Rico Blassingame, a three-star wide receiver from Tolleson, Arizona, gave his verbal commitment to the Gophers on Thursday afternoon. He marks the fifth recruit to join Minnesota’s class of 2026.
Rico Blassingame, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 180 pounds, had a strong junior year at Tolleson Union, a top-tier Arizona high school football program. He hauled in 53 catches for 690 yards and scored five touchdowns.
Blassingame attracted attention from over 20 prominent programs, including Texas A&M, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. According to the most recent 247Sports Composite, he ranks as the 894th overall prospect nationally, the 142nd-best wide receiver, and the 12th-best player in Arizona.
Minnesota has been heavily involved in recruiting Blassingame since extending an offer on May 14 last year. He visited the campus for a junior day on February 1 and has an official visit planned for May 30 during the Gophers’ annual Summer Splash event.
While his frame might delay his immediate impact at the college level, Blassingame’s long-term upside is exciting. Minnesota has a proven history of molding high school receivers into stars, and Blassingame possesses all the qualities coaches look for.
He joins Minnesota’s 2026 recruiting class as the fifth verbal commitment and the first wide receiver. His pledge is yet another notable win for head coach P.J. Fleck and his staff as the recruiting cycle gains momentum.
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