Ad Disclosure
Early Signing Day primer: What you need to know about Minnesota’s 2023 class
By Shawn Ekwall
Published:
Note: All star ratings and all rankings are based on 247Sports and its composite rankings as of Tuesday morning, Dec. 20, unless otherwise indicated.
* * * * *
PJ Fleck signed a 7-year extension this offseason, putting him under contract until 2029. The Minnesota coach has found a fitting home as coach of the Gophers. It’s a solid fit both ways, and Minnesota has done well under Fleck.
However, Minnesota has yet to qualify to the B1G title game under Fleck. The Gophers have been close, but can’t get over the hump. This past year was as frustrating as they come. Minnesota was in position in October to take command of the West, yet injuries and disappointing performances against Purdue, Illinois and Penn State left the Gophers on the outside looking in.
How can Fleck get over the last hurdle? Recruiting needs to amp up a touch. The Gophers currently have the No. 47 ranked class. More big-time players are needed to get Minnesota to the next level. Fleck and his staff have been working hard to make it happen.
Let’s take a look at where the Gophers stand entering the early signing period this week.
By the numbers
Overall rank: 39th
B1G rank: 8th
5-stars: 0
4-stars: 2
Highest rated player: Darius Taylor, 4-star RB
Taylor, from Walled Lake, Michigan, brings strength, vision and burst to the scene. With star RB Mo Ibrahim heading to the NFL, the Gophers look to replace his production. Taylor is a big pick up and will bring a dual-threat background to Dinkytown.
Taylor is a proven pass catcher out of the backfield. And he’s good at finding running lanes and getting north and south. The perfect fit for Fleck’s power-running offense. He could be a guy who plugs in immediately with Ibrahim’s departure.
Did the Gophers bolster the QB room?
With Athan Kaliakmanis taking over behind center over the latter half of the season, the Gophers have to feel pretty good about the position.
Minnesota did add 3-star QB Drew Viotto from Walled Lake Western HS in the 2023 class. The 6-4, 215-pound pro-style Viotto committed last May and will be a nice addition to the room behind Kaliakmanis.
Best position group: Offensive line
The Gophers continue to bulk up on the offensive line. Four-star commit Jerome Williams from Osseo, MN, leads a group of 4 signees up front. Minnesota loves to run the ball, and adding depth along the offensive line is a great way to continue that trend. Because of a recent ratings adjustment, Williams is now considered the Gophers’ top recruit.
Minnesota also looks to add 3-star prospects Reese Tripp (Kasson, MN), Greg Johnson (Prior Lake, MN) and De’Eric Mister (Gary, IN).
Fleck knows that in order to win in the B1G, a strong, dominant offensive line is necessary. Bolstering that group and providing needed depth has been a priority of the staff this recruiting season.
Biggest need filled: Wide receiver
The Gophers added some quality names to the receiver room. And with the uncertainty of Chris Autman-Bell’s return from injury, that was a much needed.
With the addition of Donielle Hayes (3-star, Pensacola, FL) and a pair of big portal transfers in Elijah Spencer (Charlotte) and Corey Crooms (Western Michigan), and all of a sudden you have a loaded WR room.
Spencer has a legit chance to become Kaliakmanis’ top target. He recorded 57 catches for 943 yards and 9 TDs at Charlotte in 2022. If Autman-Bell recovers fully from his knee injury, and you add in Dylan Wright and Michael Brown-Stephens, the depth of this position is one of the best in the league. Kaliakmanis has speed and play-making ability all around him.
Potential flip: None
It would be a shock if any of the 18 hard commits flipped at this point. Fleck has honed in on his guys, and they all seemed locked in as of the final weekend prior to Signing Day.
Two guys to keep tabs on are Kerry Brown, a safety from Naples, Florida, and Theorin Randle, a DL from Pearland, Texas. Although their pledges seem firm, you never know if a local school will come swooping in at the last moment to try and steal them away.
Final takeaways
One big area to keep an eye on is Edge rusher. There’s just 1 in the class — Karter Menz, a 3-star from West Fargo High School. The Gophers finished 2022 ranked 116th in sacks with just 17. Another guy who can bring the heat from the edge is needed. Fleck will have his eye on the portal in the coming months.
Minnesota did well in the areas it wants to build strength and depth — offensive line and receiver. Fleck knows he relied too much on Ibrahim and the ground game. Finding some electric pass-catchers was a priority. And with the addition of Spencer, he maybe found his man.
Also, getting brutes up front on both sides of the ball remains a theme. The addition of Williams, Johnson, Tripp and Mister shore up the offensive line. Randle and Martin Owusu (3-star, Prior Lake, MN) bring size and strength to the d-line.
Signing a core group early is a good sign, and the Gophers hope to make a jump up the rankings heading into the February signing period.
Shawn Ekwall has been a contributing writer for Huskers Illustrated and covers the Huskers and other B1G teams for Saturday Tradition. Follow him on twitter @shawn_ekwall