P.J. Fleck landed a quarterback he'd been coveting for the Gophers' 2018 recruiting class Sunday, when Brennan Armstrong of Shelby, Ohio, announced he was verbally committing to Minnesota.

The 6-2, 205-pound Armstrong is a consensus three-star recruit who also had reported offers from North Carolina, Rutgers, Virginia, Cincinnati and Iowa State. The Cyclones, in particular, were hot on his trail.

But Armstrong was sold on Fleck and the Gophers after an unofficial visit to campus last weekend. Fleck and offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca love Armstrong's decisionmaking, accuracy and toughness. Armstrong plans to graduate high school early so he can enroll next January and compete for the starting job in spring 2018.

"After a long process, I am officially going to be continuing my academic and athletic career at the University of Minnesota!" Armstrong tweeted, adding "#Elite #RTB," in the shorthand version of Fleck's "Row the Boat" mantra.

Armstrong ranks as the nation's No. 22 dual threat quarterback in the Class of 2018 in the 247Sports.com composite. He passed 2,321 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 1,065 yards and 18 TDs as a junior for Shelby last year.

Armstrong became the third 2018 recruit to commit to the Gophers, joining Eden Prairie cornerback Benjamin Sapp III and Jalen Mayfield, a three-star offensive tackle from Grand Rapids, Mich. Mayfield also had reported offers from Iowa and Michigan State.