Gophers’ rising star Anthony Smith wants to be NFL first-rounder

[BleedGopher]

Per Greder:

“Next year is all about making those plays and really being a first-rounder,” he said, referring to the 2026 NFL Draft. “That’s my goal at the end of the day, being in the green room and my name being called, literally, the first day.”

Gophers’ rising star Anthony Smith wants to be NFL first-rounder

The sophomore defensive end has huge goals, and a support system in Minnesota’s coaching staff.

www.twincities.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[MNVCGUY]

Kid absolutely has NFL size and has shown flashes of busting out. Would be awesome if it all comes together for him next year and he has a monster season.

 

[GophersInIowa]

You scared me, saw the first part of the headline and immediately thought he was going into the portal.

 

[GopherEnEspaña]

Is Joyner coming back? Does he have eligibility? Smith, Joyner, and Howard will be nasty together next year

 

[50PoundHead]

Is Joyner coming back? Does he have eligibility? Smith, Joyner, and Howard will be nasty together next year

I think Joyner declared for the draft.

 

[USAF]

I thought Eastern outplayed Smith this season.
Although both were really good.

 

[Married@SiebertField]

I thought Eastern outplayed Smith this season.
Although both were really good.

If both became consistently dominant players…that’s the ticket for a run to the playoffs—imagine a Bobby Bell
& Carl Eller-type defensive line.

 

[MNVCGUY]

If both became consistently dominant players…that’s the ticket for a run to the playoffs—imagine a Bobby Bell
& Carl Eller-type defensive line.

Yeah, they bring different skill sets to the table. Eastern is an interior guy whereas Smith can line up pretty much anywhere along the d-line. With the two of them combined with Howard and the incoming transfers we have a chance to have a strong D-Line even with the guys we are losing to the draft and graduation.

 

[Unregistered User]

Per Greder:

“Next year is all about making those plays and really being a first-rounder,” he said, referring to the 2026 NFL Draft. “That’s my goal at the end of the day, being in the green room and my name being called, literally, the first day.”

Gophers’ rising star Anthony Smith wants to be NFL first-rounder

The sophomore defensive end has huge goals, and a support system in Minnesota’s coaching staff.

www.twincities.com

Go Gophers!!

Love the attitude, high confidence without the arrogance.

 

[DinkytownDelight]

Per Greder:

“Next year is all about making those plays and really being a first-rounder,” he said, referring to the 2026 NFL Draft. “That’s my goal at the end of the day, being in the green room and my name being called, literally, the first day.”

Gophers’ rising star Anthony Smith wants to be NFL first-rounder

The sophomore defensive end has huge goals, and a support system in Minnesota’s coaching staff.

www.twincities.com

Go Gophers!!

Would be our first defensive player taken in the first round since Willie Middlebrooks in 2001!

 

[MNVCGUY]

Would be our first defensive player taken in the first round since Willie Middlebrooks in 2001!

Nubin, Mafe, and Winfield Jr. didn't miss by much but would be awesome to see another Gopher get drafted in the first round. Have not had many of those guys over the history of the program.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Nubin, Mafe, and Winfield Jr. didn't miss by much but would be awesome to see another Gopher get drafted in the first round. Have not had many of those guys over the history of the program.

The fact that people who get paid to evaluate football players somehow watched Winfield and Jeff Gladney play football and some of them came out thinking that Gladney was better will always baffle me.

 

[MNVCGUY]

The fact that people who get paid to evaluate football players somehow watched Winfield and Jeff Gladney play football and some of them came out thinking that Gladney was better will always baffle me.

Winfield's injury history might have scared teams a little. But the Bucs got an absolute steal where they drafted him as he definitely should have gone in round 1.

 

[Gopherchase]

Per Greder:

“Next year is all about making those plays and really being a first-rounder,” he said, referring to the 2026 NFL Draft. “That’s my goal at the end of the day, being in the green room and my name being called, literally, the first day.”

Gophers’ rising star Anthony Smith wants to be NFL first-rounder

The sophomore defensive end has huge goals, and a support system in Minnesota’s coaching staff.

www.twincities.com

Go Gophers!!

I think this is totally realistic. You could almost see game by game things slowing down out there for him. He’s got all the tools.