Minnesota’s Anthony Smith is stacking up preseason honors before the 2026 season even gets rolling.
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive lineman has been named to the 2026 Walter Camp Preseason All-America Second Team, adding another national nod to a résumé that already includes a preseason First Team All-America selection from Phil Steele Publications. Smith is also coming off a monster 2025 season, when he posted 17.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks on his way to All-Big Ten First Team recognition.
And the numbers behind his Minnesota career tell the bigger story. Smith has 31 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks with the Gophers, putting him within reach of two school records as he enters his final season in maroon and gold. The career mark for tackles for loss is 43.5, set by Willie VanDeSteeg from 2005-2008, while the sack record is 29.0, held by Karon Riley from 1999-2000.
A native of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, Smith is being billed as one of the most disruptive players in college football and is expected to be a major leader for Minnesota this fall.
He’s not the only Gopher drawing preseason attention, either. Phil Steele Publications recognized nine Minnesota players in its preseason All-America and All-Big Ten teams. Along with Smith, offensive lineman Greg Johnson was also named a First Team All-American, and both players landed on the First Team All-Big Ten.
Linebacker Maverick Baranowski and defensive back John Nestor were placed on the Second Team All-Big Ten. Receiver Jalen Smith and TJ Thomas were named Third Team All-Big Ten, with Thomas listed as a punt returner. Running back Darius Taylor, offensive lineman Nathan Roy and long snapper Alan Soukup rounded out the group as Fourth Team All-Big Ten selections.
Minnesota will also send three players to Big Ten Media Days in Chicago next month: Baranowski, quarterback Drake Lindsey and Smith. The three-day event runs July 28-30 at the Hilton Chicago, and the Gophers - along with head coach P.J. Fleck and Taylor - are set to meet with the media on July 29.
Big Ten Football Media Days serves as the unofficial start to the season, and Minnesota will get its first real spotlight of 2026 on Sept. 3, when it opens at home against Eastern Illinois. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Huntington Bank Stadium, with the game airing on Peacock.
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