The Gophers offered a scholarship to Chicago cornerback John Nestor in February 2022, but the three-star recruit committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes two months later.

Like being allergic to a bee sting, it hurt immediately, then swelled.

The U prides itself on stacking recruiting wins in the Chicagoland area. But the exacerbating factor was that Nestor picked the Gophers’ bitter rival.

Three years later, Nestor transferred to the Gophers after spring practices, earned a starting spot in fall camp and made two interceptions — returning one for a touchdown — in a 66-0 win over Northwestern State on Saturday.

“If there is an opportunity for you to rekindle that flame, you do,” Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said. “I thought that our staff did a really good job of that when recruiting John. Ulti

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