Gophers football coach Jerry Kill received a signed letter of intent from Calipatria (Calif.) High School senior Cedric Thompson, the University announced Monday.

As a senior, Thompson rushed for more than 1,800 yards and 27 touchdowns on 157 carries. As a cornerback, the position he is expected to play for the Gophers, he recorded 41 tackles, three sacks and four interceptions.

“Cedric is a young man we’re very excited about,” Kill said in a release. “He’s a 5-10, 200-pound cornerback with outstanding speed. He’s a great character kid, which is important to us. He really fits what we do. We think Cedric is a real diamond in the rough. He was a little under the radar through Signing Day, but we think it worked out well for us to get him.”

“I think [Kill is] a real nice coach,” Thompson told the Daily over the phone after returning to California from his recruiting trip to Minneapolis, during which, Thompson said, he “fell in love” with Minnesota.

Thompson is the 23rd recruit to sign with the team this year.