National Signing Day Central: Live Minnesota football recruiting updates

Less than a month later, all three have decommitted. After Salley and Graham decommitted from the program late last month, flipping their commitments to Kansas State, Henson announced his decision to decommit on Wednesday afternoon during national signing day.

“I want to thank the entire Minnesota staff for believing in me and offering me the opportunity to be a part of your program,” Henson said in a statement. “After careful consideration, I have decided to de-commit, and my recruitment is 100% open.”

A potential developing story. Juco defensive tackle KJ Henson remains unsigned. The Hutchinson Community College standout committed to the program earlier this month alongside Derrick Salley and MJ Graham. Both Salley and Graham have since flipped their commitments to Kansas State and, as of 10:18 A.M. have both signed with the Wildcats — so this does not appear to be a delay on Hutchinson’s end.

QB Brady Palmer
6-foot-3 | 190 | Cathedral Catholic (CA)

California signal caller Brady Palmer makes it official after committing to the Golden Gophers over the weekend, and committing on an official visit. Palmer, this fall for Cathedral Catholic, has completed 88-of-120 passing attempts for 1,777 yards and 17 touchdowns with three interceptions while leading Cathedral Catholic to a 10-2 overall record. For his high school career, Palmer has thrown for 2,903 yards and 33 touchdowns with 8 interceptions

DL Josiah Anyansi
6-foot-3 | 235 | Murrieta Valley (CA)

The California edge rusher, by the way of Atlanta, Georgia, is officially a Gopher. Missed most of his senior season with an injury but had a productive junior season with 45 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Committed to Minnesota over offers from UNLV, Boston College, and Boise State, among numerous other P4 and Group of Six offers.

OL Aaron Thomas
6-foot-5 | 290 | Mountain Pointe (AZ)

Relationships won out with Thomas in the end. After recruiting the Arizona prospect heavily early in his recruitment, the Gophers eventually faded in his recruitment, and he committed to Ohio State. However, this fall Thomas decommitted from Ohio State and a few days later committed to the Gophers. The Arizona offensive lineman has a ton of upside, but is on the rawer side so patience will be needed in his development.

LB Hudson Dunn
6-foot-1 | 210 | Liberty (AZ)

Arizona linebacker Hudson Dunn officially becomes a Gopher. A talented and productive prospect, the Gophers committed to Minnesota in May over numerous other offers, including Arizona, Arizona State, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, and the list goes on. Dunn was very highly recruited, and it was a major recruiting win for Mariano Sori-Marin early in his coaching career.

RB Ryan Estrada
5-foot-11 | 185 | El Dorado (AZ)

A superbly talented running back out of Texas, Estrada is one of the steals of the cycle for Minnesota. A potential early impact player, Estrada ran for over 7,500 yards and 90 touchdowns in his career. Also took official visits to Oklahoma State, Missouri, and Michigan. while holding offers from Alabama, Baylor, Oklahoma, SMU, Texas Tech, and Wisconsin, among others.

WR Rico Blassingame
6-foot-3 | 185 | Tolleson Union (AZ)

A talented wide receiver out of Arizona, by the way of Washington, Blassingame committed to the Gophers over nearly two dozen other offers. Committed to the Gophers last spring in March and never wavered from his commitment. Also took a junior day visit in February that really put the wheels in motion for that commitment. Recorded 65 receptions for 1,001 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior.

WR Josiah Dozier
6-foot-2 | 200 | Moody (AL)

On Wednesday morning, Minnesota inked a commitment and signing from former USF wide receiver commitment Josiah Dozier. He notably visited the Gophers in October on an official visit and picked up an offer on October 11.

The Alabama wide receiver was committed to USF since April 5, but after Alex Golesh left USF for The Flats of Auburn, Dozier decommitted from the Bulls. Dozier, in his recruitment, also notably held an offer from Ole Miss.

Doazier is ranked in the Rivals Industry Rankings as a top-920 player nationally and the No. 132 wide receiver in the 2026 recruiting cycle. He’s also considered a top-40 talent in the state of Alabama. This season, according to MaxPreps he recorded 42 receptions for 721 yards and 13 touchdowns, while totaling over 30 touchdowns in his career.

S Lamont Hamilton
6-foot-0 | 170 | St. Catherine’s (WI)

Hamilton committed to Minnesota in October after a mostly unheralded recruitment. Still a very good prospect overall and a very good athlete who projects well in the Gophers’ safety room. Versatile prospect. Multi-sport athlete who averaged over 30.0 points per game last year on the hardwood. This season offensively, he totaled 55 receptions for 907 yards and 13 touchdowns.

TE Roman Voss
6-foot-4 | 210 | Jackson County Central (MN)

One of the best athletes in Minnesota high school football history, Roman Voss, officially becomes a Golden Gopher after a prolific career at Jackson County Central. During his career, Voss totaled over 10,000 yards of total offense, including over 5,500 passing yards, 4,400 rushing yards, and 300 receiving yards. He played mostly quarterback for Jackson County Central but will be a tight end for the Golden Gophers. He’ll need time to adjust to the position as well as the need to add more mass to his frame, but once he sees the field, the upside is sky high for Voss.

Wisconsin tight end prospect George Rohl joins the Golden Gophers. An intriguing tight end prospect at 6-foot-8, there’s potential Rohl ends up as an offensive tackle at the next level, but he’ll start at tight end. Projects more as a potential blocking tight end than a pass blocker, but does have athletic upside and, of course, the size to be a consistent mismatch in the pass game.

OT Andrew Trout
6-foot-6 | 270 | Rocori Senior (MN)

The first commitment in the Gophers’ 2026 recruiting class makes it official. Trout was by far the leader of the class from a peer recruiting standpoint and a major reason for this class’s overall success. A four-star prospect according to the Rivals Industry Rankings. Ranked as a top-350 prospect nationally, and the No. 30 offensive tackle nationally.

TE Gabe Weaver
6-foot-5 | 215 | Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School (MO)

An intriguing tight end prospect out of Missouri, Weaver presents great size at 6-foot-5 and is a very good athlete who uses his size and length to his advantage. Ranked by Rivals as the no. 36 tight end in the country and a top-12 player in Missouri, higher than any other recruiting site. A little bit raw as a tight end still, but tremendous upside, who, paired with the other two tight ends in the class, is a really exciting addition for the program.

OL Gavin Meier
6-foot-6 | 295 | Parker (WI)

Another Wisconsin offensive lineman is coming to the Twin Cities. Meeier committed to the Gophers in March of last year over numerous other programs, including Auburn, Indiana, Northwestern, and Wisconsin. Meier is a high upside offensive lineman who has the potential to be a multi-year starter long term for the Gophers. Considered by Rivals to be a top-50 interior offensive linemen nationally and the No. 1 player in the state of Wisconsin.

WR Braiden Stevens
5-foot-10 | 160 | Platte County (MO)

A former South Dakota State commitment, Minnesota flipped Stevens in November after he officially visited the Gophers, James Madison, and West Virginia. The Gophers needed speed, and Stevens will bring plenty of that to Minneapolis. Has reportedly run a 40-yard dash in the 4.4 range, while also posting elite track numbers in the 100m, 4×100 m relay, and 4×200 m relay events.

OL Beckett Schreiber
6-foot-5 | 285 | Vel Phillips Memorial (WI)

The Gophers went into the backyard of the Wisconsin Badgers and plucked Beckett Schreiber out of Madison. The former Washington State commitment took a quiet visit to Minnesota in September and committed to the University of Minnesota on November 3, following a visit to Indiana.

S Jordan Lampkins
6-foot-0 | 175 | Bolingbrook (IL)

Illinois safety Jordan Lampkins committed to Minnesota over Bowling Green back in June while also holding offers from New Mexico, Toledo, and Wake Forest. Originally a native of Germantown, Maryland. As a senior, Lampkins posted 63 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Also a track star who was all-state as a junior in he long jump with a career best 7:05m.

CB Justin Hopkins
6-foot-0 | 160 | Ensworth (TN)

The three-star prospect and a consensus top-600 prospect nationally, Hopkins committed to Minnesota over a wide range of offers, including Tennessee, USC, Texas, Ole Miss, Iowa, Indiana, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Auburn, and others. Was a ballhawk for Ensworth with 10 career interceptions. He also had 73 career receptions for 1,503 yards and eight touchdowns in his high school career. He’s coached by former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselback.

S Tavian White
6-foot-0 | 175 | Waukee (IA)

The most recent commitment for the Gophers, doing so over the weekend, is officially now a part of the program. A former North Dakota commitment, White flipped to the Gophers after a gameday visit this past weekend. The Waukee, Iowa, native was an outstanding defensive back throughout his high school career, only allowing two touchdowns while also blocking five field goals. He’s considered a top-70 athlete nationally according to the Rivals Industry Rankings.

DL Howie Johnson
6-foot-4 | 255 | Forest Lake Senior (MN)

The best in Minnesota, stay in Minnesota, and that’s just what Howie Johnson is doing. The Forest Lake High School senior will make his way to the Twin Cities after a fantastic career for the Rangers, where he had over 260 career tackles, 88 tackles for loss, and 20 sacks. A Minnesota Mr. Football Finalist. Johnson is the Gophers’ highest-rated signee according to the Rivals Industry Rankings as No. 169 nationally, the No. 20 defensive linemen, and the No. 1 player in the state of Minnesota.

S Trason Richardson
6-foot-0 | 180 | Aslmeta Crawford (TX)

Richardson committed back in June to the Gophers over 13 other scholarship offers. Richardson didn’t receive an offer from the program until he arrived on campus for an official visit. On that visit, he checked all the boxes, received his offer, and committed. As a junior, he totaled 55 tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, and six pass breakups.

QB Owen Lansu
6-foot-1 | 180 | Downers Grove North (IL)

Lansu committed to the Golden Gophers early in the cycle, doing so on July 27, 2024, just about two months after receiving an offer from the program in May of 2024. He would stay strong with Minnesota throughout the process. In his high school career, he eclipsed the 5,000 career passing yards and 60 career touchdown mark and was an All-State selection.

WR Hayden Moore
6-foot-2 | 186 | Newberry (FL)

A dynamic wide receiver with good size, speed, and athleticism, Moore will make his way to the Twin Cities from Gainesville, Florida, right down the road from the University of Florida. The Newberry (FL) standout had nearly 2,600 career receiving yards and was a multiple-time first-team All-Area selection. In nine games this fall, Moore posted 30 receptions for 367 yards and three touchdowns.

RB Ezekiel Bates
5-foot-11 | 210 | Malvern Prep (PA)

The Pennsylvania tailback committed to Minnesota early in the cycle and is coming off a tremendous senior season in which he averaged over 15.0 yards per carry and had over 900 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Other notable offers in his recruitment included Boston College, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.

LB Angel Luciano
6-foot-1 | 210 | Steelton-Highspire (GA)

Minnesota offered Luciano in January, coming in after schools such as Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Maryland. But it was Gophers’ linebackers coach Mariano Sori-Marin who quickly struck up a strong relationship with Luciano and put Minnesota in the driver’s seat. He made his first visit to campus in April and returned at the end of May for an official visit, committing on the visit. Underrated lienbacker prospect in our opinion, who has the ability to play well above his rating.

CB Chance Payne
5-foot-10 | 180 | Jefferson (GA)

An under the radar cornerback nationally, Payne’s only Power Four offers were Minnesota and Wake Forest and once the Gophers got involved, it was a pretty easy recruitment for P.J. Fleck and Nick Monroe. Payne took an official visit to campus in May and committed to the program shortly afterwards. Had a productive high school career which included 60 tackles and two interceptions as a junior.

DE Aaden Aytch
6-foot-4 | 210 | Lafayette Jefferson (IN)

The crown jewel of Minnesota’s recruiting class, according to Rivals, Aytch is a top-50 prospect nationally ranked No. 36 overall in the 2026 recruiting class. Aytch has everything he needs to be an elite pass rusher at the next level, the size, speed, physicality, and most importantly, explosiveness. Totaled over 20 sacks in his high school career as well as six forced fumbles. He will need time to gain more mass to his frame but once he’s ready to go physically, he’ll be a fun player to watch on Saturdays.

RB Niko Castillo
6-foot-1 | 230 | Schuylkill Haven (PA)

A classic Minnesota under the radar take at the end of the cycle. Castillo’s only offers before this past weekend was from Akron and Stonehill (MA). But that didn’t stop the Gophers, who quietly got Castillo on campus, offering him, and Castillo committed on the spot. Best described as a gadget player offensively in high school, Castillo averaged 11.8 yards per carry this past seaso,n totaling 865 yards and 13 touchdowns on 73 carries. He was also ferocious on defense at linebacker with 67 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 11.0 sacks.

OL Lucas Tielsch
6-foot-6 | 270 | Copley (OH)

The Ohio native commited to Minnesota in June over mostly Northwestern but held over two dozen offers in his recruitment. The Gophers offered Tielsch way back in October of last year, hosting him on a gameday visit in November of last year before he made his way to campus again in April and then June for an official visit, he committed to the program two days later. Tielsch already has strong size and good weight and quality footwork, a classic Brian Callahan prospect here who has quite a bit of upside. Ranked by Rivals as a top-70 offensive tackle nationally.

DE Anthony Charles
6-foot-4 | 195 | South Fayette Twp (PA)

The talented edge rusher out of Pennsylvania makes it official. The Gophers were among Charles first offers this past winter and from the start were a notable player in his recruitment alongside Michigan State, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, and Michigan, who entered the fray in the spring. He took an unofficial visit in March and an official visit to Minnesota at the end of May, his only official visit.

DT Jeremiah Benson
6-foot-2 | 250 | West Bloomfield (MI)

A former Northern Illinois commitment, Benson backed off his first commitment in mid-May, and two days later, the Gophers offered. He would take official visits to Fresno State, Iowa State, and Minnesot,a but the Gophers would get the last visit and his commitment two days following its completion. Benson likely projects to a defensive tackle at the next level and has a knack for getting into the backfield consistently and creating havoc.

WR Quayd Hendryx
5-foot-11 | 175 | Winslow Township (NJ)

One of Minnesota’s more recent commitments in the 2026 recruiting class, flipped his commitment from UConn to Minnesota on November 22. The three-star receiver took an official visit to campus two weeks prior to his decision. A productive wide receiver, Hendryx finished his career with nearly 2,000 total receiving yards and over 20 touchdowns.