Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck's program has been generating heavy recruiting buzz lately. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

College football coaches recruiting middle schoolers is a rare occurrence, but defensive lineman Jayden Bates of Eden Prairie seems like a rare prospect. The 14-year-old incoming high school freshman was the talk of P.J. Fleck’s Gophers football elite camp this week.

Bates used his athleticism, skill and size beyond his years to stand out among the big boys — and picked up a scholarship offer from Fleck and the Gophers.

“It feels good that someone on coach Fleck’s level acknowledged what he was doing,” Bates’ father, Titus, told the Minnesota Star Tribune. “It doesn’t get bigger than that right now.”

For more on Bates and the Gophers, click here to read this story on startribune.com.