Gophers Line Up Three Official Visits for 2027 Recruits

Minnesota's coaching staff has been busy on the high school recruiting trail.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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The University of Minnesota football team has lined up official visits with three highly-touted 2027 recruits - linebacker Bryce Kish from Howell, Michigan, linebacker Sean Rice from Evergreen Park, Illinois, and safety Hunter Haug from Spring Branch, Texas. The Gophers have also secured a verbal commitment from Mississippi running back Greg Hargrow as they continue to build their 2027 recruiting class.

Why it matters

Strong recruiting classes are crucial for the Gophers to remain competitive in the Big Ten conference. Lining up these official visits with top prospects shows the program is actively working to bring in talented players who can contribute immediately and help the team achieve its goals.

The details

Bryce Kish is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound athlete who had a standout junior season at running back, while Minnesota is recruiting him as a linebacker. Sean Rice is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound linebacker who recorded 123 total tackles as a junior at St. Laurence High School. Hunter Haug is a versatile athlete from Smithson Valley High School in Texas who had over 2,000 all-purpose yards and 16 total touchdowns as a junior, in addition to 57 tackles on defense.

  • On February 19, 2026, Bryce Kish, Sean Rice, and Hunter Haug all announced they will be taking official visits to the University of Minnesota.
  • The Gophers' annual summer splash recruiting period is under 100 days away on May 29, 2026.

The players

Bryce Kish

A 6-foot-4, 220-pound athlete from Howell, Michigan who had a productive junior season at running back and is being recruited by Minnesota as a linebacker.

Sean Rice

A 6-foot-3, 215-pound linebacker from Evergreen Park, Illinois who recorded 123 total tackles as a junior at St. Laurence High School.

Hunter Haug

A versatile athlete from Smithson Valley High School in Spring Branch, Texas who had over 2,000 all-purpose yards and 16 total touchdowns as a junior, in addition to 57 tackles on defense.

Greg Hargrow

A running back from Mississippi who recently verbally committed to the University of Minnesota.

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What they’re saying

“Locked in! @Coach_DCollins @marianosori_ @coachswansonfb @stlvikingfb @edgytim @prepredzoneil @allentrieu @tomloy247 @gregsmithrivals @EdObrienCFB”

— Sean Rice (Twitter)

“Locked in on an Official Visit for @GopherFootball May 28-31!! @Coach_DCollins @Coach_CJRobbins @SV_RangerFB @adamgorney @Rivals @247recruiting”

— Hunter Haug (Twitter)

What’s next

The Gophers will continue to work on securing commitments from these three recruits as they prepare to host them for official visits in late May.

The takeaway

Minnesota's aggressive recruiting efforts to land top talent for their 2027 class demonstrate the program's commitment to building a championship-caliber team. Locking in these high-profile official visits early in the cycle gives the Gophers an opportunity to make a strong impression and potentially land some of the Midwest's best players.