Minnesota Gophers receive commitment from Enoch Atewogbola

They don’t have a ton of 2025 high school recruits stacking up (seven in total), but they’ve had some high quality hits in the commitments they have gotten, which now includes defensive end Enoch Atewogbola, of Avon, IN.

1000% COMMITTED! #GOGOPHERS #ROWTHEBOAT @RobGibsonHC @RyanJBallou @bringthehammer @raycp315@CoachThompson13 @CoachCam_CamQBs@CoachDSchauss @IndianaPreps @Bryan_Ault @AllenTrieu pic.twitter.com/5frrQFYZMi

— Enoch Atewogbola 🇳🇬 (@_enoch35) April 27, 2024

Atewogbola appears to just now be hitting his recruiting stride. He holds offers from Marshall, Boston College, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. Nonetheless, according to Ryan Burns (247Sports), the Minnesota coaching staff “went and saw the Avon defensive end work out earlier this week, and immediately offered afterwards”.

His HUDL film won’t make you fall in love, but whatever the Gophers saw in the 6’4″, 215 lb high school junior during that workout was obviously enough for them to feel comfortable being the first power four conference offer on Enoch’s sheet. 247Sports.com has Atewogbola rated as an 86-overall 3-star.

Related: As a Top High School Recruit, JJ McCarthy was a Big Fan of PJ Fleck After Gophers Visit

In an age where transfer portal success is becoming more and more important with every passing year, it’s still crucial to identify talent early, get those players committed and keep them. Then, they need to develop those guys… and keep them again.

Not only did Begalle dominate on the football field, as a junior, racking up 1,252 receiving yards (more than any other receiver in the state) on 74 receptions (16.9 YPR), but he’s currently showcasing his athletic prowess as a standout Spring track star too.

Cameron Begalle – the Minnesota Gophers football fan turned commit

Begalle’s commitment adds another local 2025 recruiting win for PJ and the Minnesota Gophers. The 6-foot, 180-pound receiver spoke with Ryan Burns (247Sports), after visiting campus a couple weeks ago. He told the recruiting insider that Gopher football was crucial to building the close bond he currently holds with his father.

“A Minnesota offer would mean a lot to me. It’s always been my dream since I was a little kid to play for my hometown Minnesota Gophers. I use to watch the games with my dad, so I always looked up to the players. It would be so amazing to be that player I used to look up to.”

Cameron Begalle – 247Sports

In case you were wondering, Begalle committed immediately upon receiving an offer from PJ. It’s the exact type of homegrown origin story commitment that Fleck believes the Gophers need more of, if Minnesota football is to ever become what Iowa, Wisconsin or Nebraska football currently is.

Every year, those schools get high level recruits who grew up as fans and felt destined to wear a specific color scheme since birth, no matter what other helmet school comes calling. And he has an entire senior season left to play, so who knows who those schools will be, or would have been, had the Gophers not come calling.

Related: PJ Fleck, Gophers Working Very Hard to Land Homegrown LSU Transfer Jaxon Howard

But now that he’s committed to staying home, it seems safe to assume Begalle will be a Minnesota Gopher on National Signing Day and when he first puts on a college football uniform. His other early offers were from Air Force and Army.

That’s another boost for a recruiting class that seems to get more impressive by the week, and it’s stacked with homegrown talent, including Robbinsdale Cooper’s Emmanuel Karmo, who’s the top-rated recruit of the same local recruiting class.

Minnesota Gophers Early National Signing Day – 2025

Signees started rolling in early. And just like that, the Gophers were rolling. Below is a running tab on each Gopher football signee that’s been officially announced by the team in the early period.

Related: Minnesota Gophers Receive Last-Second Addition to Senior Bowl Roster

The official National Signing day was on February 5, 2025. In these days of college football, this day is not nearly as significant as it used to be. Now, the early signing period is much more prevalent. The Gophers also have a list of incoming transfers that have committed to them.

2025 Minnesota Gophers Recruiting Class

Signed Letters of Intent (Transfers)

Related: Gophers QB Max Brosmer Rewarded for Big Week at East-West Shrine Bowl Practice

Like many of the best 2024 high school football recruits in the country, many of which will start their college careers this week, Koi Perich is in San Antonio, TX (AlamoDome) today, playing in the All-American Bowl, which is being nationally televised on NBC as I type this article.

Related: Gophers Fly ‘Row The Boat’ Banner Over Koi Perich State Tournament Game

And unsurprisingly, it didn’t take the Minnesota kid long to show why helmet schools were trying to steal him out from PJ Fleck’s nose all summer and fall, leading up to National Signing Day.

Koi Perich Shows Out at All-American Bowl

With over four minutes remaining in the 1st quarter, Wake Forest QB commit (3-star) Jeremy Hecklinski tried to thread the needle over the middle of the field, and found out the hard way how bad of an idea that is when Perich is on patrol.

#Minnesota commit Koi Perich with a diving INT at the goal line to prevent a TD! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XegNUndzSO

— Video from: @TSV__1 (@TSV__1) January 6, 2024

Related: Top In-State 2024 Recruit Koi Perich Officially Signs with Gophers

But Koi Perich wasn’t done putting on his first half show, following that interception. He also recorded one first half tackle for loss. Then, in the 2nd quarter, the East lined up for a punt and Koi Perich came on the punt block. Guess what happened next…

4⭐️ S Koi Perich now has a blocked punt and an INT in the All-American Bowl 👀pic.twitter.com/r7YzgS9oOe https://t.co/ImKHMFpZvJ

— 247Sports (@247Sports) January 6, 2024

When the dust settled on the 2024 All-American Bowl, Perich was named game MVP after the West held off a dramatic East comeback that never would have been possible had Koi not been on the field.

Official statistics have not yet been released by Perich finished with at least 1 interception, 1 blocked punt, 1 tackle for loss and 2 passes defended (both of which would have been touchdowns).

Minnesota signee Koi Perich from Esko (Minn.) Lincoln, named the 2024 @AABonNBC MVP https://t.co/l4bZ05d5yz pic.twitter.com/accgfWiLk3

— Brandon Huffman (@BrandonHuffman) January 6, 2024

I’m still not entirely sure how PJ Fleck held onto Perich’s commitment following his trip to Ohio State just a couple of weekends prior to National Signing Day. But no doubt, it could go down as one of the biggest high school recruiting wins of his coaching career, right up there with Rashod Bateman and Mar’Keise “Bucky” Irving.

Minnesota had two other 2024 signees representing the newest Gophers recruiting class in San Antonio this weekend. Defensive lineman Riley Sunram (North Dakota) and offensive lineman Brett Carroll (Kansas) are competing as well.

Related: Minnesota Gophers Recruiting Class – 2024

Here is how the internet is reacting to Perich’s big day at the AlamoDome:

Future Minnesota Gopher Koi Perich with the absolutely amazing diving interception.

Gophers got a good one. pic.twitter.com/rwrYe7jPt3

— CFBLIVE247 (@CFBLive247_) January 6, 2024

All-American Bowl standouts:
S Koi Perich Minnesota
WR TJ Moore Clemson
DE Marquise Lightfoot Miami
WR Jeremiah Smith Ohio St
LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Notre Dame
RB Nate Frazier Georgia
RB Daniel Hill Alabama
QB Demond Williams Arizona
S KJ Bolden Georgia
DE Deshawn Warner Kansas

— Brad Powers (@BradPowers7) January 6, 2024

Minnesota safety Koi Perich AGAIN‼️

Perich blocks a punt to put the West inside the 10🔥 @AABonNBC

(🎥: @LGlodek)

Live updates: https://t.co/owRENUBottpic.twitter.com/E9diKm5l2U

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) January 6, 2024

Related: Buy the Right Brand of Bacon in January and 100% Goes to Gophers NIL Fund

Have a day, Koi Perich.

The #Minnesota safety had an interception earlier in the game and now he blocks a punt.

It led to a rushing touchdown from #Top247 ball-carrier Daniel Hill, who announces his commitment later today.

Update https://t.co/lZ4zxMkoje@247Sports / @AABonNBC pic.twitter.com/qUmCekWtQ3

— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) January 6, 2024

Koi Perich is special

— Alex Gleitman (@alexgleitman) January 6, 2024

Related: Under PJ Fleck, Gophers Will Never Lack Motivation

#1 ranked high school player in Minnesota and future Golden Gopher, Koi Perich, is representing Team West today! pic.twitter.com/jcxxYf5X8a

— Leighton Glodek (@LGlodek) January 6, 2024

West blocks the punt! After a lot of chaos, #Minnesota DB signee Koi Perich recovers the loose ball. He’s having a big day. Had an interception earlier pic.twitter.com/t988VnJvNC

— Max Torres (@mtorressports) January 6, 2024

Related: Gophers Hire Decorated Coach Bob Ligashesky as Special Teams Coordinator

Koi Perich is going to be a big time player. Would have been a five star if he played in any other state.

— Carson (@cmacrae13) January 6, 2024

Esko High School standout Koi Perich is tearing it up at the NBC All American Game!

Already with an interception and blocked punt!

I’m smelling MVP!! @AABonNBC pic.twitter.com/GMvJd5XDPY

— Leighton Glodek (@LGlodek) January 6, 2024

Related: PJ Fleck, Gophers Have Turned in Multiple Rival Schools for Tampering

Minnesota signee Koi Perich with a tremendous INT. He's got future All-Conference written all over him. Great job by Fleck to hang on to him.

— Greg Smith (@GregSmithRivals) January 6, 2024

Golden Gopher Koi Perich is lightening it up in High School All American game this afternoon.

Breaking up screen pass.
Follows it up with brilliant INT.

Holy smokes!

— Greg Flugaur (@flugempire) January 6, 2024

Koi Perich lands offer from Ohio State

That’s because PJ Fleck’s most talented and highly-rated verbal commit of the class, Esko, MN safety named Koi Perich, may be in jeopardy of throwing his oar and jumping overboard.

Thankful for my 13th Offer from THE Ohio State University! @Coach_Eliano @ryandaytime @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/FBjjhUsnPL

— Koi Perich (@koiperich3) November 7, 2023

I’ve written about Perich a couple of times. Shortly after his commitment, Koi vowed allegiance to his hometown Gophers, declaring that, no matter the offer or NIL deal made available to him, he was going to wear maroon and gold when he put on a college football uniform.

Related: Gophers Moved Practice Indoors Last Week Over Concerns that Iowa was Spying on Outdoor Fields

Koi Perich will visit Ohio State and Florida State

But now, just 6-7 months later, Koi Perich has made a giant leap up recruiting rankings and has offers flying in from helmets schools across the country, including USC, Michigan, Florida State and most recently, Ohio State, which Perich announced via his Twitter account on Monday.

It gets worse. 247Sports’ Minnesota recruiting guru, Ryan Burns, reported at GopherIllustrated.com that Perich plans to take visits to both Ohio State and Florida State once the Esko football season comes to a completion.

Perich tells me tonight he’s planning on seeing Ohio State and Florida State after Esko’s season wraps up, so we’ll see what December brings

Ryan Burns – GopherIllustrated.com

Minnesota Gophers all-time football commit

Koi Perich is the 4th-highest rated commitment in the internet age of Minnesota Gophers football history, according to 247Sports.com. Others in the top-10 include Carter Coughlin (2) and Michael Carter (8), two former Gophers who went on to the NFL.

But the top-10 is also riddled with recruits who never played a snap or busted one way or another, like Jeff Jones (1), Clint Brewster (6) and Hayo Carpenter (3). Perich’s fellow 2024 Gopher commit, (OL) Nathan Roy, is ranked 5th in program history.

But I have little doubt, Koi Perich will impact whatever program he decides on because he is a stud. Hopefully, he stays. The below highlight was from last week’s game between Esko and Pequot Lakes, only. Perich’s half season highlight reel is 10 minutes long and every single play is an eye opener.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports fan

His Hudl highlights look like the Harrison Smith version of Deion Sanders. A Junior this year, Perich weighed in at 6’1″, 195 lbs and, given how much bigger he is than a lot of the kids on the field, those measurements seem legitimate.

Koi Perich commitment comes just as his recruitment was heating up.

The in-state phenom didn’t commit to the Gophers because they were his only option. In fact, his recruiting was just recently gaining helmet school steam. Since Minnesota offered Perich back in October 2022, he has received offers from six other Big Ten schools including Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and, most recently, Michigan.

When I first watched Koi Perich’s film, it was bitter sweet. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen someone look as dominant on a high school football field as he did during his Junior season. Surely, Michigan, Penn State or Ohio State, teams that all have more NIL money and better odds to win an NCAA championship, will swing through later and offer this kid a six or seven figure deal he cannot refuse.

Perich received an SEC offer a few weeks ago from Vanderbilt so it’s even possible that NIL juggernauts like Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M or Tennessee could come calling. So, what are the chances that Koi Perich ever plays a down in maroon and gold?

A vow to Minnesota

Well, the Esko kid claimed in a recent interview with GopherIllustrated.com’s Ryan Burns, that he’s already put those possibilities into his decision-making. Perish vows that, no matter the NIL deal he eventually gets offered, he’s staying home to help build something special in Dinkytown.

“I’m 100% going to stay with the Gophers. They’re the school that I think I see myself in. Even if a cash check comes my way from elsewhere. I’m going to stay with the Gophers. I want to write my own story, so let’s keep it going.”

Koi Perich via GopherIllustrated.com (247Sports)

It’s important to remember that this is a 17-year-old kid so all promises/vows must be taken with a grain of salt. No matter, it’s great to see a young talent with star capabilities who is so dedicated to his hometown school. We’ll see if the young man can keep such a big promise.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

COMMITTED. #RTB ????@Coach_Fleck @KirkCiarrocca @coachcioroch @QuarterbackUniv @AllenTrieu @burneystweets pic.twitter.com/eSdEzM6NfS

— Drew Viotto (@ViottoDrew) May 27, 2022

The 6’4″, 215 lb QB is originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Thus the nickname “Canadian Cannon“. Viotto was previously committed to Eastern Michigan but all signs pointed to Viotto’s flip, when he decommitted earlier this week. Drew’s first visit to Minnesota’s campus won’t come until June but he didn’t need to see Dinkytown before he announced his plans. Viotto held recruiting offers from Maryland and Syracuse, among others.

Underrated?

Down the road, Drew Viotto could look like an underecruited steal. He’s an uber-talented late-riser who sat behind a star QB, as a high school underclassman. Viotto has the ultimate QB build but didn’t get a chance to perform for scouts until this past season, as a Junior. So if he continues to rise this fall, we’ll see if PJ Fleck and Co. can hang onto him.

According to 247Sports, Kirk Ciarrocca fell for Viotto when he watched him throw in a downpour.

Minnesota offered Viotto after watching him throw in a down pour. Similar to how he stuck it out at Western, others may have canceled that work out or moved it inside, but Viotto did not complain one bit and went out and threw the ball as if it was 70 degrees and sunny. And he truly excelled in that workout. He threw it extremely well. The mettle and the intangibles he showed then were arguably just as impressive as the velocity or spin on the ball though. He has been a diligent worker throughout his career. He definitely loves football and is dedicated to the craft.

Allen Trieu – 247Sports

What the Tape Says

Viotto’s Junior tape is impressive and tells us a few things. Obviously, we take all highlight reels with a grain of salt. But Drew clearly moves around in the pocket really well. He isn’t mobile, which is noted by 247Sports, but his high school film shows a kid who is very aware of what’s going on around him inside the pocket and where to move if he needs space.

His throwing motion is something to watch. Viotto appears accurate and powerful but he throws with a bit of a chicken wing. It reminds me of Philip Rivers. Viotto is the 8th commit of the 2023 recruiting class for PJ Fleck. A class that currently ranks 18th in the country, according to 247Sports Composite ratings.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Gophers have landed another commitment for their 2022 recruiting class. Anthony Smith is a defensive end out of Pennsylvania, who holds a 247sports rating of 87/100 (3-Star) and he a composite rating of .8739. Smith had helmet schools all over him and held offers from Michigan, Penn State, Ole Miss, and Nebraska, among others.

At 6’6″ and 265 pounds, Smith has the size of a division-I strong side defensive end as a Junior in high school. In his highlights, Anthony combines that crazy size with a unique quickness off the line and it allows him to wreak a lot of havoc in the backfield.

The Shippensburg (PA) native uses his extremely long arms, which PJ Fleck and Co love on their DL, to pop high school offensive lineman before they can lay a hand on him and his tape shows a guy who can play both the run and pass. Fleck and his staff seem to have roped in another good one with the addition of Anthony Smith.

I’m excited to say next fall I will be going to the 612〽️!!! @GopherFootball #RTB ????????‍♂️????????‍♂️ #Committed pic.twitter.com/oXrr65pNx1

— Anthony Smith (@Anthony_Smi) June 21, 2021

I love this add for the Gophers. Defensive line continues to be a recruiting strength for the past few cycles. He joins Minnesota’s top-rated commit so far in 2022, (4-star) Trey Bixby and newly committed (3-star) Jack Pyburn on the defensive line of the future.

Smith also plays tight end, when Shippensburg has the football, and brings quite the size and talent to basketball hardwood in the winter. The Minnesota Gophers love multi-sport athletes in this class, that’s clear.

Max Carroll | Minnesota Sports Fan

If you’re a Minnesota Gopher football fan struggling with the reality of yet another weekend ending way too fast, let’s put a Monday smile on your face, if only for a brief moment. If you blinked yesterday morning, you might have missed one heck of a Sunday in the 2022 recruiting world for PJ Fleck and his coaching staff, who hosted their second round of official visitors on the U of M campus this weekend, officially dubbed “Summer Splash II”.

The flood gates opened bright and early. At 8:18 AM, the Gophers received their first commitment of the day, which came via the Louisiana Bayou, in (CB) Tariq Watson. I wrote all about the 5’9″, 165 lb track star after he made his announcement via social media.

But by the time I finished a blog on Watson’s commitment, the Gophers already had two more guys jump in the boat and grab oars. Whatever PJ Fleck said to these kids last night, before they went to bed, clearly worked. Now, Minnesota has jumped from #30 up to #16 in the country (via 247Sports team rankings) for their 2022 recruiting class. It’s still early, though.

Put Some Respect ON IT ‼️LET IT ALL WORKOUT ‼️ #AGTG #GoGophers #SkiUMah #Hyp22 #nflbond #elite @Coach_Fleck @Haynes_Gophers @coachharasymiak @GopherFootball @LamotheDerek @coach8099 @cutt2dachase pic.twitter.com/unW24SBQHy

— Tariq “Triii” Watson ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@CantStopTk1) June 20, 2021

Rhyland Kelly (CB) – Clearwater, FL

The second 2022 commit on Sunday was another cornerback and it came one hour after the first. This time, it was Rhyland Kelly out of Clearwater Florida. At 6’2″,185 lbs, Kelly is an 85/100 (3-star) prospect (according to 247Sports) and the exact type of outside cornerback that PJ Fleck loves to have in his secondary.

Rhyland’s size and speed is impressive when you watch his highlight film. He’s definitely a bit handsy at the point of attack, but I’d rather have that than a dude who’s timid. It only takes a few snaps before you realize that Kelly likes to compete and has no problem laying the wood in the secondary, which was the same thing I noticed when watching Watson’s film.

After a great official visit with @GopherFootball super excited to announce I’m 110% committed to The University of Minnesota ‼️‼️@Haynes_Gophers @JoeS_Rossi @Coach_Fleck @coachharasymiak @RecruitReady @CAIKnightsFB @CoachMeyerCAI @CoachJesse18 @AllenTrieu @RyanBurnsMN #HYP22 pic.twitter.com/pfdeKglIUW

— Rhyland Kelly (@RhylandK) June 20, 2021

Aiden Gousby (CB) – Lehigh Acres, FL

Aiden Gousby was the third cornerback who committed to the Minnesota Gophers on Sunday morning but he might be the most talented. Another Florida native, Gousby’s the only of the three CB’s who has a composite rating at 247Sports.com (.8466). That means ESPN and Rivals have him scouted, which isn’t a given after the pandemic. 247, which is always the most reliable, has Gousby as a 86/100 (3-star) prospect.

Aiden had legitimate offers as a wide receiver too, but committed to the Gophers as a CB. Speaking of offers, Gousby had a lot of power-5 schools vying for his services, including our eastern border rivals. Beyond the Badgers, Aiden’s choices included Miami, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Iowa State and Louisville.

His highlights show a kid with speed, size and a TON of talent. Again, all three of these CB’s like to hit people.

After a fantastic visit at @GopherFootball I am excited to announce i am 1000% committed to The University Of Minnesota ????〽️#HYP22 #committed #RTB #SkiUMah #Gophers @Coach_Fleck @Haynes_Gophers @JoeS_Rossi @CoachMGSimon @coachchaney96 @CoachDixon2 @manualevans4 pic.twitter.com/Jmh1xZHvgG

— Aidan Gousby † (@GousbyAidan) June 20, 2021

Jack Pyburn (EDGE) – Jacksonville, FL

Jack Pyburn is a high school monster. This dude just finished his junior year and he currently weighs in at 6’3″, 254 lbs. And even with pads on, there’s no fat to be found on this young man when you watch his film. He’s just bigger, faster and stronger than everyone else on the football field with him.

247Sports rates Pyburn an 85/100 prospect and he does have a composite rating too (.8416). Again, ratings could be completely different by August/September, when scouts have a full summer of camps, workouts and even some early season games to judge these young 2022 footballers.

Jack’s offer list included Memphis, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and both Army/Navy. Like most of the commits Minnesota has reeled in so far for 2022, Pyburn is a very successful multi-sport athlete at The Bolles School in Jacksonville (FL). Pyburn took 3rd in last year’s FL State Wrestling Tournament and projects #1 for his weight class going into 2021, according to Ryan Burns of 247Sports.

He played linebacker last fall but he’s committed as an EDGE rusher. Just watch his tape below. You’re gonna like this dude.

The next chapter…. #RowTheBoat #SkiUMah @GopherFootball @Coach_Fleck @ChadWilt @JoeS_Rossi pic.twitter.com/xwxigCVPht

— Jack Pyburn (@JackPyburn1) June 20, 2021

Legacy PWO – Cade Conzemius (WR)

The Minnesota Gophers did get one wide receiver commit yesterday too, when Cade Conzemius jumped in the boat as a preferred walk-on. Cade is the son of former Gopher linebacker (and captain) Justin Conzemius, who played from 1992-1995. Cade is not rated by 247Sports.

Normally, I wouldn’t focus much on a walk-on commitment but Cade intrigues me. At just 5’10”, 165 lbs, Conzemius has a lot of work to do on his body. But, he did have interest from smaller DI schools like St. Thomas Academy, where he would’ve gotten a much better chance at playing time.

You only take a PWO to Minnesota because you think you can swing with the big boys and others don’t see it. After watching some of the clips he posted to Twitter, from Gopher camp… I think he can swing with the P5 big boys too.

These are some of the cleaner routes you’ll see from a high school junior. Color me impressed.

Highlights from gopher camp today! pic.twitter.com/cIHwx0AyZy

— Cade Conzemius (@cadeconzemius) June 3, 2021

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Gophers football team has had a busy June, flying around the country to take in hundreds of 2022 football recruits, while hosting plenty of kids and camps on the U of M campus as well. Today, they received a commitment from a speedster cornerback out of Louisiana, named Tariq Watson.

Watson hails from Harvey (LA), a suburb that sits across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. His high school (Helen Cox) is literally surrounded by the “Fatma Bayou”. I can’t wait to hear this kid’s accent.

According to 247Sports, Tariq stands at 5’10” and weighs in at 165 pounds. Like many mid-level 2022 prospects, Watson hasn’t gotten the chance to build up his star-rating over the last year, due to COVID restrictions.

He currently holds an 86/100 (3-star) rating by 247Sports but doesn’t have a composite rating, meaning other recruiting sites haven’t scouted him. Tariq’s signature weapon, as previously mentioned, is speed.

Put Some Respect ON IT ‼️LET IT ALL WORKOUT ‼️ #AGTG #GoGophers #SkiUMah #Hyp22 #nflbond #elite @Coach_Fleck @Haynes_Gophers @coachharasymiak @GopherFootball @LamotheDerek @coach8099 @cutt2dachase pic.twitter.com/unW24SBQHy

— Tariq “Triii” Watson ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@CantStopTk1) June 20, 2021

Track Star

Lucky for us, 247Sports has also kept track of Tariq Watson’s track career (pun intended), where last month he placed second in the Louisiana 4A state 200 meters and third in the 100 meters. Speed on the track in the spring doesn’t guarantee anything when you step onto the football field, come fall.

But if a defensive back can combine elite speed with a knack for finding the football, good things happen. That’s what PJ Fleck and Co are hoping they’ve found in Watson.

Other Offers/Highlights

As of May 8, Watson didn’t have an offer to play division-I college football. Since then, he’s received power-5 offers from Virginia (May 11), Purdue (May 13), Washington State (June 6) and Minnesota (June 9).

It’s difficult to foresee what will happen with these 2022 recruits, as they enter their senior seasons this fall and scouts from various services get their eyes on them over the next six months. Tariq, however, does seem like a kid who PJ Fleck and his staff will be happy they got in on early.

You always want to take a player’s high school highlight reel with a grain of salt. You’ll always see their best plays and none of their mistakes. But, I do like how Watson repeatedly finds his way to the football and then delivers punishment in his hudl film. An unwillingness to get dirty is difficult to hide, even in a highlight package.

Father’s Day commits piling up

Watson was only the start of what is turning out to be a big morning for PJ Fleck and the Minnesota Gophers. Since writing this blog, they’ve had two more commitments from the southern USA. Rhyland Kelly is another 3-star cornerback (Clearwater, FL) and Aiden Gousby is a 3-star wide receiver (Lehigh Acres, FL).

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan