Gophers

Who have the Gophers signed on early National Signing Day?

Highlighted by four-star Minnesota athletes Howie Johnson and Roman Voss, P.J. Fleck may have inked his best recruiting class throughout his time with the Gophers.

By Randy Johnson

The Minnesota Star Tribune

December 3, 2025 at 5:43PM

For the Minnesota Gophers, Wednesday's early National Signing Day will be the 10th recruiting class under coach P.J. Fleck, and it could turn out to be his best, according to national rankings. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Entering Wednesday’s early National Signing Day, the Gophers were ranked No. 24 nationally and eighth among the 18 Big Ten teams in the 247Sports.com composite ratings of major recruiting services.

P.J. Fleck has continued his recent run of keeping Minnesota’s best players home — think Esko’s Koi Perich and Robbinsdale Cooper’s Emmanuel Karmo over the past two years — with the first-, third- and fourth-ranked in-state players signing with the Gophers.

As of 9:30 a.m., the Gophers had signed 30 of the 31 players who had given them verbal commitments and were expected to sign on Wednesday.

The lone pledge to not sign was defensive lineman KJ Henson of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. Henson committed to Minnesota along with two Hutchinson teammates, wide receiver Derrick Salley Jr. and defensive back Michael Graham. Both Salley and Graham quickly decommitted.

The Gophers got a new commitment on Wednesday in wide receiver Josiah Dozier of Moody (Ala.) High School. Dozier, 6-2 and 190 pounds, is a three-star recruit who decommitted from South Florida on Sunday.

Signed recruits | Offense

Rico Blassingame

High school: Tolleson Union (Tolleson, Ariz.)
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-1
Weight: 170
Rating: 4-star
Comment: Ranked 10th overall in Arizona and 87th nationally among 2026 wideouts, Blassingame caught 65 passes for 1,001 yards and 14 TDs this season. Wisconsin and Indiana were among his early offers.

Roman Voss

High school: Jackson County Central (Jackson, Minn.)
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-4
Weight: 225
Rating: 4-star
Comment: No. 2-ranked recruit in Minnesota who led Jackson County Central to back-to-back Class 2A state championships, playing a variety of positions. Rushed for 4,686 yards and 65 TDs in his career while passing for 5,661 yards and 58 TDs. Impressive offer list included Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Oklahoma and USC.

Ezekiel Bates

High school: Malvern Prep (Malvern, Penn.)
Position: Running back
Height: 5-11
Weight: 220
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Rushed for 909 yards and 13 TDs this season and added eight TD receptions. Had a mix of FBS and FCS offers.

Niko Castillo

High school: Schuylkill Haven (Schuylkill Haven, Penn.)
Position: Running back
Height: 6-1
Weight: 235
Rating: 3-star
Comment: In need for a big back late in the recruiting season, the Gophers turned to Castillo, who rushed for 13 TDs this season.

Josiah Dozier

High school: Moody (Moody, Ala.)
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
Rating: 3-star
Comment: A signing day addition, Dozier decommitted from South Florida on Sunday. He held offers from Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Louisville.

Ryan Estrada

Related Coverage

High school: El Dorado (El Paso, Texas)
Position: Running back
Height: 5-9
Weight: 195
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Highly productive back who rushed for 7,195 yards and 90 TDs in his career, including 2,801 yards and 37 TDs this year. Estrada chose Minnesota over Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Alabama.

Quayd Hendryx

High school: Winslow Township (Atco, N.J.)
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Flipped his commitment from Connecticut to the Gophers in early November. State champion sprinter in 100 and 200 meters who also had Nebraska and West Virginia showing interest this fall.

Owen Lansu

High school: Downers Grove North (Downers Grove, Ill.)
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Committed to Gophers in July 2024 but missed part of his senior season because of a broken left arm. Northwestern and Cincinnati also showed interest.

Gavin Meier

High school: Parker (Janesville, Wis.)
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6-6
Weight: 300
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Meier is the top-ranked player from Wisconsin regardless of position and is ranked No. 50 nationally among tackles. Wisconsin, Northwestern and Auburn were among his other suitors.

Hayden Moore

High school: Newberry (Newberry, Fla.)
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Caught 22 passes for 201 yards in limited action this season after amassing 51 receptions for 982 yards and 12 TDs as a junior. Penn State and Vanderbilt were among his suitors.

Brady Palmer

High school: Central Catholic (San Diego)
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Palmer committed to the Gophers on Saturday night after originally committing to California. He’s the 65th-ranked QB nationally and had offers from Arizona, Auburn, Michigan State and Ohio State.

George Rohl

High school: Ellsworth (Ellsworth, Wis.)
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-6
Weight: 230
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Rohl committed to North Dakota in March but switched to the Gophers in September. Northern Iowa also showed interest.

Beckett Schreiber

High school: Madison Memorial (Madison, Wis.)
Position: Interior offensive line
Height: 6-5
Weight: 280
Rating: 3-star
Comment: The Gophers did good work in Wisconsin, landing Schreiber along with Meier. Indiana and Washington State also were interested.

Braiden Stevens

High school: Platte County (Platte City, Mo.)
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 5-8
Weight: 165
Rating: 3-star
Comment: What Stevens lacks in height, he makes up for in quickness. Nebraska, West Virginia and James Madison were among his offers.

Aaron Thomas

High school: Mountain Pointe (Phoenix)
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6-7
Weight: 300
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Thomas originally committed to Ohio State in June but visited Florida State in October, decommitted, and picked Minnesota in early November. He also visited Texas A&M and Washington.

Lucas Tielsch

High school: Copley (Akron, Ohio)
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6-7
Weight: 320
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Northwestern and Wake Forest were among the Gophers’ competition for Tielsch.

Andrew Trout

High school: Rocori (Cold Spring, Minn.)
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6-6
Weight: 295
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Fourth-ranked recruit in Minnesota who also had Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State and Wisconsin pursuing him. Rebounded from 2024 foot injuries to average six pancake blocks per game.

Gabe Weaver

High school: Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day (St. Louis)
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-5
Weight: 220
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Lanky tight end was split out often in high school. Western Michigan, Air Force and Navy were among the suitors for the 14th-ranked recruit from Missouri.

Signed recruits | Defense

Aaden Aytch

High school: Jefferson (Lafayette, Ind.)
Position: Edge
Height: 6-4
Weight: 230
Rating: 4-star
Comment: The No. 2-ranked recruit in Indiana and No. 24 edge rusher nationally, Aytch drew interest from Iowa and Michigan State. He had 19½ sacks, 33½ tackles for loss and six forced fumbles this season.

Howie Johnson

High school: Forest Lake (Forest Lake)
Position: Defensive line
Height: 6-3
Weight: 255
Rating: 4-star
Comment: Top-ranked player in Minnesota and No. 19 defensive lineman nationally in the 247 composite. Amassed 233 tackles, 85 tackles for loss and 18 sacks over the past three seasons. Beast in the weight room.

Josiah Anyansi

High school: Murrieta Valley (Murrieta, Calif.)
Position: Defensive line
Height: 6-3
Weight: 260
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Boise State, Arizona and Boston College were among teams interested in Anyansi.

Jeremiah Benson

High school: West Bloomfield (West Bloomfield, Mich.)
Position: Defensive line
Height: 6-3
Weight: 265
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Originally committed to Northern Illinois, Benson amassed 97 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 4½ sacks this season. His list of offers included Iowa State and Fresno State.

Anthony Charles

High school: South Fayette Township (McDonald, Penn.)
Position: Edge
Height: 6-5
Weight: 195
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Charles collected 13½ tackles for loss and 5½ sacks this season. Michigan, Cincinnati and Wisconsin were among the programs offering him scholarships.

Hudson Dunn

High school: Liberty (Peoria, Ariz.)
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 210
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Speedy linebacker who collected 17½ tackles for loss and eight sacks this season. His offers included Nebraska, Arizona, Michigan, Miami and Oregon.

Lamont Hamilton

High school: St. Catherine’s (Racine, Wis.)
Position: Athlete
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Rating: 3-star
Comment: A standout on both sides of the ball, Hamilton is projected to be a defensive back with the Gophers. He’s the No. 3-ranked player in Wisconsin in the 2026 class.

Justin Hopkins

High school: Ensworth (Nashville)
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5-10½
Weight: 180
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Speedy player who’s the No. 13 recruit in Tennessee and No. 43 cornerback nationally. Picked the Gophers over Georgia Tech, Tennessee and USC.

Jordan Lampkins

High school: Bolingbrook (Bolingbrook, Ill.)
Position: Safety
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Made 63 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, intercepted two passes and had four pass breakups this season. Lampkins is the 24th-ranked recruit in Illinois.

Angel Luciano

High school: Steelton-Highspire (Steelton, Penn.)
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 225
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Developed strong bond with Gophers defensive end Anthony Smith, a fellow Pennsylvanian. Michigan State and Cincinnati were among the Gophers’ competitors for Luciano.

Chance Payne

High school: Jefferson (Jefferson, Ga.)
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Had 33 tackles, four tackles for loss and three interceptions this season. Payne mainly had Group of Five offers but committed to Minnesota in June.

Trason Richardson

High school: Fort Bend Crawford (Rosharon, Texas)
Position: Safety
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Richardson played both safety and cornerback in high school and has speed to go with his versatility.

Tavian White

High school: Waukee (Waukee, Iowa)
Position: Safety
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Rating: 3-star
Comment: Decommitted from North Dakota and chose the Gophers on Saturday. Standout hurdler during track and field season.