Prized Gophers freshman Roman Voss is already pushing for a bigger role

Prized Gophers freshman Roman Voss is already pushing for a bigger role

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Prized Gophers freshman Roman Voss is already pushing for a bigger role

When Roman Voss committed to Minnesota over Alabama on June 23, 2025, it felt like a huge recruiting win for Gophers football. He proceeded to win Minnesota Mr. Football as a senior, and it took him just three games to find the end zone at the college level. What’s next?

Voss had an all-time great senior season at Jackson County Central (JCC) High School in southern Minnesota. He played QB at the prep level and threw for 1,902 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior, while also rushing for 1,893 yards and 30 touchdowns, leading the Huskies to back-to-back state championships. He was also named the 2025 Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year as the best player in the state, regardless of class.

Voss was rated as a four-star prospect, the 337th-ranked player in the national Class of 2026 and the No. 2 player in Minnesota, according to the final 247Sports Composite. His Gophers teammate, defensive lineman Howie Johnson, was the only player ranked higher.

After finishing his senior year at JCC and enrolling at the University of Minnesota this summer, Voss has gotten off to a solid start as a true freshman. He’s played 24 offensive snaps through three games, and two more on special teams. His first college catch was a 16-yard touchdown on Saturday against Akron. Notably, it happened in the first quarter, not in garbage time.

“[Tight ends coach Eric Koehler] has done a really good job with him, especially in the recruiting process. He built such a bond with him and his family,” head coach P.J. Fleck said Monday. “Roman is a special player; I think we all know that. But one thing I love about Roman is he’s incredibly coachable.

“From playing quarterback to everything he did for Jackson County, and then being able to come here and transition into the tight end position and the role. He’s constantly looking to get better. It’s a great route that he ran. It was designed for him. It was a nice jerk route through the middle against quarters, and he executed it really well.”

Sep 19, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers tight end Roman Voss (4) celebrates his 16-yard touchdown reception against the Akron Zips during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, it doesn’t take long to see why Voss was such a highly regarded tight end prospect. He has already flashed his versatility with 18 snaps as an inline tight end, five in the slot, and one more as an outside receiver.

Voss is one of four Gophers with a receiving touchdown through three games, as Minnesota’s passing attack has struggled to find the end zone. He’s tied for the fourth-most offensive snaps among tight ends, although he’s trending up after a season-high 11 offensive snaps against Akron.

Alabama wasn’t the only blue-blood program interested in Voss. He held offers from Miami (FL), USC, Oklahoma, UCLA, and Auburn, among others. Perhaps one of the reasons the Gophers landed him is that they could offer him an immediate role, and it appears that we’re starting to see that pay off.

“Wherever he went, I think he was going to make an impact, and I think that’s a credit to him,” Fleck said. “The mental, physical, and emotional maturity of someone allows them to play early. It’s not just the physical ability. There’s a lot of people who are physically ready to play. If you’re going to play as a true freshman, you have to be mentally and emotionally ready to play.

“It’s very unique, and I think he has handled the challenge of adapting to it very well, and I think you’d see even further progress if he was here even earlier. He has done a really good job since he has been here. I give credit to him and Coach Koehler and [offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr.] for the investment they’ve made in him. He’s going to be a good one in the future.”

Senior tight end Pierce Walsh has played 103 offensive snaps through three games; he’s the only Gophers tight end with more than 50. Voss might be fourth or fifth on the depth chart right now, but his role could continue to grow with the season.

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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Sep 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Gophers section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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