Two tackles, linebacker are first to commit to Gophers in ‘Summer Splash’ weekend

For Brian Callahan, Sunday was a good morning. By 11 a.m., the Gophers offensive line coach could celebrate the fact that a couple of highly rated tackles had given verbal commitments during the first of two “Summer Splash” recruiting weekends on campus.

That also applied to Mariano Sori-Marin, the 25-year-old Gophers linebackers coach who outdueled his former coach, Michigan State defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, for a standout linebacker from Rossi’s home state of Pennsylvania.

Ditto for C.J. Robbins, the first-year rush ends coach, who saw two players from his position group join the Gophers.

In all, five players gave verbal commitments to coach P.J. Fleck’s program during the first “Summer Splash” weekend, with the second group of recruits slated for official visits June 13-15. That left the Gophers with 15 players committed for their 2026 recruiting class, which can make things official during the early signing period in December.

Fleck and his staff are known for landing most of their recruits during the spring or early summer, when Minnesota’s weather is more conducive for outdoor activities, such as a pontoon ride on Lake Minnetonka. And that’s reflected in the national rankings. With those 15 commitments, the Gophers moved up to 16th nationally and fifth among Big Ten teams in the 247Sports composite ratings of major recruiting services.

With Sunday’s additions, the Gophers likely are pleased with where they stand — especially at tackle.

On Sunday, 6-6, 305-pound Mataalii Benjamin from Lehi (Utah) High School was the first recruit on this visit to commit. He is a three-star who is the ninth-ranked player in Utah and the 51st-ranked tackle nationally in the 247Sports composite. Benjamin received a scholarship offer from the Gophers in February, made an official visit to Oklahoma State in April and had visits scheduled for Nebraska, Arkansas and Utah over the next three weeks.

Shortly afterward Benjamin committed, Callahan saw another tackle recruit pick the Gophers. Daniel McMorris, a 6-5, 255-pound three-star from Norman (Okla.) North High School announced his intentions. He’s the sixth-ranked player in Oklahoma and the 40th-ranked tackle nationally in the 247Sports composite. The Gophers offered a scholarship to McMorris last October, and he made an unofficial visit to campus in April. He made an official visit to Oregon State in May and had visits lined up for Iowa State and Kansas State later this month.

Benjamin and McMorris join Rocori’s Andrew Trout, the second-ranked player in Minnesota and 27th-ranked tackle nationally, and Janesville (Wis.) Parker’s Gavin Meier, the top-ranked player in Wisconsin and the No. 54-ranked tackle nationally, as incoming freshmen for the Gophers. That’s four tackles among the top 54.

Sori-Marin’s prize on Sunday was linebacker Angel Luciano III from Steelton-Highspire High School near Harrisburg, Pa. Luciano, 6-3 and 220, is a three-star recruit who is the 36th-ranked player in Pennsylvania and the 100th-ranked linebacker nationally. He received an offer from the Gophers in January and made an unofficial visit to campus in April. Luciano had visits scheduled for Michigan State and Cincinnati later in June.

Robbins, defensive coordinator Danny Collins and defensive line coach Dennis Dottin-Carter helped land edge rushers Aaden Aytch of Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Ind., and Anthony Charles of South Fayette Township High School in McDonald, Pa.

Aytch is a 6-4, 220-pound three-star who gave Northern Illinois a verbal commitment in April but decommitted recently. He’s the 14th-ranked player in Indiana and 85th-ranked edge rusher nationally, according to 247Sports. Aytch had visits scheduled for Iowa, Kentucky, Purdue and Michigan State.

Charles, 6-5 and 190 pounds, is a three-star recruit ranked 22nd among Pennsylvania recruits and 64th nationally at his position. He received his Gophers offer in January and had June visits scheduled for Toledo, Cincinnati, Wisconsin and Penn State.