Minnesota has quietly put together a top 20 class in the 2024 cycle.

And the Golden Gophers added to that class Tuesday, earning a commitment from 3-star Illinois tight end Julian Johnson. The 6-5, 210 pound athlete from Aurora, Illinois chose the Golden Gophers over the likes of Missouri, Iowa, Texas A&M and more.

247Sports lists Johnson as an unranked prospect, though other recruiting sites label the athletic tight end as a 3-star. Often times, high schools in the midwest are harder to cover for recruiting, so some true diamonds in the rough can be found if you know what to look for.

And Johnson seems ready to get to work. He spoke with 247Sports detailing his commitment prior to Tuesday:

“It was an incredible visit from beginning to end,” Johnson told 247. “I got offered from Coach Fleck, which was a highlight of the day. It’s an amazing culture and energy coming from the program and the team, along with elite facilities! Everyone we met was so kind and welcoming to me and my family. Their spring practice had next level organization and energy. It was a closed scrimmage in the stadium while we were there, so we got to see some high level competition.”

While he is not ranked by 247Sports nationally, the service does have him marked as the No. 27 prospect out of the state of Illinois. Based on early readings from his impressive offer list, expect that number to drop quickly.

Below you can find Johnson’s highlight tape, via Hudl.