# of Open Roster Spots

This Post will keep track of the total number of open spots for the coming 2026 Roster. Could be several more additions to this list in the coming weeks, as we approach Transfer Portal opening. My net number assumes an NCAA roster cap of 105 players (and that we were at max roster in 2025). There might be a player or two that for some reason has an historic exemption that I don't know about which might mean I am off a player or two.

Total Departures from 2025 Roster: 38
2026 Recruits who have signed LOIs: <31>
2026 Transfer Portal Commits: < 0 >
Net 2026 Roster spots currently available: 7
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Positions with Players Leaving:
QB -- 2
WR -- 7
RB -- 3
OL -- 5
TE -- 4
DL -- 5
LB -- 3
DB -- 4
K -- 3
P -- 2

Eligibility/Walked:
1. Alvarez OL
2. Becker DL
3. Biber TE
4. Bierman TE
5. Brockington WR
6. Davis RB
7. Denaberg K
8. DiSano TE
9. Eastern DL
10. Finnessy DL
11. Geers TE
12. Green DB
13. Henson K
14. Kemp K
15. Lawrence DL
16. LeCaptain LB
17. Logan-Redding DL
18. Loya WR
19. Marshall OL
20. McMillan DB
21. Morehead QB
22. Nkele OL
23. Ray OL
24. Q. Redding WR
25. Roberson LB
26. Williams LB
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In Transfer Portal:
27. Berry RB
28. Tripp OL
29. McGrath P
30. Lanier WR
31. Kollock QB
32. Brun DB
33. E. Carrier DB
34. Driver WR
35. Lyons WR
36. Ijeboi RB
37. Coleman WR
38. Richter P

Questions:
Smith DL (walked; NFL or return?)
Omonode DL (redshirt or injury waiver?)

Adding Brun and E. Carrier
Also, forgot and now added Cam Davis RB

Added WRs Cristian Driver and Legend Lyons. That's six WRs out the door through eligibility (2) or transfer (4). Only one of the six had significant playing time/yardage (Brockington). After a year in which our leading WR had under 500 yards, the WR "room" looks to be getting a "refresh."

Gophergrandpa said:

Added WRs Cristian Driver and Legend Lyons. That's six WRs out the door through eligibility (2) or transfer (4). Only one of the six had significant playing time/yardage (Brockington). After a year in which our leading WR had under 500 yards, the WR "room" looks to be getting a "refresh."

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I hope it gets taller, be nice to see a couple rangy guys.

Five WR in 2026 class. Assume at least the 4 will have a chance to start. Assume Fleck has a group of portal guys he is focused on targeting.

Added Fame Ijeboi.

PMWinSTP said:

Five WR in 2026 class. Assume at least the 4 will have a chance to start. Assume Fleck has a group of portal guys he is focused on targeting.

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Throw the stars out the window once they arrive. I wouldn’t be surprised if the two little guys got some run, Hendrix and Stevens, they look pretty speedy.

btowngopher said:

Throw the stars out the window once they arrive. I wouldn’t be surprised if the two little guys got some run, Hendrix and Stevens, they look pretty speedy.

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At this point (12/10), the Gophers are losing/shedding 10 receivers from this year's team: 6 WRs and 4 TEs. A real opportunity to reshape the passing game assets. Also appears to be a great time for the UMD TE to transfer in, if he is interested. He could take and very well possibly upgrade Gears' spot.

Added Malachi Coleman. Darn, I thought the had a chance to dominate, just on size mismatch metrics alone. But if you throw downfield as little as the Gophers do--despite having a QB who can heave it out of the stadium--not much chance to develop that role.

To date, that's 7 WRs and 4 TEs out the door ether by eligibility or transfer. Receiving corps is being hugely reshaped for next year. Hopefully, that is a good thing.

At the moment (12/15), the carryover roster from this season to next is as follows:
WRs: Javon Tracy; Jalen Smith; Bradley Martino; and "Nuke" Hayes
TEs: Pierce Walsh; Sam Peters; Julian Johnson; and Jacob Simpson

Entering FR are:
WR: Rico Blasingame, 4* 90; Quayd Hendryx, 88; Josiah Dozier, 87; Hayden Moore, 86; Braiden Stevens 85
TE: Roman Voss, 4* 91; Gabe Weaver, 88; George Rohl, 83

Gophs have 4 carryover tight ends to 2026 on the roster. But only Pierce Walsh has any B1G catches: 2 catches for 17 yards in 2025. Astounding experience void. Jacob Simpson played in all 2025 games, but had no catches; assume he was a special teams stalwart in 2025. When the portal opens, I really hope UMD TE Like Dehnicke chooses the Gophers. Our need for an experienced, pass-catching TE is an incredible opportunity for him. Voss might get some play early, too, if he is physically ready for B1G combat at that position. Voss might need a year of conditioning in the weight room, though. We ask our TEs to be a productive part of the blocking scheme.

I suspect that the Gophs will need at least one and maybe two experienced, ready-to-go WRs from the portal, as well. So far we've got a nominal 2026 roster of 9 WRs, but only two of them have caught a pass in a B1G game, and 5 are true freshmen. Current 2026 WRs with stats from the 2025 season are Javon Tracy, 35 receptions for 439 yards and 6 TDs; and Jalen Smith with 22 receptions for 355 yards and 2 TDs. Another fairly big experience void.

Gophergrandpa said:

At the moment (12/15), the carryover roster from this season to next is as follows:
WRs: Javon Tracy; Jalen Smith; Bradley Martino; and "Nuke" Hayes
TEs: Pierce Walsh; Sam Peters; Julian Johnson; and Jacob Simpson

Entering FR are:
WR: Rico Blasingame, 4* 90; Quayd Hendryx, 88; Josiah Dozier, 87; Hayden Moore, 86; Braiden Stevens 85
TE: Roman Voss, 4* 91; Gabe Weaver, 88; George Rohl, 83

Gophs have 4 carryover tight ends to 2026 on the roster. But only Pierce Walsh has any B1G catches: 2 catches for 17 yards in 2025. Astounding experience void. Jacob Simpson played in all 2025 games, but had no catches; assume he was a special teams stalwart in 2025. When the portal opens, I really hope UMD TE Like Dehnicke chooses the Gophers. Our need for an experienced, pass-catching TE is an incredible opportunity for him. Voss might get some play early, too, if he is physically ready for B1G play at that position.

I suspect that the Gophs will need at least one and maybe two experienced, ready-to-go WRs from the portal, as well. So far we've got a nominal 2026 roster of 9 WRs, but only two of them have caught a pass in a B1G game, and 5 are true freshmen. Current 2026 WRs with stats from the 2025 season are Javon Tracy, 35 receptions for 439 yards and 6 TDs; and Jalen Smith with 22 receptions for 355 yards and 2 TDs. Another fairly big experience void.

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As has been surmised, I'd guess we have a target or two in the portal we're feeling pretty confident about. Drake should be a huge draw to guys who might be a fourth or fifth receiver on a high end P4 team coming into next year or a top dawg on a G5 team looking to try to make a splash at the P4 level.

Added punter Brody Richter—Weston won the job.

Gophergrandpa said:

Added punter Brody Richter—Weston won the job.

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Just a thought but since recruits have signed I would adjust available roster spots to reflect the incoming freshman for next year.

So instead of 38 available sports it would actually be 7 since 31 of those 38 spots are currently spoken for by committed recruits. Just gives a bit more accurate feel for the 2026 roster and shows how many transfers we are likely to be able to bring in.

MNVCGUY said:

Just a thought but since recruits have signed I would adjust available roster spots to reflect the incoming freshman for next year.

So instead of 38 available sports it would actually be 7 since 31 of those 38 spots are currently spoken for by committed recruits. Just gives a bit more accurate feel for the 2026 roster and shows how many transfers we are likely to be able to bring in.

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I hadn't wanted to count the "ins," but your point is well taken. I'll adjust to "net" available spots count. Worth knowing the "net" spots available once the transfer portal opens on January 2 and some new "ins" start coming over.