Recruits are really starting to buy into P.J. Fleck’s message. The result is now a top five recruiting class nationally.

Minnesota received a verbal commitment from four-star athlete Sam Jackson on Wednesday, becoming the 12th player in the 2021 class to give a pledge to the program. The native of Naperville, Illinois was expected to commit to Notre Dame, based on the 247Sports Crystal Ball.

Jackson made his commitment official with a message on Twitter Wednesday morning. He is now the fourth prospect with a four-star rating to join the Gophers’ 2021 class.

Jackson is a renewed commitment for the Golden Gophers. He initially gave his verbal pledge to the program in February 2019. After picking up several more offers, the Illinois native opted to decommit from Minnesota in January 2020 before rejoining the class in April.

According to 247Sports, Jackson is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound athlete. He’s ranked as one of the top 350 players in the 2021 recruiting cycle and is the No. 7 player from Illinois.

Jackson held 18 total offers on the recruiting front and picked Minnesota over Notre Dame, Iowa, Nebraska, Oregon, Wisconsin and many others.

With Jackson’s commitment, Minnesota has now jumped up to No. 5 in the national recruiting rankings, per 247Sports. The Gophers currently own the second-best class in the B1G, behind only Ohio State.