The Gophers’ football program stacked up five commitments to its 2026 recruiting class on Sunday.
In each recruitment, Minnesota received an official visit from the prospect and then a oral commitment before he could see other schools — including a handful of Big Ten competition — later this month.
Two offensive linemen were the first to join next year’s class during the U’s big official visit weekend in Dinkytown.
Mataalii Benjamin, a 6-foot-6, 305-pound tackle from Lehi, Utah, picked Minnesota over more than 15 offers, including Nebraska, Utah, Oklahoma State and Washington. The three-star prospect is the second commit from Utah, a state usually untapped by the Gophers. He had other visits planned with Nebraska, Arkansas and Utah.
Daniel McMorris, a 6-5, 255-pound tackle from Norman, Okla., chose the U over more than 20 offers, including Wisconsin, Kansas State, Iowa State, Stanford and Oregon State. The three-star prospect was scheduled to visit K-State and ISU.
Benjamin and McMorris are the third and fourth offensive linemen in the class. Four-star Andrew Trout of Cold Spring joined last year, and three-star Gavin Meier of Janesville, Wis., put himself in the group this spring.
The U added three defensive players next.
Angel Luciano III, a 6-3, 225-pound linebacker from Harrisbugh, Pa., took Minnesota over a group of Big Ten competition, including Michigan State, Wisconsin, Indiana and Maryland, as well as Cincinnati, Virginia Tech and others. He was planning to go see the Spartans and Bearcats soon. The three-star recruit is the second linebacker in 2026 class, joining Hudson Dunn of Peoria, Ariz.
Aaden Aytch, listed at 6-4 and 220 pounds out of Lafayette, Ind., flipped his commitment from Northern Illinois to the Gophers. The three-star defensive end with a 6-7 wingspan pledged to Minnesota before scheduled visits at Iowa, Kentucky, Purdue and Michigan State later in June.
Anthony Charles, a 6-5, 200-pound edge rusher from McDonald, Pa., picked the Gophers over offers from Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State and others. With a wingspan approaching 7 feet, Charles had visits scheduled with the Badgers and Nittany Lions before committing to the U while on campus this weekend.
Minnesota’s class now has 15 total pledges for next season.
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