Anthony Smith announced he is coming back.

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MaxyJR1 said:
Try to catapult to the 1st round next season. Good decision by a guy that loves the program. I’ll take 100 Anthony Smiths
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Only very recently was such a decision possible, due to players getting paid. Now he will probably make more money in 2026 tax return as a Gopher than as a first year 3rd-4th round NFL draft pick.
 

Spoofin said:
As a fan I love it. But, dude, you sure?
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Agreed, I love it for the program and this nothing but positive for the Def next year. However, unless we are missing something on the NIL side, to give up a year of NFL $$$ seems crazy to me when it's a league that likes to tell most players they are done after they hit 30.
 


99Gopher said:
Agreed, I love it for the program and this nothing but positive for the Def next year. However, unless we are missing something on the NIL side, to give up a year of NFL $$$ seems crazy to me when it's a league that likes to tell most players they are done after they hit 30.
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Revenue sharing is the key here most likely. If Smith thinks he can make good money to stay, develop and improve his draft stock it makes sense to stay in college as opposed to come out early. Won't shock me if we see more underclassmen staying in college if they are not sure fire first round type talents.
 



MNVCGUY said:
Revenue sharing is the key here most likely. If Smith thinks he can make good money to stay, develop and improve his draft stock it makes sense to stay in college as opposed to come out early. Won't shock me if we see more underclassmen staying in college if they are not sure fire first round type talents.
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Yep, we've already seen it in basketball.

It's still a no-brainer for the top 10 pick type of players, but a lot of players can make more money returning to school to develop. It's better for the pro leagues as well.
 

It’s a little bit apples to oranges but, A Smith is a big body to set the edge at 6’6”” 285 lbs.
by comparison, Dallas Turner for the Vikes is 6’3” 247.
ANT has quickness and that big frame. I like his size and speed a lot.
 




I love that Smith is staying and for a wide variety of reasons. His is an excellent player; his coming back has to make a positive impact on some other players that are considering staying; and the guy is just happy. Every time he speaks and is front of others he is smiling. There has to be a lot of good he brings to the locker. He loves being a Gopher!! I am pumped about Gopher football in 2026.
 

While it's nice to have him back, if he had a round 2 grade I think he should have entered the draft
 

The fact he said it immediately after the bowl win tells how much he is bought in imo. He was excited to tell the fans, his teammates and just the joy you could see for himself on his face. And PJ off to the left just soaking it in. It's good for everyone involved.
 





Just watching another replay. At 7:35 game time, there was a New Mexico QB option that broke for big yards. Anthony Smith was chasing and was the same speed or maybe catching that QB (wildcat?). Not sure his real position.
 

I wonder what the main motivating factor was here. I bet he was looking around the locker room and saw the amount of talent that is returning. I expect a big push from this team next year. Calling it now, 10 wins and flirting with the playoffs.
 


DrunkDons said:
I wonder what the main motivating factor was here. I bet he was looking around the locker room and saw the amount of talent that is returning. I expect a big push from this team next year. Calling it now, 10 wins and flirting with the playoffs.
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He might be thinking he will get paid more by the Gophers next year than he would in the NFL, and height improve his draft stock while he's at it
 

MNVCGUY said:
Assuming Menz comes back we will have a really strong pair of rush ends next year. Shore up the middle of the D-Line through the portal and we could have a very strong D-Line with those two racing to the QB.
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I can’t believe we have rush ends? Why don’t we just call them d linemen?
IYKYK
 

Ski-U-Ham said:
He might be thinking he will get paid more by the Gophers next year than he would in the NFL, and height improve his draft stock while he's at it
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He would probably make more in the NFL but if he thinks he can improve his draft position that could lead to an even bigger payout plus more security as a higher draft pick.

In the meantime he makes good money playing college ball and continuing to develop at a place where he seems really happy.
 

MNVCGUY said:
He would probably make more in the NFL but if he thinks he can improve his draft position that could lead to an even bigger payout plus more security as a higher draft pick.

In the meantime he makes good money playing college ball and continuing to develop at a place where he seems really happy.
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So for everyone on here that cries out how poor we are comparatively how do they explain this and the fact that PJ generally has been able to keep his roster intact?
 

Gopherchase said:
So for everyone on here that cries out how poor we are comparatively how do they explain this and the fact that PJ generally has been able to keep his roster intact?
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In this particular case I think we are seeing revenue sharing at work.

In terms of how we stack up with other schools in terms of Pay for Play it seems clear we are not in the same league as the big spenders but we are holding our own in terms of being able to retain the majority of our key players and fill holes through the portal.

I also think that some of what we are seeing is the kind of players that Fleck recruits. He is going to attract the kind of players that aren't just in it for the money. That isn't to say they don't want to get paid but they maybe are not as likely to just go chasing the $$$.
 

If Koi, Menz, Howard and Kingsbury come back, and they can bring in a solid CB and a few DTs, this defense could be legit good next year.
 

GophersInIowa said:
If Koi, Menz, Howard and Kingsbury come back, and they can bring in a solid CB and a few DTs, this defense could be legit good next year.
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Howard has a long way to go, but he has the athleticism to be great it just hasn’t translated yet. I’m cautiously optimistic about the other ND kid on the DL I think he could be a good one.
 

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