Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College wide receiver Derrick Salley Jr., who gave a verbal commitment to the Gophers earlier this month, on Tuesday announced that he has reopened his recruiting. A few hours later, his teammate, defensive back Michael (MJ) Graham, also went back on his pledge to Minnesota.
Both Salley and Graham announced their decisions on the X social media platform.
Salley, from Summerville, S.C., is 6-feet-4 and 220 pounds and is rated the No. 1 junior college wide receiver and the No. 2 JUCO player nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings of major recruiting services. A sophomore, Salley has 41 receptions for 726 yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games for the Blue Dragons. Salley also received scholarship offers from Illinois, Kansas State, Boise State and Oklahoma State.
Graham, from Oklahoma City, is 5-11 and 190 pounds and is the third-ranked JUCO safety nationally in the 247Sports composite. Kansas State, Michigan State, West Virginia and Central Florida were among other teams that offered him a scholarship. He has 31 tackles, six interceptions and one fumble recovery this season.
Hutchinson CC defensive tackle KJ Henson, who committed to the Gophers on the same weekend as Salley and Graham, remained part of Minnesota’s 2026 class as of Wednesday morning.
With the two decommitments, the Gophers have 28 players in their 2026 recruiting class. The class as of Wednesday morning was rated 24th nationally and sixth among Big Ten in the 247Sports composite rankings.
The three-day early signing period for the 2026 class begins Dec. 3.
