Covington, Georgia CB Zachry Harden commits to Gophers’ 2025 class

Minnesota finally got its first commitment in the class of 2025 Saturday, when (Covington, Georgia) CB Zachry Harden took to X.com to verbally commit to the Maroon & Gold. The Gophers are taking a more measured approach when it comes to recruiting this cycle, as Harden is their only commit for the class, that news should continue to heat up as we enter the spring/early summer.

Let’s Work @GopherFootball pic.twitter.com/apat2IQjnD

— 𝓩𝓪𝓬𝓱𝓻𝔂𝓗𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓙𝓻✞HIM (@1_zackkkk) March 24, 2024

Who is Zachry Harden?:

Harden currently attends Newton High School in Covington, Georgia. Newton is a pretty big high school with just under 2,500 students, while Covington is a small suburb of just under 15,000 people south of Atlanta. Zachry broke onto the recruiting scene shortly after his junior season, first getting an offer from Akron on January 14, then 19 schools followed headlined by Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Michigan State.

Zachry is a multi-sport athlete, also staring on the Newton basketball team in the offseason. After un-officially visiting the Gophers this weekend at their open Spring practice, he cited two Newton High School graduates, Darius Green and Darnell Jeffries currently on the roster as a major reason for his commitment.

• Scouting Report:

Listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Harden’s size is something that immediately jumps at you. He is incredibly long and that is something you notice right away watching his film. There is a reason why some of the top schools in the SEC are after his services, because he has every physical trait you want in a cornerback. He could very easily be the next underclassmen to contribute in the Gophers secondary.

**High School Football Hudl Highlights: 

What is next?:

Harden is the first domino to fall in the Gophers’ 2025 recruiting cycle, but he is a great building block. It is still very early in the process, but he is the type of player that can quickly rise up the recruiting rankings and be a cornerstone of a solid class.

Looking ahead, Minnesota has locked up dozens of officially visits for late this Spring, during its annual “Summer Splash” event on June 14-16. So that is definitely a date to circle as it relates to recruiting news. Be on the lookout at Goldgophers.com for all an everything recruiting related as things heat up.

Full 2025 class:

• CB Zachry Harden