The second of three Hutchinson Community College players has left the Gophers 2026 recruiting class.

Safety Michael “MJ Graham said late Tuesday that he will de-commit from the U class for next year. He pledged to the U after a visit earlier this month. Graham, of Oklahoma City, joined fellow Hutchinson (Kan.) player, receiver Derrick Salley, in backing away from the U. Salley made his decision public earlier Tuesday.

“After a thoughtful conversation with my family I will be de-committing for the University of Minnesota,” Graham wrote on X. “I like to thank all the coaches and staff there, and I appreciate them for believing in me and giving me a opportunity!”

Meanwhile, Hutchinson defensive tackle KJ Henson is still in the Gophers’ class on Wednesday morning.

Graham, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, is considered a three-star recruit, per 247Sports.

Related Articles

Gophers football: Top JUCO receiver Derrick Salley de-commits from the U

Gophers football: Awkward situation looms for P.J. Fleck

Gophers football: Texas Longhorns nab another U pledge

Badgers riding high, Gophers low going into Axe game

Gophers add speedy receiver Quayd Hendryx to 2026 class

By JILL LAWLESS and SAM McNEIL, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — The Russia-Ukraine war has seen almost four years of failed peace plans, blueprints and high-level summits. A new U.S. push to end the fighting has set off the latest flurry of diplomacy, with American, European, Russian and Ukrainian officials all trying to shape the outcome of Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.

Tilted heavily toward Russia’s aims, the U.S.-backed proposal presented to Ukraine last week set off alarm bells in Kyiv and other European capitals. Ukraine and its allies offered a set of counterproposals that revamped the plan’s points. Ukrainian and European leaders expressed optimism about the talks’ momentum, but awaited responses from Washington and Moscow that are crucial.

“I think we’re getting very close to a deal,” U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday. He said the proposals had been “fine-tuned” and announced he was sending his envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next week.

A contentious peace plan

Based on talks between Washington and Moscow, the 28-point plan presented to Ukraine calls on it to cede its entire eastern region of the Donbas to Russia, which invaded its smaller neighbor in February 2022. The plan would put a 600,000-person limit on Ukraine’s military and bar Ukraine or any other new member from NATO. It also would rule out NATO troops in Ukraine and does not commit the U.S. or European nations to Ukraine’s defense if Russia attacks again.

Russia would commit to no more attacks on Ukraine, facing sanctions if it violates that pledge.

Related Articles

Report: US envoy coached Putin aide on how Russian leader should pitch Trump on Ukraine peace plan

Federal judge says immigration officers in Colorado can only arrest those at risk of fleeing

Lawsuit challenges arrests of people showing up to ICE check-ins in San Diego

Judge sets $60K bond for Florida congresswoman accused of stealing $5M in COVID-19 funds

FACT FOCUS: Trump gets it wrong claiming no murders in DC for the last six months

Ukraine and its European allies said the plan rewards Russian aggression and scrambled to offer counterproposals aimed at shifting the balance toward Ukraine, such as lifting the cap on Ukraine’s military power, leaving open the question of future NATO membership and postponing discussions of territorial concessions until after a ceasefire.

U.S. and Ukrainian officials met Sunday in Geneva, with both sides calling the talks constructive and promising to produce a revised peace plan.

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met Russian and Ukrainian officials in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, but Putin’s foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, said the new peace plan was not discussed in detail. He said that while Moscow had seen a copy of the proposals, it had yet to receive the document through official channels.

The fragility of the process was underscored by a leaked transcript of a call in which Witkoff appeared to coach Ushakov on how to win Trump’s support for a peace plan. Moscow denied leaking the conversation, details of which were first published by Bloomberg News.

The White House did not dispute the veracity of the transcript, and Trump described Witkoff’s reported approach to the Russians in the call as “standard” negotiating procedure.

Ukrainian officials said they hoped President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would travel to the U.S within days to meet Trump, while the U.S. president said he could eventually meet both Zelenskyy and Putin, but not until more progress has been made.

Bolstering Ukraine’s security

Amid worries in Europe that it is being sidelined in peace plans, allies of Ukraine who have pledged to underwrite and guarantee any ceasefire — the 35-nation Coalition of the Willing — held a video conference Tuesday attended by Zelenskyy and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

About 20 countries in the coalition have agreed to join a post-ceasefire “reassurance force” for Ukraine. The plan foresees European allies training Ukrainian troops and providing sea and air support, but relies on U.S. military muscle as a security guarantee.

Trump has not explicitly committed to providing that backup, but the leaders of Britain, France and Germany said after Tuesday’s meeting that attendees had agreed with Rubio “to accelerate joint work with the United States to take forward the planning on security guarantees.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, attends a video conference of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Teresa Saurez, Pool Photo via AP)

War-weariness could aid peace efforts

The latest push for peace comes as Ukrainians are exhausted after almost four years of war, with the country’s cities and energy infrastructure pummeled by Russian missiles and drones.

People watch as emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Dan Bashakov)

Both Russia and Ukraine have suffered hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded, and along the front line Russia is making slow gains and at huge human cost.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said sanctions on Russian oil and gas were starting to bite, putting Moscow under pressure.

“They want us to believe they can continue forever. This is not true,” she said.

There are also domestic troubles for Zelenskyy, dealing with a corruption scandal in his administration — and for Trump, facing rifts within his MAGA movement.

A residential building is seen heavily damaged after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Jim Townsend, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said the Russians likely perceive Trump as impatient and unfocused, and will deploy delay tactics to avoid concessions.

“This could just be a real mess. The Russians don’t feel any pressure. They think they’re going to win if they hold out long enough. The pressure’s all on Zelenskyy,” he said.

McNeil reported from Brussels.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s chief interlocutor with the Russian government last month advised a senior aide to Vladimir Putin on how the Russian leader should go about pitching the U.S. president on a peace plan aimed at bringing an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to a transcript of the call published by Bloomberg News on Tuesday.

Related Articles

Federal judge says immigration officers in Colorado can only arrest those at risk of fleeing

Lawsuit challenges arrests of people showing up to ICE check-ins in San Diego

Judge sets $60K bond for Florida congresswoman accused of stealing $5M in COVID-19 funds

FACT FOCUS: Trump gets it wrong claiming no murders in DC for the last six months

Judge gives Justice Department a day to detail Ghislaine Maxwell trial materials to be released

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, according to a transcript of the Oct. 14 call published by the news service, advised Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov that Putin should call Trump to congratulate him for the Gaza peace deal, say Russia had supported it and that he respects the president as a man of peace.

“From that, it’s going to be a really good call,” Witkoff said according to the transcript.

When asked by Russian state media to comment on Bloomberg’s report, Ushakov did not question the recordings’ authenticity but said that they had not been leaked by Moscow. He also said that the calls had likely been leaked to “hinder” U.S.-Russia ties. “It’s unlikely this is being done to improve relations,” he said.

Ushakov also said that he spoke with Witkoff by phone “quite often” but refused to discuss the content of the recording. “The essence of these conversations is that they are confidential. I won’t comment. No one should comment.”

The Bloomberg report came as Trump on Tuesday said a proposal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine has been “fine-tuned” and announced he’s sending Witkoff to meet with Putin.

The White House did not dispute the veracity of the transcript, and Trump described Witkoff’s reported approach to the Russians in the call as “standard” negotiating procedure.

“He’s got to sell this to Ukraine. He’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew to his home in Florida on Tuesday night. “That’s what a dealmaker does.”

But U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who has been critical of Trump’s approach to Ukraine, said the transcript showed Witkoff favors the Russians. “He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired,” Bacon said on social media.

Bloomberg said it reviewed a recording of the call, but did not say how it obtained access to the recording. The Associated Press has not independently verified the transcript.

The Witkoff-Ushakov call happened a day after Trump made a triumphant visit to Israel and Egypt to celebrate sealing the Gaza ceasefire.

“Here’s what I think would be amazing,” Witkoff said to his counterpart during the call, according to Bloomberg. “Maybe he says to President Trump: you know, Steve and Yuri discussed a very similar 20-point plan to peace and that could be something that we think might move the needle a little bit, we’re open to those sorts of things.”

Witkoff also suggested setting up a Trump-Putin call before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s White House visit later that week and suggested that Putin congratulate Trump on the Gaza agreement as an entry point into the call. Ushakov agreed that Putin “will congratulate” and will say “Mr. Trump is a real peace man.”

Trump and Putin ended up speaking to each other a day before the U.S. president held White House talks with Zelenskyy. Shortly after that meeting with Zelenskyy on Oct. 17, Trump said that Ukraine and Russia should “stop where they are” on the battlefield — meaning Ukraine should concede territory Russia had seized from its neighbor.

On Oct. 29, Ushakov spoke by phone with Kirill Dmitriev — a close adviser to Putin on Ukraine — and debated how strongly Moscow should push for its demands in a prospective peace proposal, according to another recording reviewed by Bloomberg.

“I’ll informally pass it along, making it clear that it’s all informal. And let them do like their own,” Dmitriev told Ushakov in the back and forth. “But, I don’t think they’ll take exactly our version, but at least it’ll be as close to it as possible.

The exchange happened soon after Dmitriev had traveled to Florida for talks with Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and informal adviser, that centered on creating the framework for a 28-point peace plan.

The original plan, which became public last week, appeared heavily skewed toward Russian demands and included calls for Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas region to Russia and dramatically reduce the size of its military. It also included an agreement from Europe that Ukraine will never be allowed to join the NATO military alliance.

“This story proves one thing: Special Envoy Witkoff talks to officials in both Russia and Ukraine nearly every day to achieve peace, which is exactly what President Trump appointed him to do,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Dmitriev said in a social media post that the transcript was “Fake” and said in a second post: “The closer we get to peace, the more desperate warmongers become.” The Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted the proposal was authored by the United States, with input from both the Russians and Ukrainians, in response to bipartisan pushback in Washington that the leaked plan amounted to a Russian wish list. The State Department declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.

On Tuesday, Trump said he was sending Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Ukrainian officials as Witkoff meets with Putin. Trump also suggested he could eventually meet with Putin and Zelenskyy, but not until further progress has been made in negotiations.

The next two weeks might be the most important in the fantasy football season. Not only are they the final contests of the regular season, but they’re also your last chance to bulk up your roster for the playoffs in Weeks 15, 16 and 17.

The NFL’s matchups in those weeks are critical. Who your standouts are facing can have as much to do with your success, or lack thereof, as those players’ résumés.

The Vikings, for example, have a rather favorable trio of games against the Cowboys, Giants and Lions. But their quarterback issues could make those defenses look impregnable.

Next week, we’ll look at the stars who are looking at a rocky road the last three weekends of December. But today, we’ll list 10 fellows who could have especially smooth sailing:

Jonathan Taylor (Colts RB): NFL rushing leader needs to average 134 yards over final six games to top 2,000. He’ll average more than that against the Seahawks, Niners and Jaguars.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) celebrates the team’s win against the Tennessee Titans after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

De’Von Achane (Dolphins RB): He has a shot to surpass 2,000 total yards, and that effort will be boosted with games against Steelers, Bengals and Buccaneers.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 08: De’Von Achane #28 of the Miami Dolphins runs the ball against the New York Giants during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

TreVeon Henderson (Patriots RB): The hottest rookie runner from The Ohio State University won’t be cooling off when he faces the Bills, Ravens and Jets.

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson carries the ball for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers WR): This year’s top rookie receiver will face three supple pass defenses in the Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (9) signals during a pre-season NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)

A.J. Brown (Eagles WR): The malcontent receiver seems happier now, and with the Raiders, Commanders and Bills ahead, his fantasy backers will be happier still.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) scores a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) defends during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Trey McBride (Cardinals TE): He’s the league’s No. 1 tight end for a now-pass-happy Arizona offense. It will be bombs away against the Texans, Falcons and Bengals.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride takes part in drills at the NFL football team’s practice facility, Monday, May 23, 2022, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

George Kittle (49ers TE): He’s again the Niners’ top receiving threat. And the Titans, Colts and Bears defenses are not very threatening.

George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers dives for the pylon after a catch and run during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 27, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Joe Burrow (Bengals QB): He’ll be back this week and looking to pad his stats in a lost season. The Ravens, Dolphins and Cardinals defenses will help him.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, bottom, goes down with a season-ruining turf toe injury as he is sacked by Jacksonville’s Arik Armstead during last Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Jayden Daniels (Commanders QB): Last year’s rookie of the year should be back just in time to face three NFC East rivals: Giants, Eagles and Cowboys.

Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders looks to pass during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Oct. 19, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins QB): He has fooled us many times before, but the Steelers, Bengals and Bucs have pass defenses Miami can exploit.

Tua Tagovailoa #1 and Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins celebrate after Tagovailoa’s touchdown in the third quarter of a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium on Nov. 17, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Sitting stars

Seems hard to believe, but you MIGHT want to keep both Vikings WR Justin Jefferson and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson on the bench this week. Unless you have no better options. … Neither Vikings RB, Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason, will do much against Seattle defense. … Most overrated player in NFL? Could be Lions WR Jameson Williams, who might get another goose egg against Green Bay. … Just a hunch, but Lions may get revenge on Packers QB Jordan Love for his great game in the opener. … San Fran QB Brock Purdy looked bad at times Monday night, and he’ll look worse with Cleveland’s Myles Garrett breathing down his neck.

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) tackles Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) in the fourth quarter of an NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. The Ravens beat the Vikings, 27-19. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Matchup game

New England WR Stefon Diggs has run a bit hot and cold this season, but he’ll be on point Monday night against the Giants. … Dallas will need to run the ball to upset Kansas City on Turkey Day, so Javonte Williams could have a big day. … A no-name RB who could find paydirt this week: Saints backup Devin Neal. … Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews’ revival will accelerate against Cincinnati. … We have no idea why Jacoby Brissett is suddenly a mad bomber, but the Cards’ QB will post strong numbers again in Tampa. … And two quarterbacks we expect to feast against bad defenses are Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence versus Tennessee and Denver’s Bo Nix against Washington.

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs during an NFL football practice, Monday, June 9, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Injury watch

All eyes are on Packers RB Josh Jacobs, who sat last week due to a knee injury. Will he return, or will the short week before their Thanksgiving game in Detroit mean another big start for Emamuel Wilson? … As for quarterbacks, the Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers is expected back, but Tampa’s Baker Mayfield and Washington’s Daniels are much iffier. … The list of questionables includes three running backs (Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty, Bucs’ Bucky Irving, Saints’ Alvin Kamara), eight pass catchers (Dallas’ George Pickens, Chiefs’ Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, Cards’ Marvin Harrison Jr., Steelers’ D.K. Metcalf, Jags’ Brian Thomas Jr., Buffalo TE Dalton Kincaid, Lions TE Brock Wright) and two quarterbacks (Giants’ Jaxson Dart, Texans’ C.J. Stroud).

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) runs near Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (29) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Deepest sleeper

Cincinnati WR Andrei Iosivas is back on the radar. He has only 12 catches for 147 yards and one TD over his past three games, but he could be in for big game Thanksgiving night in Baltimore. Tee Higgins is out, and Ja’Marr Chase is dealing with the pressure of trying to avoid spitting at his opponent … again. With Burrow returning, Iosivas could find himself back in the end zone.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – DECEMBER 28: Andrei Iosivas #80 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Thursday/Friday picks

Packers at Lions (-2½)
Pick: Lions by 7

Chiefs at Cowboys (+3½)
Pick: Chiefs by 7

Bengals at Ravens (-7½)
Pick: Ravens by 7

Bears at Eagles (-7½)
Pick: Eagles by 7

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

Related Articles

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 12: Last-minute moves

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 12

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 11: Last-minute moves

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 11

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 10: Last-minute moves