Minnesota DE Anthony Smith remains mum on NFL plans
Minnesota Golden Gophers star defensive end Anthony Smith is still keeping his future plans under wraps.
On Wednesday, during the Gophers’ player press conferences, Smith was asked about his future following Saturday’s regular-season finale against Wisconsin.
The Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, native who has developed into one of the nation’s top defensive ends gave no definitive answers.
“I’m focused on this week,” Smith said. “My goal has always been to go to the NFL, so whenever that happens, that’s the plan.” The 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive lineman didn’t say either if he would be walking on Saturday during the program’s senior day festivities.
This fall, Smith has enjoyed a career year with 31 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks. Last weekend against Northwestern, a first-quarter sack of Preston Stone made Smith the first Gopher since Willie VanDeSteeg in 2008 to reach double-digit sacks in a season.
For his career at Minnesota, Smith has totaled 74 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks. His 17.5 career sacks currently rank sixth all-time in program history, behind Karon Riley, Lamanzer Williams, Carter Couglin, Ben Mezera, and Willie VanDeSteeg.
His 10.5 sacks this season are tied for the fifth-most in a single season in program history.
In terms of his NFL Draft prospects, Smith was ranked earlier this week by ESPN’s Mel Kiper as the No. 8 defensive end eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft. Likely putting him in second or third round consideration, based on recent draft trends at defensive end.
If Smith ultimately goes pro, Saturday will be the last time he plays at Huntington Bank Stadium and could be the last time he wears the maroon and gold, as he’ll have to decide if he wants to opt out of the Gophers’ bowl game.
If he returns, Smith would enter the 2026 season as one of the Big Ten’s—and the nation’s—top defensive ends, helping to solidify what could be young Gophers’ defensive line next season.
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