The next Tyler Warren? What makes Roman Voss a special talent?

Originally posted on Minnesota Golden Gophers on SI
By Tony Liebert | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 12:01 PM ET

Picture via: @romanvoss2 (X)

The Gophers got a big-time verbal commitment on Monday from Jackson County Central High School QB Roman Voss, but he's not expected to play QB for the Gophers. Voss is expected to play tight end at the next level, so what makes him such a heralded prospect?

Jackson County Central has an enrollment of less than 350 students, according to US News & World Report, so their football team doesn't have a huge pool of players to pick from. They're going to want to put the football in their best athlete's hands as much as possible, and that's what they do with Voss.

He's far from the first high school QB recruited to play tight end at the next level, and he certainly won't be the last. We most recently saw Tyler Warren develop into the best tight end in college football at Penn State after playing quarterback in high school. Travis Kelce also has a very similar developmental path. Am I comparing Voss to Kelce? No. But there is historical context for what Minnesota could want him to do.

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Voss doesn't just play QB at the high school level. He has lined up at wide receiver and tight end, while dominating on the defensive side of the ball as a safety or linebacker. Listed at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Minnesota is recruiting a football player, not a position, which is something a lot of people said about fellow No. 1 in-state recruit Koi Perich.

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It's naive to compare Voss' skillset to someone else, but that's what sports fans want to hear. I don't think comparing him to a player like Warren is hyperbolic. Voss can be used all over the field in a multitude of different ways, something we saw last year with Warren at Penn State.

In college sports recruiting now more than ever, it's important to point out that there's still a lot of time before early national signing day in December and even before Voss gets to the point of putting on a Gophers uniform.

Do I know exactly was Voss' role will look like at the college level? No. But, I do know if I was building a college football team, I would want as many players who play like Voss as possible. His IQ, movement skills and feel for the game is not something that you see everyday. He's a player who I expect to succeed in almost any role he plays.