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2017 Minnesota Recruiting: What Can P.J. Fleck Accomplish By NSD?

P.J. Fleck has hit the trail hard since being hired as Minnesota’s new Head Coach but how much can he accomplish in such a short period of time?

By DJ Carver
NCAA Football: Toledo at Western Michigan Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

This is a recurring feature leading up to National Signing Day where we will preview each teams recruiting class and who each team’s best recruit is and who can make an immediate impact. We’ll go in order from worst to first based on 2016 standings. All ratings come from the 247 composite rankings.

Where do they stand?

Minnesota currently ranks 51st nationally, 12th in the Big Ten, and 6th in the West. Minnesota managed to bring in three early enrollees including a freshman QB and JUCO transfer QB. Currently Minnesota sits at 23 total commits including the three early enrollees.

How does the class breakdown?

Minnesota currently has taken 12 players on offense, 9 on defense, a kicker, and an athlete who slots in at QB but could end up switching to WR. Here is the breakdown:

  • QB: 3 (2 EE)
  • RB: 2
  • WR: 2
  • TE: 3
  • OL: 4
  • DL: 4 (2 DE/2 DT)
  • LB: 1
  • DB: 4

Minnesota’s class is very fluid right now with the new coach coming in and the lack of recruiting that happened before. Here is out the class stands (as of 1/25 afternoon), via 247:

Is the talent any good?

The current recruit average for Minnesota is .8372, which isn’t great but PJ Fleck is offering and taking who wants to come at this point. Minnesota has been looking at some high 3 star/4 star prospects late in the game and gotten them on campus so this could jump up along with their rating.

Are they still after anyone?

Yes. Minnesota would take another WR and DT and have extended some late offers to see if anyone will bite. Minnesota has only taken one LB in the class so I wouldn’t be surprised if Fleck would take a flyer for development or depth purposes. With three early enrollees and a new coach always bringing about transfers, I wouldn’t be surprised if Fleck took more than 2-3 more players considering they could take up to 6 with early enrollees fitting into the prior class.

Can anyone contribute early?

As I mentioned before, JUCO transfer Neil McLaurin will compete for a shot at the starting QB spot for Minnesota. Minnesota’s better recruits are in the secondary so I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw them see the field in nickel/dime packages when playing against the spread. This class is hard to get a measure on because we do not know who will transfer out given the fiasco that occurred in Minnesota and who transfers out after the spring when they realize they may not fit in Fleck’s system.

Up next: Nebraska