The Gophers football program doubled the amount of incoming players via the NCAA transfer portal on Sunday.
Illinois State defensive end Steven Curtis and North Carolina Central cornerback Jaylen Bowden pledged to Minnesota during a busy recruiting weekend in Dinkytown. Both defensive players have two seasons of eligibility remaining and will help positions of need on the U roster for the 2025 season.
“100 percent committed,” both Curtis and Bowden posted on social media.
Bowden, who is listed at 6-foot-2, 115 pounds, had 19 tackles and one interception in 10 games in 2024. The Charlotte, N.C., native had a strong 84.2 coverage grade and 81.1 overall mark from Pro Football Focus. He had four tackles in 10 games in 2023.
Curtis, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, had 46 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles in 2024. The West Palm Beach, Fla., native had an average 63.6 overall grade and a 53.2 pass-rush grade from PFF. He had four tackles, one tackle for lost yards and one interception in 2023.
The Gophers now have four transfer for 2025, with Georgia Tech quarterback Zach Pyron and Purdue tight end Drew Biber. Head coach P.J. Fleck said the U wants to add 10-15 players via the portal before next season.
