On national signing day, Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck is in his element, sharing engaging stories about each high school recruit in the current class. While he sometimes talks for 45 minutes or more, on Wednesday, he kept it shorter, partly because head coaches were unable to visit prospects’ homes this December due to the early signing window being pushed up two weeks.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema expressed his disappointment about losing the opportunity to visit recruits’ homes, calling it “a travesty.” Nevertheless, Fleck made the most of Wednesday by providing insights and highlights about each of the incoming players in the 2025 class.
Connections are Key Former Gophers linebacker Mac Stephens, now the head coach at Cleveland Heights High School in Ohio, played a crucial role in helping the Gophers sign Jayquan Stubbs, a highly sought-after recruit known for his impressive 6-foot-6, 265-pound frame and athleticism that translates well to basketball. Stephens’ daily presence likely boosted the Gophers’ chances of securing the nearly four-star defensive lineman, who is the third-highest-rated recruit for the U.
“It was fantastic to have a former Gopher at the high school every day,” Fleck said. “While he never directed Stubbs where to go, he was incredibly supportive. I can’t thank Coach Mac enough for helping us and speaking so highly of his experience here.”
Stephens played for the U from 1986 to 1989 and went on to spend three seasons in the NFL, including a stint with the Vikings in 1991. Stubbs, a standout track and field athlete, also received offers from teams such as Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Rutgers, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Purdue.
Class Rankings As of Friday, the Gophers’ recruiting class had slipped out of the top 50 nationally and fallen to 15th in the 18-team Big Ten after running back Shane Marshall chose to stay at Georgia Tech and safety Grant Grayton committed to Kentucky. While Grayton’s departure was expected, Marshall’s decision was a surprise.
“We have 20 players who have signed, and that’s our focus,” Fleck said at his late-morning press conference. Later that evening, the Gophers added their 21st member, running back Trey Berry from Montgomery, Alabama, who effectively replaces Marshall.
Expanding Westward Fleck’s recruiting efforts had previously focused mostly on the Mountain and Pacific time zones, but this year the Gophers signed five players from the West. These efforts are primarily built on relationships. For instance, former assistant coach Jahmile Addae helped recruit future NFL safety Jordan Howden from Las Vegas in 2018.
For this current expansion, Fleck credited offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh, offensive analyst Keegan O’Hara, and tight ends coach Eric Koehler for their connections. Fleck encouraged them to explore opportunities in the west, stating, “Let’s see what we can do out there. Let’s see what kind of luck we can have.”
“It wasn’t just about the student-athletes; it was about finding the right fit,” he added. “We’ll go anywhere as long as there’s a good fit.”
The recruits from the West include: quarterback Jackson Kollock from Laguna Beach, California; receiver Legend Lyons from Covina, California; offensive tackle Daniel Shipp from Corona, California; interior offensive lineman Mark Handy from Albuquerque; and interior lineman Nick Spence from Peoria, Arizona.
Harden’s Commitment Covington, Georgia, defensive back Zach Harden was the first commitment for the Gophers’ class last March and was announced as their first signed player on Wednesday.
“For him to remain committed despite interest from Southeastern Conference schools says a lot about his character,” Fleck noted.
Harden, who had three interception returns for touchdowns last season, attracted interest from schools including Auburn, Mississippi, and Texas A&M.
Player Comparisons Fleck compared several incoming players to both past and present Gophers, noting that while he didn’t suggest they would become these players, they share attributes that are reminiscent of them. For instance, defensive end Enoch Atewogbola is compared to current Seattle Seahawk Boye Mafe; receiver Legend Lyons to Los Angeles Ram Tyler Johnson; linebacker Ethan Stendel to all-Big Ten linebacker Cody Lindenberg; Kaveon Lee of Plainfield to Big Ten offensive lineman of the year Aireontae Ersery; and Stubbs to defensive tackle Deven Eastern.
Other Tidbits Bradley Martino, a top-30 wide receiver in the nation, will travel from Naples, Florida, to San Antonio for the Navy All-American Bowl on January 11. Abu Tarawallie, a highly sought-after defensive lineman from Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove, aspires to become a neurosurgeon and has African roots, with his father frequently traveling to Africa. Stendel, who lives on a 60-acre farm near Caledonia, is described by Fleck as a “good farm boy.” Shipp possesses an impressive 80-inch wingspan, while Handy is a state champion wrestler aiming for a pre-med track at the U. Nate Cleveland, from Hoffman Estates, Illinois, will play linebacker at the U but had an impressive season as a quarterback with 1,228 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. The Gophers also took an interest in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, defensive lineman Rhett Hlavacka, impressed by his basketball skills, especially his windmill and behind-the-back dunks. Interestingly, the Badgers, referred to by Fleck as “the border school,” did not extend an offer to Hlavacka. Additionally, cornerback Naiim Parrish has won four state championships with New Jersey powerhouse Bergen Catholic.
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