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Hope springs eternal. That saying runs through my mind every year on National Signing Day. I’ve been very open about the fact I don’t follow recruiting as closely as others do. But I absolutely love this day! I get such joy out of getting to officially see who we get to cheer for over the next 3-5 years. It’s so much fun to sit back and wonder which one of these guys will be an All-B1G player. Which of these players will come from nowhere and be a 3-4 years starter. But mostly, it’s just fun knowing these will be the players we get to root for no matter what their “star” rating is.
Without further ado, here is your 2017 class of Gopher football commits.
Jake Paulson, TE, Louisville, Kentucky
Our first signee of the day! Welcome to the #Gophers Class of 2017, @jake_paulson80. pic.twitter.com/esuiqsFHBc
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Nate Umlor, TE, Allendale, Michigan
#Gophers, welcome @Nate_Umlor to the Class of 2017! pic.twitter.com/7yNvt5ssGa
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Esezi Otomewo, DL, Indianapolis, Indiana
They keep rolling in. Welcome @EseziOtomewo to the #Gophers Class of 2017! pic.twitter.com/ajshfDIv2y
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Kyle Sassack, OL, Pontiac, Michigan
Welcome to the #Gophers Class of 2017, @Ksassack77! We're excited to have you. #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/IriW6KEEIp
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Justus Harris, DB, Roswell, Georgia
#Gophers, give it up for @Thatboybus! Welcome to the #Gophers Class of 2017. #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/8WSEJ1GVJt
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Malcolm Robinson, DL, Massillon, Ohio
#Gophers, welcome @MMrob75 to the Class of 2017! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/zL45edM5oi
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Olney, Maryland
Welcome to the #Gophers Class of 2017, @_MoIbrahim! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/V8NlDTOZEY
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Neil McLaurin, QB, Laurel, Mississippi
Not done yet! #Gophers welcome @MclaurinNeil who enrolled in January. pic.twitter.com/xWXjETURWm
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Trenton Guthrie, LB, Northville, Michigan
#Gophers welcome our third January enrollee @T_Guthrie5! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/I5XABXdzlr
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
John Michael Schmitz, OL, Flossmoor, Illinois
We're not done yet. Welcome @jmschmitz1999 to the #Gophers Class of 2017! pic.twitter.com/SxyUqncNKx
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Chris Autman-Bell, WR, Kankakee, Illinois
We'd like to welcome @ChrisJAutmanB to the #Gophers Class of 2017! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/YiTOYl99UN
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Nathan Bursch, TE, Woodbury, Minnesota
Welcome our #Gophers first Minnesota signee of the day, @termaNATEr15! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/KZdWh0URuL
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Ken Handy-Holly, DB, Jackson, Alabama
#Gophers, welcome @Uno2xz to the Class of 2017! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/87dzGIXGL7
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Tanner Morgan, QB, Union, Kentucky
Welcome @Tanner_Morg12, a January enrollee, to #Gophers Class of 2017! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/zrP1PePS9w
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Grant Ryerse, Specialist, Woodbury, Minnesota
Welcome to the #Gophers Class of 2017, @gryerse80! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/k6HRzMBJfX
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Austin Schirck, DL, Carroll, Iowa
They keep coming in. #Gophers, welcome @austinschirck82 to the Class of 2017! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/vRlK1QCwkr
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Domink London, RB, Woodbury, Minnesota
We'd like to welcome @dominik_london to the #Gophers Class of 2017! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/DU1DdP9iIy
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Rey Estes, QB, East Saint Louis, Illinois
We're happy to have you, @ese_tipo5! Welcome to the #Gophers Class of 2017. #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/xwc4VhpC48
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Blaise Andries, OL, Marshall, Minnesota
We've got another one. Welcome to the #Gophers Class of 2017, @BlaiseAndries! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/tg4Ofqw4qx
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Harry Van Dyne, WR, Stillwell, Kansas
Welcome @Harry_VanDyne, you're officially a part of the #Gophers Class of 2017! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/WT28uFcACb
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Adam Beck, DB, Richmond, Texas
#Gophers, welcome @adambeck_ to the Class of 2017! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/ZyPnaxImI5
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Royal Silver, DL, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#Gophers, welcome @royalsilverIII to the Class of 2017! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/R5BTSmL4sX
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Noah Hickcox, DL, Rockford, Illinois
Welcome to the #Gophers Class of 2017, @Titan4life4089! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/ofOEhjDeXy
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Boye Mafe, DE, Hopkins, Minnesota
You're officially part of the #Gophers Class of 2017, @boye_mafe! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/D3x5fach5W
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Demetrius Douglas, WR, Portland, Oregon
"I'm Coming Home" plays in the background as @demetriius_d letter of intent rolls in. Welcome to the #Gophers Class of 2017! #NSD17 pic.twitter.com/dYZfq0T5b4
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
Last but certainly not least, I love this staff!
You've earned this opportunity. #NSD17 https://t.co/xRSzwZIoLg
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 1, 2017
So there you have it. Who are you most excited about? Who do you think sees the field right away as a true-freshman? Any predictions on who will one day be an All-B1G player?
Ski-U-Mah and Row the Boat
#SkiUMah
#RTB
Follow: @dvits14