SHELBY, Ohio — Brennan Armstrong is ready to row the boat for P.J. Fleck and the University of Minnesota.
Shelby’s All-Ohio quarterback committed to Fleck, the Golden Gophers’ first-year coach, late Saturday night. He made his announcement public via Twitter on Sunday.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound left-hander chose Minnesota over Iowa State, North Carolina, Virginia and Rutgers, among others. He had 10 Division I offers, including one from Western Michigan — Fleck’s former school.
Western Michigan was undefeated last fall before falling to Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl. Fleck, whose mantra — row the boat — became a sensation during the storybook season, was hired to replace Tracy Claeys in January.
“Coach Fleck is the main reason I chose Minnesota,” Armstrong said Sunday morning. “I feel like there are a lot of similarities between us. I came into Shelby and the program was a little rough. He arrived at Western Michigan and the program was a little rough and he built it up.
“That’s a bond a lot of head coaches and quarterbacks don’t have together. That’s why he was drawn to me and wanted me to be his quarterback.”
A junior and Ohio’s top-rated dual threat quarterback in the Class of 2018, Armstrong has been Shelby’s starter since his freshman year. He led the Whippets to an 11-2 record and a Division IV, Region 15 runner-up finish last November. The Whippets lost to eventual state runner-up Steubenville 29-15 at Massillon’s Paul Brown Stadium.
“We went from 2-8 when Brennan was a freshman, to 5-5 to 11-2,” Shelby coach Erik Will said. “Brennan already owns most of our career passing records and he’ll be one of the top four rushers in program history, and yet there is not a shred of complacency in him. He’s already told me he has some unfinished business to take care of in his senior year.
“They list him at 205 pounds, but he’s more like 215. He’s been a leader in the weight room and has put on another 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason.
Armstrong threw for 2,321 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 1,065 yards and 18 TDs last year. He combined with record-setting running back Shorty Brooks to give Shelby one of the most lethal rushing attacks in Richland County, if not the state.
“I enjoyed the recruiting process, but I’m glad to have the decision out of the way,” Armstrong said. “Now I can focus on my senior year. We want to get back to the regional championship game and win it this time.”
The 17-year-old Armstrong, he turns 18 in October, plans to graduate early so he can enroll at Minnesota next January.
“I’m going to early enroll, because it gives me a better opportunity to start as a freshman. That’s the whole reason I’m doing it,” Armstrong said. “I’ll get to go through spring practices and summer workouts to get ready for the season.
“I’ve still got a lot to work on before I get there. I need to improve on my pocket presence.”
A standout pitcher and center fielder, Armstrong will have to sacrifice his senior baseball season to enroll early. It’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make.
“I’m just ready for my next chapter, I guess,” he said. “By early-enrolling, I’ll get a head start on that next chapter.”
Armstrong informed Fleck of his decision at about 11:30 Saturday night. He talked to Will shortly thereafter.
“I told my wife that is typical Brennan,” Will said. “He’s not the type of kid who wants 20 cameras set up in front of him.
“If you know him, you know he doesn’t have a sense of entitlement. He’s very humble and very coachable. Those intangibles are what will make him successful at the college level.”
