Vanderbilt transfer running back to the Gophers, as reported in an X post by Pete Nakos of On3 on Wednesday.
Standing at 6 feet and weighing 215 pounds, Johann Cardenas redshirted his first season at Vanderbilt in 2024. A highly regarded high school recruit from Katy, Texas, he was a three-star prospect and ranked as the 506th-best player in the nation, according to the final 247Sports Composite rankings. Cardenas chose Vanderbilt over other notable offers, including those from Oregon, Missouri, and Kentucky.
With at least four years of eligibility remaining, Cardenas essentially becomes a prospect with a year of SEC experience under his belt when he joins the Gophers. In high school, he was a standout at St. Thomas Catholic, rushing for over 4,700 yards and scoring nearly 80 touchdowns. As a senior, he racked up an impressive 2,268 yards and 33 rushing touchdowns.
Following the departure of redshirt freshman Jaydon Wright to the transfer portal, Cardenas will join fellow redshirt freshman Fame Ijeboi as Minnesota’s top underclassmen running backs. While Darius Taylor, A.J. Turner, and Cameron Davis are currently the front-runners for the starting roles in 2025, Cardenas and Ijeboi add depth and potential to the Gophers’ backfield.
Cardenas marks Minnesota’s third acquisition from the spring transfer portal, joining Iowa defensive back John Nestor and Purdue defensive tackle Mo Omonode.
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