US EditionGophers: Star DL Anthony Smith Ponders Returning in 2026
Smith's decision impacts Gophers' defensive line depth; he leads Big Ten with 10.5 sacks but showed uneven performance against top teams, affecting his 2026 NFL Draft stock.
- On Wednesday, Anthony Smith, redshirt junior defensive end for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, said he is undecided about using his one more year of eligibility and was noncommittal about Senior Day Saturday.
- Anthony Smith, the Gophers’ redshirt junior defensive end, remains undecided about using his extra year of eligibility and was noncommittal about walking on Senior Day Saturday, despite his goal to be a 2026 first-round pick, which has been challenged after being omitted from The Athletic’s Top 50 and posting a season-low 9 PFF grade in the loss to Northwestern.
- At 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, Smith has a Big Ten-leading 10 1/2 sacks in 11 games and 37 total pressures, though he recorded zero pressures vs Ohio State, one pressure vs Iowa and two pressures and one sack at Oregon.
- If he returns next fall, Anthony Smith would be the unquestioned leader and a big boost for Minnesota’s depleted defensive line, which loses three interior tackles.
- He can declare for the 2026 NFL Draft after the season, making the postseason decision pivotal for his pro timeline and his goal of a first-round pick at the University of Minnesota football program.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Pine Journal
Is star Anthony Smith coming back in 2026?
Last December, Gophers star defensive end Anthony Smith said his goal was to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft. “Being in the green room and my name being called, literally, the first day,” Smith said before the playing in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The conventional wisdom was the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe against Wisconsin on Saturday would be his final regular-season game, but the redshirt junior was not bidding farewell when asked abo…
Gophers football: Is star Anthony Smith coming back in 2026?
Last December, Gophers star defensive end Anthony Smith told the Pioneer Press his goal was to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft. “Being in the green room and my name being called, literally, the first day,” Smith said before the playing in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The conventional wisdom was the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe against Wisconsin on Saturday would be his final regular-season game, but the redshirt junior was not bidding farew…
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