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Four-Star CB Commits to Gophers Over Big Money Helmet Schools
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- Four-Star CB Commits to Gophers Over Big Money Helmet Schools
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
With March approaching and the offseason in full swing, P.J. Fleck and his staff are back to work on the recruiting trail for the Minnesota Gophers . After wrapping up last season with a win over Virginia Tech in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on January 3rd, the focus has shifted to building for the future.
In 2025, coaches are recruiting out of the transfer portal even more often than they are out of high school. And without a doubt Fleck and his staff have evolved the Gophers' NIL standing to a point where the football program gained way more talent than it lost to the portal this offseason.
Credit: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
But high school recruiting still needs to improve if Minnesota wants to try and hang with the big boys of the Big Ten. On Monday, the Golden Gophers took a step in the right recruiting direction when they landed a commitment from high school junior Justin Hopkins, a talented 4-star cornerback out of Nashville.
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4 star CB Justin Hopkins commits to Minnesota Gophers
Justin Hopkins announced Monday on social media that he's committing to over offers from now conference rival, and cemented CFB helmet school, USC, a program known not just for its history, but also for the stacks of NIL cash it has to throw around.
Tennessee, another program already known for outspending even the richest SEC schools, was also a finalist. Other schools that had previously offered Hopkins included Auburn, Texas, Iowa, Ole Miss, and over 20 other FBS schools , many of which are Power Four programs.
COMMITTED‼️‼️ #agtg pic.twitter.com/1ukQBlzndV
— Justin "J-Hop" Hopkins (@JustinHopkins26) February 17, 2025
Hopkins, still just a junior, has one more season at Ensworth High School in Nashville before heading up to Dinkytown to join the Gophers. Last season, he made a big impact for Ensworth, racking up 16 tackles, two interceptions (including a pick-six), seven pass breakups, and two tackles for loss.
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Justin Hopkins ranks No. 303 overall in the Class of 2026 — No. 22 CB nationally | No. 9 overall recruit in TN— according to the 247Sports composite rankings , which combines 247's rankings with that of ESPN, On3 and Rivals.
Related: Record Number of Minnesota Gophers Invited to NFL Scouting Combine
The 6-0, 160 lb CB also saw action during his junior season at wide receiver, where he gained over 700 yards receiving on more than 16 yards per catch.
Related: Record Number of Minnesota Gophers Invited to NFL Scouting Combine
Justin Hopkins becomes the fourth commitmen t in the 2026 Minnesota Gophers high school recruiting class and already their second Composite four-star recruit, joining top-260 prospect, offensive tackle Andrew Trout. For context, Minnesota had just one 4-star composite commit sign a National Letter of Intent for the entire 2025 class, which included 22 total signees.
