How have Gophers recruiting classes panned out under PJ Fleck?
The Minnesota Gophers are putting together an excellent recruiting class this summer. They currently rank 16th in 247Sports' composite rankings and are fueled by one of their highest-ranked recruits in the history of the program: Wisconsin offensive lineman Nathan Roy.
While that class could have been even better had Rogers four-star defensive end Wyatt Gilmore chosen the Gophers over Oklahoma this week, the future looks bright. Whether the highly-touted recruits pan out is a question no one knows.
Fleck's recruiting classes have unearthed some gems but as is the case with most college programs, the hype doesn't always match the finished product. Here's a look at how some of Fleck's recruiting classes have turned out since he arrived in Minnesota in 2017.
2017
The 2017 class was ranked 60th in 247Sports' composite rankings but it turned out to be the foundation for one of the best Gopher teams in the past century.
Fleck's first class at Minnesota didn't have any four-star recruits but it solidified the offensive line with three-star recruits Blaise Andries and John Michael Schmitz. Andries went on to play four seasons with the Gophers and was signed by the Miami Dolphins as a UDFA last season while Schmitz was selected with the 57th overall pick by the New York Giants in this year's NFL Draft.
The Gophers also built the foundation of their offense when Tanner Morgan flipped his commitment from Western Michigan to Minnesota. Chris Autman-Bell and Mohamed Ibrahim were also brought in with this class while Esezi Otomewo, now with the Vikings, was recruited as a key part of the Gopher defense.
2018
Fleck brought a little more sizzle in 2018 with a recruiting class that ranked 38th in the nation. The cornerstones of this class were a trio of four-star recruits that included Rashod Bateman, Curtis Dunlap and Daniel Faalele.
Dunlap and Faalele made their presence on the offensive line in short order and were key to the 2019 team's success. Dunlap is currently the Gophers' 10th highest-rated recruit in program history dating back to 2005 but he transferred to Rutgers prior to last season and is preparing for his senior season with the Scarlett Knights.
Faalele proved to be one of the largest recruits in Gophers' history and provided one of the most memorable moments in recent history by scoring a touchdown in the 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl before he was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The biggest catch of this class was Bateman, who went on to have one of the most productive careers in program history despite playing just three seasons in Minnesota. Bateman currently ranks sixth in receptions (147) and receiving yards (2,395) and fifth in touchdowns (19) and those numbers could have been better if it weren't for the shortened season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Gophers also added current starting tight end Brevyn Span-Ford and Mariano Sori-Marin, who started at linebacker for the Gophers the past two seasons.
2019
The class ranked 49th in the nation but didn't have many notable names outside of four-star safety Tyler Nubin.
Nubin has started for the Gophers the past two seasons and was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team last season. He is currently viewed as one of the top safeties in the country heading into next season and The Athletic's Dane Brugler projected him as a potential first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Gophers also got some luck in the transfer portal, adding Benjamin St. Juste from Michigan. St. Juste played in 18 games for the Gophers before he was selected in the third round by the Washington Commanders in the 2021 NFL Draft.
2020
The class ranked 39th in the composite rankings but has yet to produce a key contributor for the Gophers.
Daniel Jackson was a four-star receiver out of Kansas but has yet to break out in an offense that desperately needs a playmaker. According to Gopher Illustrated's Ryan Burns, Jackson is projected as a starter along with Western Michigan transfer Corey Crooms and Autman-Bell this coming season.
Fellow four-star recruit Itayvion Brown hit the transfer portal and went to Michigan State but the linebacker was dismissed from the team after his involvement in a brawl during last year's game against Michigan and gun charges stemming from an incident last March.
Three-star running back Ky Thomas was also part of this class, but he transferred to Kansas following the 2021 season.
2021
Although the class only ranked 39th in the composite rankings, this might be Fleck's most heralded class with four four-star recruits. While two have transferred, there are two players that could make a big impact with the Gophers this season.
This Gopher class was bit by the transfer portal as four-star recruits Steven Ortiz and Bucky Irving transferred after a short stint in Minnesota. While Ortiz transferred to UMass after his freshman season, Irving headed to Oregon where he racked up 1,058 yards and eight total touchdowns with the Ducks last season.
Deven Eastern was also a four-star recruit in this class and will have a chance to start along the defensive line this season, but the success of this class may hinge on Athan Kaliakmanis, who is slated to be the Gophers' starting quarterback this fall.
Kaliakmanis has gotten plenty of praise after taking over for Morgan last season and showed a glimpse of the future by throwing for 319 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Wisconsin last November.
2022
The 2022 class ranked 52nd and carried some bad luck. Eden Prairie recruit Trey Bixby was a four-star defensive lineman but contracted an illness during the 2020 season. After dropping from 240 pounds to 200 pounds, the Gophers honored his commitment but he never played a game for Minnesota before medically retiring last March.
The Gophers also lost another big name when three-star quarterback Jacob Knuth left the team last spring. The good side of this class comes in the form of four-star defensive lineman Anthony Smith, who is competing for a spot at strong-side defensive end. Three-star running back Zach Evans could earn some carries in a wide-open backfield this season as well.
2023
The class ranked 52nd in the nation and leaned heavily on in-state talent. Osseo's Jerome Williams was the biggest name out of the group but the four-star offensive lineman is likely to redshirt in his freshman season.
What can we learn?
Unlike building a dynasty on NCAA Football 14, recruiting is hard in today's landscape of college football. Players that turn out to be "can't miss" recruits often turn out to be what could have beens and sometimes luck can be a factor.
Still, Fleck has provided some key players for the next few seasons and it could help the Gophers compete even as the Big Ten welcomes USC and UCLA in the coming seasons.
