PJ Fleck has done a solid job of keeping in-state prospects this year, but the Minnesota head football coach lost out on one recently. And to a Big Ten rival at that.

Triton High School talent Pierce Petersohn committed to play football at Penn State, selecting the Nittany Lions over Minnesota. The four-star talent is slated to play tight end.

Petersohn is a 6-foot-5, 195-pounder who plays all over the field for Triton. Last fall, he threw for almost 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns while picking off three passes on defense. 

While Minnesota was a finalist for his services, the Gophers were looking to have Petersohn focus on playing defense as a linebacker. Penn State, meanwhile, recruited him as a possible replacement for recent first round NFL draft pick Tyler Warren at tight end.

Petersohn, who will be a senior this fall, is ranked as a No. 4 player in the state of Minnesota by 247Sports and 28th overall as an athlete. Along with offers from Penn State and Minnesota, he was courted by Iowa State, Iowa, Duke, Kansas State and Northwestern.

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