Gophers

Western Michigan recruits follow coach P.J. Fleck to Gophers

January 7, 2017 at 3:06PM

Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck runs onto the field with his team before the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game against Ohio, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in Detroit. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

P.J. Fleck wasted little time recruiting after becoming Gophers coach Friday, flipping six commitments from Western Michigan later the same night.

Quarterback Tanner Morgan (from Union, Ky.), linebacker Trenton Guthrie (Pinckney, Mich.), Chris Bell (Kankakee, Ill.) defensive end Esezi Otomewo (Indianapolis), defensive tackle Noah Hickcox (Rockford, Ill.) and offensive lineman John Schmitz (Flossmoor, Ill.) all made verbal commitments to Minnesota.

Morgan also had reported offers from Louisville, Wake Forest, Cincinnati and Bowling Green. The 6-2, 205-pound senior is ranked as the nation's 44th-best pro-style quarterback by 247Sports.com.

The 6-6, 210-pound Otomewo also had offers from Syracuse, Iowa State, Illinois and Purdue. The 6-4, 260-pound Schmitz also had offers from Louisville, Central Michigan and Bowling Green.

JOE CHRISTENSEN