National Signing Day is complete. For the Gophers it ends a whirlwind few weeks since P.J. Fleck arrived in Minnesota.
Fleck brought in 25 players – 22 signed letters of intent Wednesday; three others are already enrolled in spring classes. The Daily Gopher notes only five of them were committed to Minnesota before Fleck arrived.
According to 247 Sports, Minnesota didn’t land any consensus five or four-star recruits and was nationally ranked 57th (12th in the Big Ten), but Fleck is positive about his first class.
“It’s a monumental day for Gopher football,” said Fleck during his press conference Wednesday afternoon.
The class does include Minnesota’s top high school recruit – Marshall offensive lineman Blaise Andries. Andries was the first of this year’s class to announce that he would stay in Minnesota.
We've got another one. Welcome to the #Gophers Class of 2017, @BlaiseAndries! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/tg4Ofqw4qx
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
“We want to keep our Minnesota players here period,” said Fleck. “He wanted to stay here and he decided to stay here through a coaching change which is very difficult.”
Another Minnesotan staying home and joining the Gophers was East Ridge running back Dominik London.
WATCH: #Gophers Class of 2017 signee @dominik_london's highlights. #NSD17https://t.co/4HUIAJ3ABZ
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Fleck highlighted something else about the group. They know how to win.
“If you add up the record of these players it’s 214-72, that’s around a 75 percent winning percentage,” said Fleck. “We are bringing winners into the program. To have consistent championships, they have to know how to win.”
Now it will be time for the group to go to work to help Fleck row the boat.
