Gophers Land Another 4-Star Defensive Tackle from SEC Country

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So, late Friday night as I’m getting into bed, PJ Fleck’s Bat Signal went out and the result had me sleeping like a baby while interior offensive linemen around the Big Ten get ready for a nightmare in the coming years.

Williams is a HUGE get for Fleck and Co. He rockets to the top of the commitment list rated behind only Rashad Cheney for 2019. Oh and in case you forgot, Rashad Cheney is also a Defensive Tackle. 

And, just look at the list of schools he turned down to be a part of PJ Fleck’s culture in Minnesota…

Both of these big-time defensive tackles are from SEC country and had offers from most blue-blood SEC schools (especially Cheney) but they picked Minnesota. They picked PJ Fleck. Why, you ask? Here is what Williams told GopherIllustrated.com’s, Ryan Burns:

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and reevaluating of things this week, and it came down to the place I felt most comfortable and that was at Minnesota…”

“Minnesota had been on me a lot this week with coach West and Fleck, and they’d been reminding me I should find the best place that fits me athletically, academically, spiritually and socially…”

“I was talking with coach Fleck tonight, and he was telling me how he get an extension, so then I told him I wanted to commit.”

– Kristian Williams – Find the entire interview with GI HERE

You have to admit that the last line is pretty funny. After Fleck got a one-year extension a couple of the regents and plenty of fans scoffed at the idea that another year (already was signed through 2022) would have any effect on recruiting. The next day, Williams commits and specifically mentions the extension. The best.

Last year. Fleck’s two highest-rated recruits came after his mega-recruiting visit. The two commits that weekend were offensive lineman (Curtis Dunlap, Daniel Faalele).

Fast-forward almost exactly one year and Fleck again lands his two biggest targets on his mega-recruiting weekend. This time, they are both on the defensive line. 

Smart people say that battles are won in the trenches. If that’s the case, then Fleck is developing a battle plan over the next handful of years that will be difficult to compete with.

Fleck Lands New Kicker

Williams wasn’t Fleck’s only commitment yesterday. He also got a new kicker to commit after his committed kicker took a visit to Oregon this weekend. Bye Felicia.

That leaves the class currently at 24 of 25. Signing day is December 19th so the fireworks likely aren’t over yet.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan | Mentioned in this article:

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