(Minneapolis, MN) — The Golden Gopher football team should have around 31 scholarship players signed by the end of the day today as part of National Signing Day. Minnesota’s class is ranked in the nation’s Top 30 by most recruiting services and is highlighted by three top in-state recuirts, including tight end Roman Voss from Jackson County Central, offensive lineman Andrew Trout of Cold Spring and defensive lineman Howie Johnson of Forest Lake. The class also includes two quarterbacks with Brady Palmer from San Diego and Owen Lansu of Downer’s Grove, Illinois.
Golden Gopher head coach PJ Fleck joined MNN sports director Mike Grimm to discuss the class:
PJ Fleck (all photos courtesy of Gopher Sports)
The class consists of 13 defensive players and 18 offensive players and spans eight position groups.
On defense, the Gophers added five defensive linemen, two linebackers and six defensive backs. On offense, Minnesota signed five offensive linemen, five wide receivers, three running backs, three tight ends and two quarterbacks.
The Gophers added three players from Minnesota and four each from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Minnesota signed two players from Arizona, Georgia, Missouri and Texas and one each from Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee and Washington.
Minnesota’s National Signing Day Class (Student Name, Hometown / High School):
Offensive Line
Aaron Thomas, Phoenix, Ariz. / Mountain Pointe
Andrew Trout, Cold Spring, Minn. / Rocori
Beckett Schreiber, Madison, Wis. / Madison Memorial
Gavin Meier, Janesville, Wis. / Janesville Parker
Lucas Tielsch, Copley, Ohio / Copley
Quarterback
Brady Palmer, San Diego, Calif. / Cathedral Catholic
Owen Lansu, Downers Grove, Ill. / Downers Grove North
Running Back
Niko Castillo, Schuylkill Haven, Pa. / Schuylkill Haven Area
Ryan Estrada, El Paso, Texas / El Dorado
Ezekiel “Zeke” Bates, Haverford, Pa / Malvern Prep
Tight End
Gabe Weaver, St. Louis, Mo. / MICDS
George Rohl, Ellsworth, Wis. / Ellsworth
Roman Voss, Lakefield, Minn. / Jackson County Central
Wide Receiver
Braiden Stevens, Platte City, Mo. / Platte County
Hayden Moore, Gainesville, Fla. / Newberry
Josiah Dozier, Moody, Ala. / Moody
Quayd Hendryx, Burlington Township, N.J. / Winslow Township
Rico Blassingame, Auburn, Wash. / Tolleson Union
Defensive Line
Aaden Aytch, Lafayette, Ind. / Jefferson
Anthony Charles, Pittsburgh, Pa. / South Fayette
Howie Johnson, Forest Lake, Minn. / Forest Lake
Jeremiah Benson, Detroit, Mich. / West Bloomfield
Josiah Anyansi, Atlanta, Ga. / Murrieta Valley
Linebacker
Angel Luciano, Steelton Pa. / Steelton-Highspire
Hudson Dunn, Peoria, Ariz. / Liberty
Defensive Back
Chance Payne, Jefferson, Ga. / Jefferson
Jordan Lampkins, Germantown, Md. / Bolingbrook
Justin Hopkins, Nashville, Tenn. / Ensworth
Lamont “Doodie” Hamilton, Racine, Wis. / St. Catherine’s
Tavian White, Waukee, Iowa / Waukee
Trason Richardson, Houston, Texas / Almeta Crawford
(some info courtesy of Gopher Sports)
