Abu Tarawallie sat at a table set up on the gym floor at Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove on Wednesday, facing a segment of the bleachers filled with classmates, teachers, friends and well-wishers.
On either side of him sat his mother, Isatu, and older brother Hassan, lending support for Abu, who was making official his commitment to play football for the University of Minnesota next season.
Tarawallie, sturdily built at 6-3 and 280 pounds, is considered the top defensive line prospect from the Class of 2025 in Minnesota, a blend of speed, explosiveness and well-above-average intellect. Playing for Providence Academy, which has a cooperative agreement with Heritage, Tarawallie started getting collegiate attention as a sophomore, with recruiters intrigued by the potential that comes with his size and a 4.8-second 40-yard dash, quickness that in high school often left offensive linemen lurching at nothing.
“He is so quick,” said Providence Academy offensive lineman Stryker Johnson, who lined up next to Tarawallie when the Lions had the ball. “You can’t do what he does.”
Tarawallie missed his junior season, the result of a torn meniscus, but he was not forgotten. He recovered completely and spent the spring showing off his skill set to coaches around the Midwest, gaining interest from such schools as Kansas State, Michigan State, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Oklahoma and Kansas before realizing he didn’t want to stray too far from home.
He committed to Minnesota early last June. And unlike with so many high school players, his commitment never wavered.
For Gophers fans, that might be Tarawallie’s most redeeming feature. In an era when players move from team to team with seeming impudence, Tarawallie prefers to stay home surrounded by family.

“I’m one for loyalty and building up relationships, and obviously it paid off here, so it’s going to pay off at the next level,” Tarawallie said. “You’ve just got to stick it through.”