three-star recruit, but the 6-foot-3, 265-pound product from West Bloomfield, Mich., might live up to his self-given “Boogeyman” nickname.
“He’s very quick and disruptive,” said Trieu, who is based in Michigan. “And I’ve seen him a couple of times. … I think our staff at 247 does a really good job, but that’s one where I think the ranking could come back and haunt us a little bit. I think he’s better than what the numbers show.”
The Hawkeyes, according to 247Sports, were making a late push to steal Benson away from Minnesota this week.
Two QBs
The Gophers have taken one quarterback in each of the last five classes. This year they are taking two, doubling down on internal development at the all-important position, while knowing it takes a lot of NIL to get a good one out of the transfer portal.
Owen Lansu of Downers Grove, Ill., committed tot Minnesota in July 2024. His senior season was interrupted by injury.
“Staff really liked him and took him early when they could have waited,” Trieu said.
Then this fall, the Gophers pursued additional QBs and got a commitment from Brady Palmer of San Diego last weekend. The three-star recruit left the Cal class after the firing of head coach Justin Wilcox.
“(Palmer has) big production and a lot of arm talent, and had a lot of schools out west looking at him,” Trieu said. “That it’ll be interesting to see how that that plays out.”
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