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Commitments begin flowing in for Gophers after huge recruiting weekend

It's a big day for P.J. Fleck and Minnesota's 2026 football recruiting class.
Will Ragatz|
Nov 29, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck looks on during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium.
Nov 29, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck looks on during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Golden Gophers

This was a huge recruiting weekend for the Gophers and their 2026 recruiting class. In an event they call "Summer Splash," P.J. Fleck and company had 25 high school recruits from that class on campus over the past few days. And now, as expected, some of them have made the decision to verbally commit to Minnesota.

OT Mataalii Benjamin

Benjamin is a three-star offensive tackle from Utah with an impressive list of offers. He chose the Gophers over Oklahoma State, Arizona, Nebraska, Arkansas, Utah, Texas A&M, and Washington, among other programs. Benjamin was scheduled to take official visits to Nebraska, Arkansas, and Utah in June but has now committed to the Gophers, who offered him in February. Listed at 6'6" and 305 pounds, he's ranked as 247Sports' No. 45 OT in the 2026 class.

OT Daniel McMorris

McMorris is also a three-star offensive tackle with big-time offers. Other power five schools who recruited him include Wisconsin, Stanford, Washington State, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Iowa State, and Northwestern. Hailing from Norman, Oklahoma, McMorris is listed at 6'5" and 255 pounds, though he'll obviously continue to fill out his frame. He's 247Sports' No. 29 OT in the class.

The Gophers now have four offensive tackles committed in their 2026 class: Andrew Trout (Rocori, MN), McMorris, Gavin Meier (Janesville, WI), and Benjamin. All four are ranked among the top 45 OTs in the country among 2026 recruits.

LB Angel Luciano

Luciano is a three-star linebacker from Harrisburg, PA. Listed at 6'3" and 220 pounds, he chose the Gophers over schools like Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Pitt, and Syracuse. He's the second LB in Minnesota's 2026 class.

Edge Aaden Aytch

Aytch is a 6'4" pass rusher from Lafayette, IN who was previously committed to Northern Illinois. He picked up other recent offers from schools like Iowa, Michigan State, and Kentucky, all of whom he was scheduled to visit in June. Aytch is a rising recruit who is the first edge defender in the Gophers' 2026 class.

Edge Anthony Charles

Charles, the Gophers' second edge commit of the day, is a 6'5" pass rusher from McDonald, PA. He picked the Gophers over Big Ten rivals Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan State, as well as West Virginia and Syracuse.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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