Minnesota denies P.J. Fleck contacted Western Michigan players

Minnesota has denied new head coach P.J. Fleck has contacted any of his former players at Western Michigan to persuade them to transfer to the Golden Gophers program, according to Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune.

"We are not recruiting any students from Western Michigan," Minnesota spokesman Paul Rovnak said.

WWMT-TV in Kalamazoo, where Western Michigan is located, reported Fleck had contacted former Bronco linebacker Robert Spillane, before Spillane was given his release from the school.

Under NCAA rules, players who are still part of their school cannot be contacted by their former coach until a release has been signed off.