Carter Coughlin is a four-star linebacker out of Eden Prairie, Minn., who received offers from Ohio State, Oregon, Wisconsin and Michigan State.
In years past, top in-state recruits like Coughlin would be lured away by those power-house schools, two of which just competed for the first-ever College Football Playoff championship.
But this year is different. Gophers head coach Jerry Kill has locked down almost all of the top recruits in Minnesota for the 2016 recruiting class, including Coughlin, who committed to his hometown team back in March.
“I grew up attending Gophers games with my family, and after seeing how coach Kill has really turned around the program, it seemed like a no-brainer,” Coughlin said.