2026 running back Ezekiel Bates has committed to the University of Minnesota. The Malvern Prep (PA) standout announced his commitment to the Golden Gophers on Wednesday morning.

His commitment to the Golden Gophers comes a little over a month after taking an unofficial visit to Minneapolis in late March.

He chose the Gophers over offers, primarily Boston College, where he had an official visit scheduled to but he also held offers from Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, among numerous other Group of Five and FCS offers.

Bates is the ninth commitment in Minnesota's 2026 recruiting class and the first running back to do so. Of the Gophers' nine commitments, six have been on the offensive side of the ball so far in quarterback Owen Lansu, offensive lineman Andrew Trout, and wide receivers Hayden Moore, Kai Meza, and Rico Blassingame.

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