Today, as the transfer portal opens for college football players everywhere, it's very likely the 2026 star that was at the FCS or Division II level is weighing options and making a decision on where to play next fall.
News broke today of a top FCS coordinator set to make a jump, as well, from the FCS to the Big Ten.
Isaac Fruechte, the offensive coordinator at North Dakota (FCS), is set to join PJ Fleck's staff, according to multiple reports today. Fruechte was recently selected to the AFCA's prestigious 35 under 35 program as a member of the 2026 class.
The job with the Gophers marks a return for Fruechte, who played for the program from 2011-14 and played his high school ball at Caledonia HS (MN) before a season as the junior college level led him to Minnesota.
After going undrafted in 2015, he spent a few seasons with the practice squads of the Vikings and Lions before playing the 2016 with the Vikings organization.
He jumped into college football at the small college level in 2018 as the co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Wisconsin La-Crosse, then made the jump to the FCS level becoming the receivers coach at Northern Iowa for a season.
He landed his first play calling opportunity heading into the 2020 season at Northern State (D-II - SD), where he juggled quarterbacks and wide receivers for the program. He took the associate head coach and offensive coordinator job at Winona State (D-II - MN) for a few seasons before heading back to the FCS level at North Dakota, where he took over as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach prior to the 2024 season.
In his first season with the Fighting Hawks, Fruechte's offense ranked among the top 25 nationally in red zone scoring, third down conversions, time of possession and rushing offense.
This past season, Fruechte's group averaged nearly 33 points per game, ranking 22nd nationally in FCS. They also ranked among the top 15 in first downs gained and sacks allowed per game as well.
In addition to Fruechte, 247 adds that former Gophers running back Mohamed Ibrahim, who spent last season coaching the running backs at Kent State, is in the process of finalizing a deal to return to his alma mater as running backs coach.
Also, sources confirm to FootballScoop that former New Mexico special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato is joining the Gophers in the same capacity as well. Da Prato has served as a special teams coordinator at a number of stops including Texas State, and South Florida where he would go on to serve as the interim head coach in 2022 for the final three weeks of the season.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.