Daniel Jackson plays part of Gophers recruiter: 'I think I do a great job'

Minnesota's leading receiver says he can get 'anybody I was hosting' to commit to U.

There’s nothing a quarterback wants more than a top receiver.

It appears that might just be what attracted New Hampshire’s Max Brosmer and Fresno State’s Logan Fife to the Gophers football program.

Minnesota receiver Daniel Jackson said on Monday he was involved in the recruiting process, and if you ask him, he’s pretty gifted at getting fellow student-athletes to commit to the U.

“I honestly feel like my four years here, I’ve gotten over five — anybody I was hosting, I feel that I was able to get them to commit,” Jackson said.

It surely helps Jackson’s cause that he’s the type of receiver an incoming quarterback would want to throw to — he had 57 catches for 831 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023 — and Jackson put his recruiting skills up there with the best of them.

“I think I do a great job, not selling, but just promoting our program and our team,” he said.

It appears Jackson isn’t wrong. He helped the Gophers land Brosmer — likely their starter in 2024 — and Fife — potentially the team’s backup.

The additions of Brosmer and Fife also replenish a quarterback room that lost 2023 starter Athan Kaliakmanis and third-stringer Drew Viotto, both of whom announced they were entering the transfer portal on Nov. 28.

At the time that left Minnesota with backup Cole Kramer, who will start for the Gophers in the Quick Lane Bowl against Bowling Green on Dec. 26 in Detroit but doesn’t intend to use his one remaining year of eligibility in 2024, and walk-on freshman Max Shikenjanski.

Cole Kramer squashes rumor that he was paid to play in bowl game

Three-star recruit Drake Lindsey is committed to the U’s 2024 class.

Adding the veteran presences to the quarterback room in 2024 is sure to be important to any of the Gophers’ future success, and it gives Minnesota a number of arms who can get Jackson the ball.

Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said on KFXN-FM on Monday that Brosmer will be with the team and practicing at the Quick Lane Bowl, although he won't be eligible to play for Minnesota.

"I'm very excited to see (Brosmer), he's coming in this week I'm pretty sure, visiting or something," Jackson said. "Talking to him and being able to get him down here and dinner with him, all those things, was great."

Jackson can take at least a little bit of credit for that thanks to his recruiting skills.

And where does he take prospective Gophers to dinner?

“Manny’s is probably the go-to spot,” Jackson said. “You know, you got the side dishes, you got all the entrees, just great quality meat.” 

Minnesota wide receiver Daniel Jackson (9) runs with the ball as Wisconsin defensive back Preston Zachman (14) and linebacker Jordan Turner (54) give chase during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Nov. 25, 2023 :: Nick Wosika / USA TODAY Sports