per Megan:
THE GOPHERS' EXPECTED CLASS OF 2021
The Gophers football team has 18 players in its recruiting Class of 2021 who are expected to sign letters of intent Wednesday, the start of the three-day early signing period. Players listed are ranked by star grade, and listed with position, height, weight.
Avante Dickerson, CB, 6-0, 170,
From Westside High School (Omaha, Neb.). The No. 1 recruit in Nebraska and the No. 8 cornerback in the nation picked the Gophers despite offers from the likes of Ohio State, LSU, Texas, Virginia and USC.
deven eastern, de, 6-6, 280,
From Shakopee High School. Committed to the Gophers shortly after their 11-2 season in 2019 when he wasn't ranked. Through a short but dominant senior year, he climbed to four stars.
mar'keise irving, rb, 5-10, 175,
From Hillcrest High School (Country Club Hills, Ill.). Could end up with a similar build as current Gophers running back Mohamed Ibrahim if he puts on some weight. Is also a talented basketball player.
athan kaliakmanis, qb, 6-4, 190,
From Antioch Community High School (Antioch, Ill.). The dual-threat QB has been committed to the Gophers since March 2019 and ranks second in his state and 12th among all 2021 quarterbacks.
steven ortiz, cb, 5-11, 170,
From Desert Edge High School (Goodyear, Ariz.). Committed to the Gophers sight unseen during this recruiting dead period without travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.
austin booker, de, 6-5, 235,
From Center Grove High School (Greenwood, Ind.). Named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association's Top 50 all-state team for 2020.
brady boyd wr, 6-1, 175,
From Carroll High School (Southlake, Texas). Broke his wrist in an early October game but returned to the field by late November.
lemeke brockington, wr, 6-0, 185,
From Colquitt County High School (Moultrie, Ga.). Named the All-Region 1-7A Athlete of the Year in 2020 for his prowess as a receiver and kick returner.
jameson geers, te, 6-4½, 240,
From Providence Catholic High School (New Lenox, Ill.). From the same high school as current Gophers linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin.
darius green, s, 6-0, 190,
From Newton High School (Covington, Ga.). Prides himself on speed, with a reported 100-meter time of 10.62 seconds.
cameron james, ot, 6-8, 280,
From Simeon Career Academy (Chicago). Picked the Gophers from among several Power Five offers, including Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan State.
dino kaliakmanis, wr, 6-2, 188,
From Antioch Community High School (Antioch, Ill.). The older brother by 17 months of QB commit Athan Kaliakmanis, whom he combines with often as a receiver.
luther mccoy, dt, 6-4, 290,
From Creekside High School (St. Augustine, Fla.). Committed to the Gophers a week ago after tallying 44 tackles through nine games this past season.
dylan mcgill, ath., 6-1½, 194,
From Mesquite (Texas) High School. The original 2020 commit was a grayshirt, delaying his enrollment while he worked to improve his test scores for admission to the school.
logan purcell, ot, 6-7, 245,
From Annandale High School. One of just two in-state recruits in this Gophers class.
jacob schuster, dt, 6-2, 300,
From Tumwater High School (Olympia, Wash.). Reportedly plans on enrolling in the summer so he has a chance to help defend his team's state title in a delayed spring season.
justin walley, cb, 5-10, 185,
From D'Iberville High School (Biloxi, Miss.). Made 55 tackles with two interceptions this season as Mississippi's Mr. Football for his 6A division.
devon williams, lb, 6-1, 215,
From Dublin Coffman High School (Dublin, Ohio). Flipped his commitment from Kentucky back in April.
OTHER 2021 ADDITIONS
jack gibbens, lb, 6-4, 240
From Abilene Christian University (Bulverde, Texas). The graduate transfer will be a scholarship player, joining a young linebacker group in January after four years at the FCS level.
eli mau, lb, 6-2, 225
From Chanhassen High School. The preferred walk-on joined the class a couple of days before signing day.
These 17 scholarship players, plus a walk-on and a graduate transfer, signed with P.J. Fleck's Gophers in the early signing period that began Wednesday.
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Go Gophers!!