The Minnesota Gophers concluded their 2024 season with a rather disappointing 8-5 record. They achieved a fifth consecutive bowl victory, credited to a top 15 defense and an overhauled pass-centric offense, but were unable to synchronize all components effectively to compete in a now 18-member Big Ten.
However, since the conclusion of the regular season, PJ Fleck and his team have clearly conveyed their intentions in the player acquisition area. Insufficient NIL funding will no longer be accepted as a reason for losing games or talent.
Overall, Minnesota has retained nearly all of their top players (who still have college eligibility) in Dinkytown while also acquiring around a dozen additional kids from the transfer portal.
Minnesota Gophers secure commitment from 2024 Louisiana Mr. Football, Xavier Ford.
On Sunday, however, the Gophers returned to the high school talent scene and secured a 2024 Mr. Football award winner — 3-star running back Xavier Ford — from Leesville, Louisiana, who accumulated 3,461 rushing yards and an astonishing 52 rushing touchdowns this season alone (MaxPreps), thanks to several remarkable runs like the one featured below.
If you had to select a single word that most accurately represents Ford’s high school football journey, it would be ‘prolific’. The 5-9, 210-pound running back amassed a lifetime total of yards and touchdowns solely in 2024, accumulating 8,591 yards and an impressive 118 touchdowns over three seasons at Leesville High (MaxPreps.com).
In spite of all that output, Xavier Ford’s list of offers is just as unimpressive as the Minnesota Gophers’ 2024 victory count. Ford seized the Minnesota offer, which arrived this weekend during his official visit. According to 247Sports, it is the initial power four offer he has gotten. Xavier declined offers from Tulane, Air Force, and Houston, but was also interested in LSU and Texas A&M.
Ford is part of the 2025 class, indicating that he will be added to the roster of 21 new Minnesota Gophers who have committed by signing their letter of intent. A few 2025 recruits are already arriving on campus this month. Others will participate when they finish their final year of high school this spring/summer. PJ Fleck currently has 8 scholarship running backs on the roster.
Leave a Reply