Latest news with #RomanVoss
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
PJ Fleck, Minnesota Gophers Land No. 1 In-State Recruit (Again)
Those who follow college football have seen the yearly talent acquisition process completely overhauled in the last five years. Long gone are the days where bringing in new talent revolves almost solely on convincing top high school talents to take a scholarship at your university vs hundreds of other FBS programs There's no arguing that high school recruiting has taken a backseat to the portal in modern day college football. But that doesn't mean recruiting top high schoolers isn't crucial to building a sustainable program. Advertisement Satellite camps are still held on campuses throughout the country throughout the offseason and coaches still travel from coast-to-coast throughout the year, meeting with high schoolers they are interested in. At the end of the day — transfer portal or not — you can't make a good college athlete without playing high school first. Minnesota Gophers land No. 1 in-state recruit, Roman Voss Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images But on Monday, they got their biggest commitment of the class, in Top 150 4-star recruit out of Jackson, MN, Roman Voss (ATH), who verbally committed to the Minnesota Gophers at 5 PM CDT, as scheduled. The 6-4, 225 lb high school junior told Ryan Burns (247Sports) that he committed is staying home because of PJ Fleck and his coaching staff and the work they have put in to build a relationship with him going back to middle school. 'They were my first ever offer, and they've been recruiting me the longest,' Voss explained as to why he ultimately chose Minnesota over Alabama. 'And I just have a very, very good connection with tight ends coach Eric Koehler. I mean, that's my guy. I love him. He loves me. And I think we have a really, really good connection. I think we're going to do special things at Minnesota.' Roman Voss (via 247Sports) The ability to hit the transfer portal and be granted immediate eligibility with your new school has changed the game. Toss in the ability to make hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the school's financial wherewithal and player's talent level, college football is now a second-tier professional football league. Advertisement And for now, it's a league made up of one-year handshake contracts that may or may not be legally binding. Not only has the new landscape affected teams through the transfer portal, but it has made keeping top commits even more difficult. What are the Gophers getting in Roman Voss When Burns asked Voss whether or not he will hold his commitment through the end of the year, when National Letters of Intent are signed, the hometown kid made it clear that he has zero intentions on changing his mind, saying, 'I'm now 100% committed'. Voss — who played QB in high school — also confirmed in interviews with top recruiting sites that he is committed to the Minnesota Gophers as a tight end. He told Burns that the Gophers have a nice offensive package they've presented to him that includes plenty of time lined up out wide, and even some time as a wildcat QB. Not only did he choose Minnesota over Alabama, but he also held offers from Auburn, Cal, Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois, Miami, Wisconsin, USC and Oklahoma (among others). For yet another recruiting class, PJ Fleck what many thought not that long ago was impossible. Advertisement As long as his commitment holds, Voss will join the last two top in-state high school recruits in Dinkytown. Koi Perich committed/signed in 2024 and 2023 top in-state recruit Jaxon Howard transferred back home following one homesick year at LSU. At this point in history, collegiate sports are run by the transfer portal and NIL money. Rarely can incoming freshman make an immediate impact at the college level. But Perich proved last year that staying home can help make that immediate impact dream come true too. Local or not, Fleck is reeling in the talent But whether these kids make the trip then, or another time during the summer, the point is to show off the Land of 10,000 Lakes when it can be appreciated most. After the Voss commit, the Minnesota Gophers' 2026 class now ranks 14th in the country. Advertisement New commits like Ryan Estrada (RB) and Trason Richardson (S) are from Texas. Josiah Anyansi (DL) is out of Cali. Others hail from Missouri and Ohio, which I promise have much different winters than Minnesota. These are recruits who committed this month, alone. 2026 Commit Pos Hometown Rating (247) Howie Johnson DL Forest Lake, MN 4-Star (90 OVR) Ryan Estrada RB El Paso, TX 3-Star (88 OVR) Gabe Weaver TE St. Louis, MO 3-Star (88 OVR) Jordan Lampkins S Bolingbrook, IL 3-Star (87 OVR) Lucas Tielsch OT Akron, OH 3-Star (86 OVR) Trason Richardson S Rosharon, TX 3-Star (85 OVR) Josiah Anyansi DL Murrieta, CA 3-Star (85 OVR) Jeremiah Benson DL West Bloomfield, MI 3-Star (84 OVR) Related Headlines
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
It's Another Huge Week for Gopher Football Recruiting
For the University of Minnesota Gophers football, high school recruiting goes into another gear this time of year. In June alone, dozens and dozens of recruits from around the country have been cycled on and off campus, as PJ Fleck & Co try for to verbally nail down one of the best classes of his tenure in Dinkytown. This week, though, may be PJ's most crucial high school recruiting week since the pride of Esko, Koi Perich, was choosing between the Gophers and Ohio State 1.5 years ago. And it starts right away on Monday, when the No. 1 rated high school football player in Minnesota (247Sports) will announce his verbal commitment. Advertisement Decision Day from top 2026 MN football recruit, Roman Voss Roman Voss is a 4-star athlete (91 OVR) out of Jackson, MN. Prior to Monday's decision, Voss' list of schools — which had included Auburn, Cal, Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois, Miami, Wisconsin, USC and Oklahoma (among others) — had already been whittled down to two schools — his home-state Gophers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Voss played mostly quarterback at Jackson High, but both Minnesota and Alabama want the 6'4″ 225 lb freak athlete as a tight end. You don't have to watch his highlights long to see why. Since the 2025 calendar turned to June, the Minnesota Gophers have landed a whopping 14 commitments for the class of 2026. Weekend after weekend, PJ Fleck and his coaching staff have been cycling dozens of the most talented high school football players in the nation through Dinkytown. Advertisement Related: Minnesota Gophers Land Highest-Rated Running Back Recruit in Over a Decade The Gophers' 2026 class — which now has 23 total commits — has vaulted all the way up to No. 16 in the country, according to 247Sports. Because this summer has been an unmitigated success on the 2026 (and a little 2027) high school recruiting trail. (ATH) Pierce Petersohn picking Gopher Football or Penn State But Roman Voss isn't the only in-state freak athlete the Minnesota Gophers are chasing this week. The other — 3-star (89 OVR – ATH) Pierce Petersohn — is out of Triton High School, near Dodge Center. He too is down to two schools, one being his home-state Gophers, the other being Big Ten rival, Penn State. Advertisement 247Sports has Petersohn (ATH) — who stands at 6'5″, 195 lbs and played QB/FS at Triton — ranked as the 4th best high school football player in the state. Other recruiting sites like him even more, which is why he is a composite 4-star recruit. One intriguing thing to watch with Pierce — Penn State wants him as a tight end, while Minnesota — who already has one tight end commit and could be on the verge of two — is recruiting him as a linebacker. Petersohn also held offers from Duke, Iowa, Iowa State and Kansas State, before recently narrowing his list down to two. Last week alone, Minnesota reeled eight more commits into PJ's 2026 recruiting boat, a grab that included the second (247Sports) four-star of the Golden Gophers' 2026 class — Forest Lake defensive lineman, Howie Johnson. Advertisement Most take their visit during the two-week 'Summer Splash' event, which is used mostly to convince out of state recruits that Minnesota is not a frozen wasteland year-round. Yet, the best players in modern Minnesota Gophers history were born and raised in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Let's hope both of these kids decide to follow their path to becoming a hometown legend. Related Headlines
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama loses 4-star ATH race to surprise Big Ten challenger
The post Alabama loses 4-star ATH race to surprise Big Ten challenger appeared first on ClutchPoints. Alabama football lost out on landing a marquee four-star offensive weapon to the Big Ten Monday. Ohio State, Michigan, or Penn State would be the victors here in any other college football recruiting period. But instead a surprise Big Ten challenger beat out 'Bama. Advertisement Big 6-foot-4, 225-pound talent Roman Voss chose Minnesota over Alabama. Hayes Fawcett of On3 confirmed the Crimson Tide lost out on landing the offensive star. He becomes a brand-new recruiting loss for Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer and his coaching staff. But he rises as a major recruiting win for Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck for this reason: Voss is the No. 1 prospect in the state of Minnesota per On3. He stars for Jackson County Central Senior High School. He's also the state's top talent per 247Sports. Fleck lands a pivotal recruiting win here for his Golden Gophers team. The combination of assistant coaches Eric Koehler and Greg Harbaugh Jr. completes the recruitment of Voss. Alabama vs. Big Ten fielding wild recruiting results Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images DeBoer and his Tide football team have witnessed a mixture of wins and losses recruiting wise. But they have collected the former against some Big Ten competition. Advertisement Voss to Minnesota rises as a brand new loss. Especially considering how rare it is for the Golden Gophers to beat Alabama for a four-star talent. Although Alabama delivered luck against another Big Ten opponent. DeBoer and Alabama managed to flip four-star Illinois commit Javari Barnett Monday. The move adds a needed running back of the future in Tuscaloosa. Barnett previously chose the Fighting Illini back in April. But 'Bama raided another Big Ten school's 2026 recruiting class on Monday as well. Alabama grabbed former Rutgers safety commit Rihyael Kelley. That's not all. Michigan lost its grip on four-star defensive lineman JJ Finch to the Crimson Tide. That move arrived Sunday. Advertisement 'Bama has began to climb into the top 30 in the national recruiting rankings. They now sit at 28th with 10 verbal commitments. Half chose the Tide during the month of June. Related: Michael Vick talks BET docuseries, if he ever wanted to attend Norfolk State Related: Nebraska lands 3-star 'Terminator' over Michigan State, Syracuse
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama Loses Out on Top 2026 Recruit
Alabama Loses Out on Top 2026 Recruit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Alabama Crimson Tide football program is off to a strong start this week regarding the 2026 recruiting class. However, the optimal word remains solid, and not perfect, after one top recruit snuck away from them on Monday. Advertisement According to Minnesota Star Tribune writer Randy Johnson, four-star 2026 tight end recruit Roman Voss has verbally committed to the Minnesota Gophers. Voss entered the week with just two official visits in the books, having visited Minnesota in May and Alabama earlier this month. With zero tight-end recruits verbally committing to Alabama for the 2026 class, Voss' decision marks a tough blow for head coach Kalen DeBoer's recruiting efforts. Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images Voss is not the only recruit on Monday to pass on Alabama and pick another school. Another four-star tight end, Xavier Tiller, picked the Florida State Seminoles over the Tide. Meanwhile, four-star edge rusher Khamari Brooks verbally committed to the Georgia Bulldogs on Monday, with Alabama as a finalist. Advertisement Conversely, it has been a solid day for Alabama in terms of hard commitments. Four-star running back Javari Barnett became the first rusher to pledge his allegiance to DeBoer and his staff after flipping his commitment from the Illinois Fighting Illini to Alabama. Safety Rihyael Kelley also flipped his commitment on Monday, opting for Alabama over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Alabama is up to ten hard commits for the 2028 class. 247Sports ranks the recruiting group as the 28th best class in the country, with five-star corner Jorden Edmonds headlining the group of soon-to-be high school seniors. Related: Alabama Lands Commitment From Elite 2026 Prospect This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
4-star athlete, Alabama target announces official commitment decision
A prospect that had the Alabama Crimson Tide among his list of two finalists, a commitment decision has now come from highly-touted 2026 athlete Roman Voss. According to an announcement on social media Monday afternoon, Voss has committed to Minnesota, choosing the Gophers over Alabama. Back in May, Voss had previously announced that he was down to Alabama and Minnesota as his finalists. Voss is currently rated as the nation's No. 207 overall player in the class, per to the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings, as well as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Minnesota where he attends Jackson County Central High School. A four-star prospect, Voss is also considered as the nation's No. 12 overall athlete. Following the commitment of Voss to Minnesota, Alabama's 2026 class now sits at No. 30 nationally in the latest 247Sports Team Rankings with 10 commits. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
