Osseo lineman Jerome Williams commits to Gophers football for 2023

On national signing day, the Gophers already had their Class of 2022 locked up but went to work on another key recruit from the Class of 2023.

The Gophers on Wednesday received a verbal commitment from Osseo offensive lineman Jerome Williams, who announced his intentions on Twitter. Williams, 6-4 and 285 pounds, is the second-ranked player in Minnesota in the 2023 class.

A three-star recruit, Williams is ranked No. 27 nationally in his class for interior offensive lineman, according to the 247Sports composite of major national recruiting services.

Williams, a second-team All-Metro pick by the Star Tribune, has scholarship offers from four other FBS schools – Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas and West Virginia. He made an unofficial visit to the Gophers on Oct. 16 and received an offer 10 days later.

Williams becomes the third player overall and the second Minnesotan to commit to the Gophers 2023 class, joining Kasson-Mantorville offensive lineman Reese Tripp and wide receiver Anthony Brown of Springfield, Ohio.

Wednesday also was the opening of the February signing period, and the Gophers did not have any high school additions to the 2022 class that they signed on the opening day of the December period. As of Wednesday afternoon, their 2022 class ranked 47th nationally and 13th in the Big Ten in the 247Sports composite. Their class of seven transfers who are joining the team for the 2022 season is ranked No. 23 by 247Sports.