As college football transitions from the regular season into bowl season and the ever-chaotic transfer portal window, the Minnesota Golden Gophers find themselves in the middle of some major roster decisions-none bigger than the one looming over star edge rusher Anthony Smith.
Smith, a redshirt junior and one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the Big Ten this past season, has yet to announce whether he’ll return to Minnesota for his senior year in 2026, test the NFL waters, or enter the transfer portal when it opens on January 2. And while the Gophers would love to have him back, even head coach P.J. Fleck is in wait-and-see mode.
“Let me know what he tells ya,” Fleck joked during a press conference ahead of Minnesota’s upcoming Rate Bowl matchup on December 26 in Phoenix.
Smith’s uncertainty is the biggest question mark hanging over a Gophers defense that’s already bracing for transition. With senior defensive linemen Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding moving on, losing Smith-who was second in the Big Ten with 10.5 sacks in 2025-would leave Minnesota without its most experienced and impactful pass rusher. Smith logged 610 snaps this season, tied for second-most on the team’s defense, and his presence on the edge was a consistent source of pressure.
At 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, Smith has the physical tools that make him a hot commodity in today’s college football landscape. In the current NIL era, defensive linemen of his caliber command serious attention-and serious dollars. If Smith decides to explore other opportunities, there are programs out there with deeper NIL pockets ready to make a pitch.
That said, a jump to the NFL might be a longer shot. Smith wasn’t listed among the 481 draft-eligible players on Pro Football Focus’ big board for the 2026 NFL Draft. That doesn’t mean he won’t get a shot down the road, but for now, returning to college-whether in Minneapolis or elsewhere-may be the more likely path.
Regardless of what Smith decides, Fleck made it clear the program will back him.
“Any decision he decides to make, we’ll support him 100 percent because all decisions he makes are going to be good decisions,” Fleck said. “He doesn’t have a bad decision.”
Smith isn’t the only Gopher with a decision to make. Running back Darius Taylor and safety Koi Perich are two more key names who haven’t yet announced their plans for 2026. Taylor, who was ranked No. 207 on PFF’s draft board, is coming off a strong season and could be weighing his options between a return, the portal, or the pros.
Meanwhile, linebacker Maverick Baranowski has already made his call-he’s coming back for his redshirt senior season. Baranowski led the Gophers with 86 tackles in 2025, including six tackles for loss and two sacks across all 12 games. He’ll be a cornerstone of the defense next season.
“Excited to be a part of this defense, and be a part of this culture for another year and for my final year,” Baranowski said. “It will be awesome.”
As for players moving on, 13 Gophers have already announced their departures. That group includes redshirt freshman running back Fame Ijeboi, though most of the others were not significant contributors this past season.
Fleck said the staff has been focused on retention, and so far, the results have been encouraging.
“We have a really, really high retention rate,” he noted. “Everybody’s on their own timeframe. I’ve had to slow down a little bit more and let that process play out.”
That patience will be tested as bowl prep continues and the transfer portal opens in early January.
One player who’s already gearing up for the next chapter is senior linebacker Devon Williams. After the Rate Bowl, he’ll head to the Hula Bowl, a college all-star game in Florida on January 10.
“It’s another opportunity, so why not?” Williams said.
“That is as simple as that. As soon as I got it, I accepted it.”
Eastern, meanwhile, is set to appear in the Senior Bowl on January 31 in Mobile, Alabama-the premier showcase for NFL hopefuls.
As for the Rate Bowl itself, Minnesota is keeping its cards close to the vest when it comes to player availability. The Gophers don’t release their list of bowl opt-outs until two hours before kickoff, so fans will have to wait until game day for clarity.
One name to watch is senior receiver Le’Meke Brockington, who led the team with 46 catches for 484 yards in 2025. He’s a potential candidate to sit out.
“We have a lot of players that are practicing with us and are around with us, some are not,” Fleck said. “Some will play, some won’t play.”
That’s the nature of college football in December. Between bowl prep, the portal, and NFL decisions, it’s a time of flux. But for Minnesota, how the next few weeks shake out-especially with Anthony Smith-could set the tone for what 2026 looks like.