Michigan track athlete returning to Minnesota to play football for Gophers
A former Minnesota high school football star is leaving the University of Michigan to play football for his home state Golden Gophers.
But Noah Carlson doesn't play football at Michigan. According to Pat Ruff of the Rochester Post Bulletin, Carlson is leaving the track & field team to pursue a football opportunity at the University of Minnesota.
Carlson, who will have to sit out a year before being eligible to play in 2020 per NCAA transfer rules, was a standout playmaker and defensive back at Rushford-Peterson, rushing for 2,785 yards and 41 touchdowns during Rushford-Peterson's 2016 season that ended in a loss to Minneapolis North in the Class A Prep Bowl.
He was eventually named the Minnesota Associated Press Football Player of the Year despite not being included among the 10 finalists for the Mr. Football Award.
The Winona Daily News reported in late 2016 that Carlson received interest from the Gopher football program while also getting offers from North Dakota State and South Dakota State.
According to his bio from the University of Michigan, Carlson was the Minnesota State High School League Class A Outdoor State Champion in the 200 meters, and in the long jump and triple jump. He was the state champion in long jump and triple jump as a sophomore in 2015 as well. An injury kept him from a three-peat as a senior in 2017.
