That’s easier said than done, trying to operate legitimately in this Wild Wild West NIL era of college athletics. Yet, outside of losing local superstar safety Koi Perich, Fleck has held his roster together pretty darn well, keeping a large majority of starters on both sides of the ball.

Another top talent announces return to Minnesota Gophers football

It doesn’t take a long look around the country before you realize that isn’t the norm in a lot of other schools, and something fans should not take for granted. And on Monday afternoon, Dinkytown Athletes announced more top talents who have signed on for another season in Minnesota.

The first came on the offensive line, when the Gophers’ collective announced that starter Ashton Beers is returning for 2026. The Wisconsin native finished is coming off of his third season in Dinkytown, second as a starter.

🧱 It all starts up front 🧱

🏈 〽️ @beers_ashton Will Be Back in 2026 〽️🏈@cubfoods is a proud sponsor of Gopher Athletics pic.twitter.com/cZ55bEBau5

— DinkytownAthletes (@DTAthletes) January 5, 2026

Related: MN Gophers Land Former Top 100 Recruit Out of Transfer Portal

Ashton Beers’ duties last season, where he started 12 games at center, were much different than what he saw in 2024. In his redshirt freshman season, the Wisconsin native was mostly utilized as a right guard, where he logged over 500 snaps. He also started two games at left guard (130+ snaps).

In total, Beers has logged 1,454 snaps on the Minnesota Gophers’ offensive line, in his three years on campus. His grades (if you believe in PFF) aren’t great (62.7 OFF), but the 6’6″ 315 pound center took a big step forward in pass blocking (58.4 to 82.7) from 2024 to 2025 — a sign PJ Fleck & Co hope will lead to major growth in 2026.

MN Gophers top 2025 recruit also returning for sophomore season

Linebacker Emmanuel Karmo grew up in the Minneapolis area and attended Robbinsdale Cooper high school, before becoming the Minnesota Gophers No. 1 composite signee in their 2025 high school recruiting class, according to 247Sports.

🔒 👇 Defense 🔒👇

🏈 〽️ @EmmanuelKarmo28 Will Be Back in 2026 〽️🏈@cubfoods is a proud sponsor of Gopher Athletics pic.twitter.com/xNmJtzqybT

— DinkytownAthletes (@DTAthletes) January 5, 2026

In his true freshman season, Karmo played in 12 games for his hometown Golden Gophers. He totaled 222 snaps (PFF), 156 on defense and 66 on special teams (mostly kick coverage).

His numbers and grades look like that of a talented freshman. Karmo totaled just 14 tackles, but nine were solo and one was a sack. He also recovered a fumble and added two passes defensed.

Other Minnesota Gophers returnees for 2026

The youngster didn’t register in the PFF rankings, because he was not on the field enough. That’s probably better off because his grades on defense — 58.6 DEF, 40.3 TKL, 63.2 COV — were disappointing, to say the least.

According to Darren Wolfson (KSTP), both Beers and Karmo have been inked for a while now, but Monday was the first time either side had made things public.

Minnesota Gophers get commitment from top-ranked in-state football prospect

So, when the all-state linebacker (and wide receiver) from Robbinsdale Cooper (Minneapolis) committed to his home state Minnesota Gophers on Friday night, it was a really big deal.

I appreciate all the schools that have recruited me through this process. It’s been an amazing process for sure but with that said, I have made my decision. @77williehoward @TPatt17 @Coach_DeBo46 @Coach_Fleck @AllenTrieu #RTB #AGTG pic.twitter.com/59GfaSsvFH

— Emmanuel Karmo (@EmmanuelKarmo28) April 13, 2024

Karmo totaled 48 tackles (10 TFL) and 2 sacks as a junior (according to 247Sports). He returned a couple of turnovers for touchdowns too. But there really aren’t any numbers that do this 6’3″ 225 lb athletic freak justice for the impact he makes on Friday nights.

Related: Gophers Land Coveted Four-Star QB Jackson Kollock

We’ll leave that to his HUDL highlight film, which shows the exact traits that you would expect out of someone who is ranked as the No. 1 player in the state of Minnesota. 247Sports head recruiting analyst Allen Trieu, projects Karmo as an impact defender and a guy who the Gophers can build a defense around.

3-4 outside backer or a hybrid overhang type of position appear to be the best fits at this point in his development. But given how multiple schools like to be in their defenses, Karmo projects as a chess piece that can find a role in at any school and be an impact defender.

Allen Trieu – 247Sports

If Karmo remains the top player in the state and he keeps his commitment through National Signing Day, it’d be the second-straight season that PJ Fleck has landed the top-player in the state. In 2024, he signed Esko, Minnesota’s Koi Perich, who also plays defense (safety).

Related: PJ Fleck, Gophers Flip Monster DL Torin Pettaway Originally Committed to Wisconsin

They’re off to a hot start for the class of 2025, in general. PJ got commitments from one of the top quarterbacks in the state of California, Jackson Kollock, recently; along 6’6″ Ohio tight end, Cross Nimmo, along with two others.