When new Gophers commit Steven Ortiz Jr., was just 5 years old, his parents signed him up for flag football.
But the youngster breezed right past that whole no-contact rule.
"He was tackling kids and then pulling their flags," said his dad, Steven Sr. "The guy who ran the league told me, 'Hey, Ray Lewis can't come back. I'm getting a lot of parent complaints.' "
Instead of giving his son a talking to, Ortiz Sr. decided to develop that inclination. He set up tackling drills in the backyard — his wife as quarterback, younger daughters as receivers, himself holding a pillow, bracing for the hit.
Those days ultimately paid off, helping Ortiz Jr. get a scholarship offer from the Gophers, and he committed to them Thursday evening. The four-star cornerback recruit out of Arizona is believed to be the highest-rated prospect the Gophers have ever landed at that position and one of the best overall.
"I'm a Gopher, ride or die Gopher, as of [Thursday]," Ortiz said "There's no decommitment from me. I'm all loyalty."
That's stunning allegiance, considering the junior at Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Ariz., has never even set foot on Minnesota's campus. In fact, the Gophers weren't even on his radar until about a month ago, making him an offer March 16.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced a moratorium on all recruiting visits and travel, but Gophers coach P.J. Fleck and his staff have been aggressive during this time despite the limitations.