Gophers football recruiting: Get to know the next Gophers in this Class of 2021 breakdown
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.
December 17, 2020 at 5:35AM
The Gophers football team has 17 scholarship players in its recruiting Class of 2021 who signed 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 and weight.
Deven Eastern, DE, 6-6, 280, ****
From Shakopee High School. Committed to the Gophers after their 11-2 season in 2019 when he wasn't ranked.
Mar'Keise Irving, RB, 5-10, 190, ****
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.
Athan Kaliakmanis, QB, 6-4, 205, ****
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, 6-0, 175, ****
From Desert Edge High School (Goodyear, Ariz.). Committed to the Gophers sight unseen during this recruiting dead period.
Austin Booker, DE, 6-6, 240, ***
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, 185, ***
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, 195, ***
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, 6-6, 250, ***
From Providence Catholic High School (New Lenox, Ill.), the same high school as Gophers linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin.
Darius Green, S, 6-1, 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, 290, ***
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, 195, ***
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, 6-5, 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., 6-3, 210, ***
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, 260, ***
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, 5-11, 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.
Notes: Star ratings are from the 247Sports.com composite of major national recruiting services. Sources: Star Tribune reporting, 247Sports.com.
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