Minnesota Golden Gophers 2021 recruiting class

Early national signing day for the Class of 2021 football recruits took place Wednesday and it looks like the Minnesota Golden Gophers reloaded with a talented class.

Minnesota brought in 17 scholarship players, one preferred walk-on and a grad transfer in their 2021 class.

Here’s a capsules summary of all 19 of the newest Gophers:

Austin Booker, DL (Center Grove HS; Greenwood, Ind.)

Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … Helped lead his team to the 2020 Class 6A Indiana state title game … Recorded 67 tackles and eight sacks as a junior.

Senior Season Highlights #94✌🏽 https://t.co/UIVBIvnRGo pic.twitter.com/5sbiPV21lF

— austin booker (@austinbookerr) December 11, 2020

Brady Boyd, WR (Southlake Carroll HS; Southlake, Texas)

Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … He’s still currently playing as a senior and has caught 22 passes for 416 yards and seven touchdowns in four games. … He caught 66 passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns as a junior.

All the way from Texas, @bradyboyd_ is joining an ELITE wide receivers corp. #StackTheDeck | #NSD21 pic.twitter.com/D7nrDFmVde

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) December 16, 2020

Lemeke Brockington, WR (Colquitt County HS; Moultrie, Ga.)

Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … Named Region 1-7A Athlete of the Year after totaling 23 receptions for 527 yards and six touchdowns as a senior. … Played WR and DB in high school. … Ended his prep career ranked second in school history in receiving yards (2,054) and touchdown receptions (25) and fifth in receptions (106). … He caught 53 receptions for 923 yards and 13 touchdowns as he was named All-State as a junior.

Deven Eastern, DL (Shakopee HS)

Four-star recruit by 247 Sports and ESPN. … Three-star recruit by Rivals. … Helped team get to second straight 6AA Sectional Championship in 2020. … Had 64 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as a senior. … Had 54 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one fumble recovery as a junior.

Jameson Geers, TE (Providence Catholic HS; New Lenox, Ill.)

Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … Did not play football in 2020 because the state of Illinois did not sanction high school football due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jack Gibbens, LB (Abilene Christian University / Smithson Valley HS; Bulverde, Texas)

Grad transfer. … Finished with 258 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks and five interceptions in four years at Abilene Christian. … He recorded 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one interception in six games in 2020. … 2020 Campbell Trophy Finalist. … 2019 First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American. … 2019 First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District 7. … 2019 Southland Conference All-Academic. … 2018 Southland Conference Honorable Mention.

6’4 240lb Grad Transfer Linebacker:
2-time Team Captain with 29 starts
257 tackles, 22 tfls, 7 sacks, 5 Ints
Campbell Trophy Finalist and Academic All-Americanhttps://t.co/OJgla1riPr

— Jack Gibbens (@johngibbens18) November 25, 2020

Darius Green, DB (Newton HS; Covington, Ga.)

Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … He recorded 97 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, four sacks and one interception as a senior. … Recorded a 10.6 100m time in track and field.

Enjoyed my final year of highschool football with my brothers. But its on to the next chapter. Thanks to all the coaches that made me into the player i am today!This is my final senior tape @coachharasymiak @Coach_Fleck @ChadSimmons_ @CoachSkelton06 https://t.co/QR0lhcU3SK

— Darius Green (@green_darius33) November 29, 2020

Mar’Keise Irving, RB (Hillcrest HS; Country Club Hills, Ill.)

Four-star recruit by 247 Sports. … Three-star recruit by Rivals and ESPN. … Did not play football in 2020 because the state of Illinois did not sanction high school football due to the COVID-19 pandemic. … finished his prep career with 3,264 rushing yards and 587 receiving yards. … He rushed for 1,733 yards and 22 touchdowns and recorded 405 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a junior. … Was named All-State and Conference Player of the Year in 2019. … Helped lead his team to the 2018 state semifinals.

Junior Season Highlights!
✅ Conference POY
✅All – Conference
✅All – State

– 1733 rushing yards, 22 rushing TDs
– 405 receiving yards, 24 catches, 4 TD catches
– 1 Punt return for TD https://t.co/UoSfzzpN6x

— Mar’keise irving (@bucky_buckets) November 20, 2019

Cameron James, OL (Simeon Career Academy; Chicago)

Four-star recruit by 247 Sports. … Three-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals. … Did not play football in 2020 because the state of Illinois did not sanction high school football due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Athan Kaliakmanis, QB (Antioch HS; Antioch, Ill.)

Four-star recruit by 247 Sports and ESPN. … Three-star recruit by Rivals. … Did not play football in 2020 because the state of Illinois did not sanction high school football due to the COVID-19 pandemic. … Helped lead his prep team to a Northern Lake County Conference title in 2019 as a junior. … Set school single-season records for passing yards (2,083) and passing touchdowns (26) as a sophomore rushed for 610 yards and 11 touchdowns. … Led team to the 2018 Class 6A state quarterfinals. … He completed 86 passes for 1,205 yards as a freshman.

Dino Kaliakmanis, WR (Antioch HS; Antioch, Ill.)

Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … Did not play football in 2020 because the state of Illinois did not sanction high school football due to the COVID-19 pandemic. … Caught 34 receptions for 593 yards and 4 touchdowns as a junior. … Helped team advance to a Northern Lake County Conference title in 2019. … Caught 36 receptions for 594 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore. … Helped team advance to Class 6A state quarterfinals in the 2018 season.

I apologize I am very late, Junior Season HighLights! @hudl https://t.co/tKqjTCRDMS #hudl

— Dino Kaliakmanis (@TheRocket_18) December 14, 2019

Eli Mau, LB (Chanhassen HS)

Preferred walk-on. … Two-star recruit by 247 Sports. … Named a finalist for the 2020 Mr. Football award for the state of Minnesota. … Selected to the 2020 Star Tribune All-Metro first-team defense. … Recorded 42 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks in five games as a senior. … Led the team to an unbeaten season and a sub-district championship. … Recorded 87 tackles, three sacks and kicked five field goals as a junior.

Luther McCoy, DL (Creekside HS; Saint Augustine, Fla.)

Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … Made 30 tackles and one sack as a senior. … Recorded 39 tackles and 4.5 sacks as a junior.

Senior Season Highlights⬇️
It was a great year with my brothers, looking forward to the next chapter👀‼️@DeshawnBrownInc @CHSFLRecruiting #WorkToWin Check out my highlight – https://t.co/e2zSFTbQHm

— Luther McCoy (@LutherMcCoy5) December 9, 2020

Dylan McGill, WR (Mesquite HS; Mesquite, Texas)

Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … Threw for 1,199 and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 936 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.

Steven Ortiz Jr., DB (Desert Edge HS; Goodyear, Ariz.)

Four-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … Recorded 35 tackles and two interceptions as a senior. … Helped lead team to an undefeated regular season and its first appearance in the AIA’s Open Division Playoffs in school history. … Recorded 83 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery and helped lead the team to the state 4A championship game as a junior. … Finished with 57 tackles, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a sophomore.

Logan Purcell, OL (Annandale HS)

Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … He also played defensive end in high school.

Jacob Schuster, DL (Tumwater HS; Tumwater, Wash.)

Four-star recruit by 247 Sports. … Three-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals. … Did not play football in 2020 because the state of Washington did not sanction high school football due to the COVID-19 pandemic. … Recorded 61 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks and helped lead his team to a 2019 Class 2A Washington state title as a junior. … Named 2A Player of the Year, All-Area First Team, Seattle Times All-State Defense.

Turning Dreams into Reality 💫 pic.twitter.com/hRVrsur1vy

— Jacob Schuster💫 (@Jsxchu) October 24, 2020

Justin Walley, DB (D’Iberville HS; D’Iberville, Miss.)

Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … Rivals ranked him as the No. 9 prospect in Mississippi. … Led team to 10-1 record and Region 4-6A title as he was named Class 6A Mississippi Mr. Football as a senior. … He recorded 55 tackles, two interceptions and two blocked kicks his senior year. … On offense, he rushed 106 times for 1,005 yards and 19 touchdowns and caught 28 passes for 329 yards and one touchdown. … Finished with 74 tackles and one interception as a junior.

Check out my highlight – https://t.co/odjoWTsbpj

— Justin Walley🃏 (@JustinWalley_) December 2, 2020

Devon Williams, LB (Dublin Coffman HS; Dublin, Ohio)

Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals. … Named Second Team All-State and 2020 Ohio Capital Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. … Named to the Ohio All-Central District First-Team Defense for Division 1 and was selected to the 2020 Ohio Capital Conference First-Team. … He was an All-Central District honorable mention in 2017.