There’s no arguing that high school recruiting has taken a backseat to the portal in modern day college football. But that doesn’t mean recruiting top high schoolers isn’t crucial to building a sustainable program.

Satellite camps are still held on campuses throughout the country throughout the offseason and coaches still travel from coast-to-coast throughout the year, meeting with high schoolers they are interested in. At the end of the day — transfer portal or not — you can’t make a good college athlete without playing high school first.

Minnesota Gophers land No. 1 in-state recruit, Roman Voss

But on Monday, they got their biggest commitment of the class, in Top 150 4-star recruit out of Jackson, MN, Roman Voss (ATH), who verbally committed to the Minnesota Gophers at 5 PM CDT, as scheduled.

The 6-4, 225 lb high school junior told Ryan Burns (247Sports) that he committed is staying home because of PJ Fleck and his coaching staff and the work they have put in to build a relationship with him going back to middle school.

All Glory To God. Home 🏠 https://t.co/YCWXCvyGQX

— Roman Voss (@romanvoss2) June 23, 2025

“They were my first ever offer, and they’ve been recruiting me the longest,” Voss explained as to why he ultimately chose Minnesota over Alabama. “And I just have a very, very good connection with tight ends coach Eric Koehler. I mean, that’s my guy. I love him. He loves me. And I think we have a really, really good connection. I think we’re going to do special things at Minnesota.”

Roman Voss (via 247Sports)

The ability to hit the transfer portal and be granted immediate eligibility with your new school has changed the game. Toss in the ability to make hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the school’s financial wherewithal and player’s talent level, college football is now a second-tier professional football league.

And for now, it’s a league made up of one-year handshake contracts that may or may not be legally binding. Not only has the new landscape affected teams through the transfer portal, but it has made keeping top commits even more difficult.

What are the Gophers getting in Roman Voss

When Burns asked Voss whether or not he will hold his commitment through the end of the year, when National Letters of Intent are signed, the hometown kid made it clear that he has zero intentions on changing his mind, saying, “I’m now 100% committed”.

Voss — who played QB in high school — also confirmed in interviews with top recruiting sites that he is committed to the Minnesota Gophers as a tight end. He told Burns that the Gophers have a nice offensive package they’ve presented to him that includes plenty of time lined up out wide, and even some time as a wildcat QB.

Not only did he choose Minnesota over Alabama, but he also held offers from Auburn, Cal, Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois, Miami, Wisconsin, USC and Oklahoma (among others). For yet another recruiting class, PJ Fleck what many thought not that long ago was impossible.

As long as his commitment holds, Voss will join the last two top in-state high school recruits in Dinkytown. Koi Perich committed/signed in 2024 and 2023 top in-state recruit Jaxon Howard transferred back home following one homesick year at LSU.

At this point in history, collegiate sports are run by the transfer portal and NIL money. Rarely can incoming freshman make an immediate impact at the college level. But Perich proved last year that staying home can help make that immediate impact dream come true too.

Local or not, Fleck is reeling in the talent

But whether these kids make the trip then, or another time during the summer, the point is to show off the Land of 10,000 Lakes when it can be appreciated most. After the Voss commit, the Minnesota Gophers’ 2026 class now ranks 14th in the country.

New commits like Ryan Estrada (RB) and Trason Richardson (S) are from Texas. Josiah Anyansi (DL) is out of Cali. Others hail from Missouri and Ohio, which I promise have much different winters than Minnesota. These are recruits who committed this month, alone.

This week, though, may be PJ’s most crucial high school recruiting week since the pride of Esko, Koi Perich, was choosing between the Gophers and Ohio State 1.5 years ago. And it starts right away on Monday, when the No. 1 rated high school football player in Minnesota (247Sports) will announce his verbal commitment.

Decision Day from top 2026 MN football recruit, Roman Voss

Roman Voss is a 4-star athlete (91 OVR) out of Jackson, MN. Prior to Monday’s decision, Voss’ list of schools — which had included Auburn, Cal, Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois, Miami, Wisconsin, USC and Oklahoma (among others) — had already been whittled down to two schools — his home-state Gophers and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Voss played mostly quarterback at Jackson High, but both Minnesota and Alabama want the 6’4″ 225 lb freak athlete as a tight end. You don’t have to watch his highlights long to see why.

I will be making my college decision Monday June 23rd! pic.twitter.com/HESSk7NECX

— Roman Voss (@romanvoss2) June 20, 2025

Since the 2025 calendar turned to June, the Minnesota Gophers have landed a whopping 14 commitments for the class of 2026. Weekend after weekend, PJ Fleck and his coaching staff have been cycling dozens of the most talented high school football players in the nation through Dinkytown.

Related: Minnesota Gophers Land Highest-Rated Running Back Recruit in Over a Decade

The Gophers’ 2026 class — which now has 23 total commits — has vaulted all the way up to No. 16 in the country, according to 247Sports. Because this summer has been an unmitigated success on the 2026 (and a little 2027) high school recruiting trail.

(ATH) Pierce Petersohn picking Gopher Football or Penn State

But Roman Voss isn’t the only in-state freak athlete the Minnesota Gophers are chasing this week. The other — 3-star (89 OVR – ATH) Pierce Petersohn — is out of Triton High School, near Dodge Center. He too is down to two schools, one being his home-state Gophers, the other being Big Ten rival, Penn State.

247Sports has Petersohn (ATH) — who stands at 6’5″, 195 lbs and played QB/FS at Triton — ranked as the 4th best high school football player in the state. Other recruiting sites like him even more, which is why he is a composite 4-star recruit.

One intriguing thing to watch with Pierce — Penn State wants him as a tight end, while Minnesota — who already has one tight end commit and could be on the verge of two — is recruiting him as a linebacker. Petersohn also held offers from Duke, Iowa, Iowa State and Kansas State, before recently narrowing his list down to two.

Where’s home?! pic.twitter.com/9Mxp7i0qna

— Pierce Petersohn (2026) (@PiercePetersohn) June 18, 2025

Last week alone, Minnesota reeled eight more commits into PJ’s 2026 recruiting boat, a grab that included the second (247Sports) four-star of the Golden Gophers’ 2026 class — Forest Lake defensive lineman, Howie Johnson.

Most take their visit during the two-week “Summer Splash” event, which is used mostly to convince out of state recruits that Minnesota is not a frozen wasteland year-round.

Yet, the best players in modern Minnesota Gophers history were born and raised in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Let’s hope both of these kids decide to follow their path to becoming a hometown legend.