One of Iowa’s top high school football prospects made waves Monday night by announcing he’s “locked in” — not with a commitment, but with a visit to the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Four-star recruit Julian Manson plans to attend Minnesota’s high-profile “Summer Splash” recruiting event, taking place June 13–15.
Should the Gophers secure a commitment from the Iowa City West standout, he’d become the highest-ranked prospect in Minnesota’s 2026 recruiting class, per 247Sports’ composite rankings. Manson currently sits at No. 257 nationally — ahead of current in-state leader Andrew Trout, an offensive lineman from Rocori High School, who ranks 277th.
Manson is projected to play off-ball linebacker at the next level. On3 national scout Cody Bellaire praised him in a February report, calling Manson “one of the top off-ball linebackers in the 2026 cycle,” and highlighting his impressive range, football instincts, and sideline-to-sideline presence.
On3 ranks Manson as the sixth-best linebacker in the 2026 national class, and he’s drawing interest from major programs, including Iowa, Miami, Arizona, and Kansas State.
His upcoming visit to Minnesota is a promising sign for the Gophers. If everything clicks, there’s a real possibility Manson could leave the Twin Cities as the newest member of the Maroon and Gold.
