Gophers add Tulsa wide receiver, Florida International defensive lineman from transfer portal

The Gophers football team continues to add transfers to positions of need.

Former Tulsa wide receiver Zion Steptoe and former Florida International defensive lineman Xion Chapman committed to the Gophers out of the transfer portal on Saturday, Jan. 10.

Steptoe is the third wideout to commit to the Gophers, joining Noah Jennings from Cincinnati and Perry Thompson from Auburn.

Chapman joins former Marshall lineman Naquan Crowder and former California end TJ Bush Jr. in adding pieces to the defensive line.

Later Jan. 10, former Elon running back TJ Thomas Jr. committed to the Gophers.

Steptoe, 5-11 and 195 pounds, spent the past two seasons at Tulsa, catching 21 passes for 272 yards in 2025 and 15 passes for 203 yards in 2024.

A three-star recruit out of Frisco (Texas) Memorial High School, Steptoe began his collegiate career at Purdue, redshirting in 2022 and playing 12 games as a defensive back the following year.

Chapman, 6-3 and 295 pounds, played in 12 games as an interior lineman for Florida International in 2025, collecting 15 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.

A 2023 graduate of Dieruff High School in Allentown, Pa., Chapman played the 2024 season at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa., amassing 15 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks in nine games.

Chapman, who also made an official visit to Penn State before choosing the Gophers, will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Thomas, 5-8 and 190 pounds, rushed 180 times for 972 yards and 11 TDs and caught 28 passes for 232 yards and a score in two seasons at Elon. He also served as the primary kickoff returner for the Phoenix with 28 attempts for an average of 24.5 yards. Thomas, Snellville, Ga., native, earned freshman All-America honors from Phil Steele publications. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.