Recruiting – Page 2 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U 2027 Recruiting Class Ranks High But Linemen Hold Key

Posted on May 19, 2026May 19, 2026 by David Shama

The 2027 University of Minnesota football recruiting class has 16 verbal commitments so far and is No. 14 in the 247Sports national rankings but Ryan Burns wants to see a lot more.

The Minnesota-based recruiting authority whose reporting and analysis is read on GopherIllustrated told Sports Headliners the class could finish with a “23ish” national ranking. He expects the Gophers to add 7 to 8 more players and hopes that will include valued offensive and defensive linemen.

The class currently has two offensive and two defensive linemen. Offensive line coach Brian Callahan and defensive line coach C.J. Robbins are challenged to bring in what Burns calls “tier 1 guys.”

The offense finished 17^th last season in the 18-team Big Ten, averaging less than 300 yards per game. The line struggled including with the running game. Burns believes “if you just can’t run the ball five-five in the box in the Big Ten…you’re just never going to be able to do much.”

Burns said the Gophers didn’t recruit effectively with offensive linemen from 2022-2024. He wants to see what Callahan can do heading into the summer “to hit on some more…guys to finish off this offensive line class.”

Right now, Minnesota has verbal commitments from three-star offensive linemen Will Clausen from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Joseph Hamer of Lakeville South. Burns said the Gophers would “love to add” three-star Milwaukee offensive tackle Jamail Sewell to their list.

It’s a truism forever in football that the best teams are outstanding on the line of scrimmage. The Gophers finished 11^th last season in defense, including giving up 331.6 yards per game rushing which ranked in the middle of the conference.

Minnesota has a verbal commit from four-star Wayzata High School defensive lineman Eli Diane and three-star d-lineman Gage Geyer from Edina. Burns said Diane hasn’t played since he was a sophomore and he is coming off back surgery. So, until Diane gets back on the field his ability to play and perform at a high level are unknowns.

Burns likes Geyer and his athleticism. Listed at 6-5, 270-pounds, Geyer is also an outstanding hockey player.

Reiterating on the importance of linemen, Burns said that every year he wants to see the Gophers hit on “100 percent” of their targets on both sides of the ball.

The Gophers have two other four-star recruits. Brooks Bakko the tight end from Kindred, North Dakota and safety Tate Wallace from Iowa City.

Ryan Burns photo provided by Ryan, fall 2025 — Ryan Burns

Burns is more than excited about Bakko playing for the Gophers. He believes Bakko could join the tight end alumni from Minnesota who have gone on to play in the NFL including Maxx Williams. “The kid from Kindred (population about 1,000), North Dakota, I think has a chance to be really, really special here,” Burns said.

The Gophers beat out Nebraska, Notre Dame and Wisconsin for Wallace who Iowa reportedly didn’t get in on early. Burns compared him to a “souped up Matt Kingsbury,” a physical linebacker and likely starter for the Gophers this fall.

Wallace was recruited by former Gopher linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin who played for Minnesota from 2018-2022. Entering his second season as Gopher linebackers coach, the personable Sori-Marin has impressed with his recruiting. “I think he does a really good job of connecting with the kids,” Burns said.

The Gophers’ most recent commit is safety Taylor Daniels from West Orange, New Jersey. Minnesota beat out Michigan State defensive coordinator Joe Rossi (former Gopher coordinator) for the three-star recruit, just as they did with three-star linebacker Kason Clayborne from Sioux City, Iowa.

Burns likes the Daniels get. “I mean to me, if he were a couple inches taller. He’s 5-10 right now, but say he was 6 foot. He could be going to, I mean, pick your helmet school and they would be throwing a lot of money at him.”

Who could rise up this fall in the rankings among the Minnesota recruits? “ I think the wildcard of this class is going to be the quarterback from California, Furian Inferrera,” Burns said.

A three-star recruit, he’s ranked lowest on Minnesota’s list in evaluation points by 247 but right now that makes sense. He missed his junior season in 2025 because of a knee issue so there isn’t a lot of data on him, but Burns said the talent is apparent.

The quirk about the 2027 class (players can sign agreements in December) is having four players from the same Minnesota high school. If the fall roster shows that, it appears historic.

It’s not easy to document but a researcher might have to examine rosters prior to the World Wars to find such an instance. A time when many of the players came from Minneapolis and St. Paul high schools.

“It is a very rare thing,” Burns concurred. “I can’t find a single instance in at least modern times that four kids from the same Minnesota high school are going to be playing for the Golden Gophers.”

All the Moorhead High School recruits are three-stars: quarterback Jett Feeney, wide receiver David Mack, running back Taye Reich and cornerback Zak Walker.

The Spuds will be a “circle it game” for opponents next season because of their Gopher connections and with the team being a favorite to win the 6A state championship. Feeney told Burns the Spuds are ready for the spotlight, remarking that “pressure is earned.”

Moorhead lost to Edina in the state title game last fall. On October 23 this year the Hornets travel to Moorhead in a game that could take on legendary status. Ticket prices might reflect that, too.

Gopher coach P.J. Fleck and his staff have the annual Summer Splash recruiting camps coming up in Minneapolis the weekends of May 29 and June 12. Those periods typically result in more verbal commits for the Gophers.

Burns said among the players to follow is four-star cornerback Daniel Yebit. Burns said the Yukon, Oklahoma player is someone Minnesota co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach Nick Monroe “has been on for a very long time.”

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Stay Tuned on Niko Medved, Gophers Basketball Recruiting

Posted on April 8, 2026April 8, 2026 by David Shama

There’s a buzz, including with potential recruits, around Niko Medved’s University of Minnesota basketball program. Don’t be surprised at the program’s success during the transfer portal period that started yesterday and ends April 21.

It’s believed Medved will have a program high of over $7 million to pay players for next season. This is a combined pot of athletic department revenue share money and dollars from donors for Name, Image and Likeness.

Athletic departments in the Big Ten and elsewhere don’t disclose NIL budgets to pay players for activities such as TV commercials, social media endorsements and personal appearances. However, it’s believed the Gophers NIL budget for the coming year could be at least $3.5 million, with a similar amount coming from the U athletic department. Bottom line is Medved will have more money to work with than his first season and word is his budgets from the two sources put Minnesota in the middle range among the Big Ten’s 18 men’s basketball programs.

Niko Medved, Gophers hoops coach, photo by David Shama — Niko Medved

A lot of fans, particularly older generations, bemoan the recent development of paying players in several different sports including men’s basketball and football. But the truth is this allows the Gophers to generally recruit higher level talent than in the past. The Gophers are financially competitive with Big Ten rivals and superior to mid-major programs ranging from Appalachian State to Wichita State.

Hired in March of 2025, Medved showed coaching and culture building skills that suggest promise of making the Gophers a conference contender. The likeable and principled Minnesota native is a big hit with fans including program donors.

Just as important, the players enjoy the program. Evidence of such are his starters with remaining eligibility who are committed to new compensation deals and playing for the 2026-2027 team.

What Medved is trying to do now is fill out the roster around guard Isaac Asuma, and forwards Bobby Durkin, Grayson Grove and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson. It could be that transfers will include former Orono High guard Nolan Groves (Texas Tech) and guard Kyan Evans, who played for Medved at Colorado State prior to joining North Carolina.

Underline this prediction: in coming seasons the Gopher roster will include European players. Talent from overseas is becoming more prevalent in college basketball and Medved is a savvy recruiter with skills that include identifying under the radar talent.

Illinois’ roster included six European players this past season. The Illini made their way to the Final Four this spring. In an early top 25 teams for next season listing by The Athletic’s C.J. Moore, Illinois is No. 1.

The Gophers’ momentum in recruiting success and help for next season started months ago with a three-man recruiting class that 247Sports ranks No. 9 in the Big Ten. The talent meter will be going up with the 2026 freshmen class of four-star small forward Nolen Anderson (Wayzata) and two three-stars, center Chadrack Mpoyi (Crean Lutheran, Irvine, Calif.) and point guard Cedric Tomes (East Ridge).

Worth Noting

With its money and prestige, the Big Ten will be at the forefront of power teams in college football and basketball. Indiana won the national championship in football earlier this year and Michigan earned the national title in men’s basketball earlier this week.

In Moore’s top 25 for next year, he has Michigan No. 2 with Michigan State, Nebraska and Iowa also highly ranked.

Gophers departing senior Cade Tyson, the team’s leading scorer, will participate in the 72nd-annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, April 15-18 in Portsmouth, Virginia. Tyson is one of 64 men’s basketball seniors selected for the event, which is a showcase for pro basketball scouts.

Twins right-hander Taj Bradley is among the hottest pitchers in baseball with a 2-0 record and 1.08 ERA. With 22 strikeouts in 16.2 innings, only six other pitchers have whiffed more batters.

Bradley, in his first full season with the Twins, has won two of the club’s five games and could be part of a high quality big three starting staff next season if Minnesota doesn’t trade Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez recovers from arm surgery.

In what figures to be a playoff atmosphere tomorrow night in Dallas, the Stars host the Wild in what is likely to be a preview of a post season matchup of Central Division power houses. The Wild has won two of the previous three games this season and home ice in the playoffs is likely on the line.

Left wing Matt Boldy (2-2=4) and right-wing Vladimir Tarasenko (1-3=4) lead the Wild with four points each in the series. Left wing Kirill Kaprizov has three points (1-2=3).

The University of St. Thomas hires quality coaches, and it looks like the Tommies hit the bullseye with Mandy Pearson as the new women’s basketball coach. She won Coach of the Year awards during stretches at Minnesota Duluth and St. Mary’s (Minnesota)—two challenging places to win. She was a first team All-American at Concordia College (Minnesota).

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Hard to Believe Koi Perich Won’t Move on from Gophers

Posted on January 2, 2026January 2, 2026 by David Shama

Koi Perich, the home state hero, has his name in the college football transfer portal. He reportedly hasn’t decided whether he will transfer or return to the Gophers for his junior season next fall.

If the Esko, Minnesota native didn’t intend to move on, why place his name in the portal window which opened today and runs through January 16? Perich, who was a Sporting News second-team All-American as a freshman safety in 2024, already knows how much money he can earn playing for the Gophers. He’s also familiar with the coaches, teammates, program environment and 2026 expectations.

By declaring the Gophers are still in the picture, Perich does give himself leverage when he and his representatives consider offers from other programs. The posture also takes some public “heat” off him in his home state.

“This is definitely not about the money,” an authoritative sports source told Sports Headliners today about Perich’s motivations.

Make no mistake. The University of Minnesota football program wants to retain Perich. For the coming season the Gophers might be willing to pay him low seven-figures in combined revenue share and Name, Image and Likeness money for his expected final season of college football before he declares for the 2027 NFL Draft.

Gophers football star Koi Perich — Koi Perich photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

That’s really stretching the budget because college safeties usually have a compensation ceiling under $1 million (see August 24 Max Olson ESPN.com story on money value per positions in college football). The Gophers, though, could be willing to go higher based on Perich’s resume of being among the more talented and experienced safeties in college football, plus his value as a kick and punt returner, and part-time availability as a receiver and runner on offense.

The Miamis, Ohio States and Oregons have the resources to outbid the Gophers on Perich but his decision whether to move on is probably first about playing for a program that can realistically compete for conference and national championships. The last two seasons the Gophers have produced 8-5 overall and 5-4 conference records.

A talented and motivated Perich wants to win every game. That’s not realistic at Minnesota where last month the team had to go into overtime to defeat non-power four conference New Mexico in the Rate Bowl. In 2025 Minnesota was embarrassed in conference losses to Ohio State and Oregon by a combined score of 84-16.

Perich almost chose Ohio State coming out of high school where he was a four-star recruit and one of the nation’s best safety prospects. A last-minute decision sent him to coach P.J. Fleck’s program which just completed its ninth season under his leadership.

In Columbus the Buckeyes are presumably losing All-American safety Caleb Downs who is eligible for the NFL Draft after playing three seasons for Ohio State. Perich could step in and start, while being surrounded by a much more talented group of teammates.

Oregon star safety Dillon Thieneman is also a junior and eligible for the draft. Downs, Thieneman and Perich are all free safeties.

And at Miami, Perich could join his former Gopher defensive coordinator Cory Hetherman who has the same role for the Hurricanes. Miami and Oregon are still alive in the college football playoffs while Ohio State, the 2025 defending national champions, was eliminated New Year’s Eve in a semi-final loss to the Hurricanes. Those three programs offer the opportunity to play on college football’s biggest stages.

Home state college heart strings and the opportunity to play in front of family don’t figure to keep Perich in a Gopher uniform. Growing up in the small town of Esko outside of Duluth, it was the Vikings who stirred his deep passion, not the Gophers. And with the money Perich can now command in college football, he can afford to pay for his family to see him play anywhere in the country.

When Perich was a freshman, he did a memorable late October interview with Paul Allen on KFAN Radio. He talked about how the Gophers, despite their 5-3 record, were a top 10 caliber team. Call it naïve for him to say what he did, or just a young man talking about aspirations for his team, to this listener his comments were telling about his desires.

Neither the eye test nor the Pro Football Focus analysis verify that Perich was as effective last season as his first. His interception total, for example, was down from five to one, while offenses strategized to avoid his area on the field. PFF graded him 88.9 for his overall performance as a safety in 2024, one of the best numbers in the country for his position. This year his grade was 62.4.

It’s emotionally difficult for Gopher fans to think about the 2026 season without their home state hero. However, even if Perich returned for the coming year, it was definitely going to be his last in college football. From the start it’s believed his plan was to play three years and then move on to the NFL.

There is also solace in knowing the safety position isn’t as important as several others on the team. That list starts with quarterback and includes offensive and defensive linemen. Pushed for an answer, college football authorities would generally prefer a superb cornerback to a gifted safety.

If this is goodbye with Perich, be grateful it’s not redshirt sophomore quarterback Drake Lindsey departing. Or junior running back Darius Taylor who announced today he will return rather than opt for the 2026 NFL Draft.

While in no way diminishing the contribution of Perich, the source referenced above said losing Perich will not be “catastrophic” for the program.

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