The Gophers added a nationally recruited local kicker to their 2017 class Wednesday, when East Ridge's Grant Ryerse committed to Minnesota.
If Ryerse holds his commitment through signing day in February, he'll become the first kicker or punter to come to the Gophers on scholarship since Ryan Santoso signed in 2013.
Ryerse, who announced his decision to pick the Gophers on Twitter, is rated as the nation's No. 2 kicker in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports.com. He also has reported offers from Northwestern and Cal and has drawn interest from the likes of Alabama and Stanford.
The 6-3, 215-pound Ryerse hit a 42-yard field goal as time expired to defeat Wayzata in last fall's Class 6A quarterfinals. He made field goals of 36 and 41 yards in East Ridge's loss to Osseo in the championship game.
Ryerse is the Gophers' fourth commit for the class of 2017.
