# of Open Roster Spots

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Gophergrandpa

Gophergrandpa

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Current hypothetical 2026 Roster so far = 109 (4 over limit).

This Post will keep track of the total number of open spots for the coming 2026 Roster. Revised method: As I don't know if the 2025 roster was exactly 105 (because there were still some possible exemption spots), and because I am not sure that the list of players who walked was accurate (or might have missed some players who plan on retiring but didn't walk), I've now changed my "accounting," to simply add the number of 2025 carryover players currently listed on the roster plus incoming F who have signed LOIs plus transfer players who have committed. I suspect that there are a number of players still listed on the current 2025 carryover roster who either will enter the portal before it closes (to preserve their transfer right into the spring and summer) or who will simply quit football before next fall. The hypothetical 2026 roster of DLs and DBs is currently higher than what one would expect.

(First numeric column is players currently on roster, second is HS recruits who have signed an LOI, third is transfers who have committed, and the fourth is the current hypothetical roster number in 2026)

DL: 15 + 5 + 2 = 22
DB: 12 + 6 + 4 = 22
LB: 7 + 2 + 1 = 10
Total Defense so far, 54

QB: 3 + 2 + 1 = 6
TE: 4 + 3 + 1 = 8
RB: 4 + 3 + 1 = 8
WR 4 + 5* + 1 = 10
OL: 11 + 5 + 1 = 16
* includes a WR who the Gophs recruited as a DB
Total Offense so far, 48

P: 2 + 0 + 1 = 3
K: 1 + 0 + 1 = 2
L/S: 2 + 0 + 0 = 2
Total Special Teams so far, 7

{Note: Carryover roster players from the 2025 offense: 26. Carryover roster players from 2025 defense: 34}
 
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Adding Brun and E. Carrier
Also, forgot and now added Cam Davis RB
 
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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.
 



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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 


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.
 

Added Drew Wilson as a transfer out, first to announce post-Rate Bowl. Removed Anthony Smith as a question mark: he’s back!
 

Added Zaquan Bryan ... PJ's got to have a CB or two coming in the portal.
New Year's Day. Looks like 9 transfer spots open so far. Maybe this year PJ will be going for a few high quality, impact transfers. Last year's take--which had some big helpers like Nestor--included quite a few transfers that were of no help; quantity over quality. A few more quality guys, if we can get them, would provide better results. Fingers crossed.
 
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When the rules said that only 85 players were allowed to receive a scholarship, this was more interesting to track.

Now the rules simply say your roster can't be more than 105. I don't think that will be a problem?
 

Adding Tafai and, sadly, Perich. Koi gets a 96 transfer rating. At present, Koi is the highest rated safety in the portal and is the 7 highest rated portal player overall. Sucks to lose him.
 
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Added OT Warren from Tennessee and LB Marshall from Eastern Michigan. Warren will compete to start, I suspect. Marshall brings a lot of experience.
 
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I hadn't been watching too closely but this is the first I heard of Fame Ijeboi transferring.

That sounds short-sighted on his part. He's the kind of guy who isn't going to get a huge bag or a guaranteed role going to another P4. But he's also got 3 years left to play and he was the team's 2nd leading rusher in 2025 and was likely set up to start as an upperclassman.

Seems like he could have waited a year and been the guy for a solid P4 team. Or with DT's injury history perhaps started in 2026.
 

fmlizard said:
I hadn't been watching too closely but this is the first I heard of Fame Ijeboi transferring.

That sounds short-sighted on his part. He's the kind of guy who isn't going to get a huge bag or a guaranteed role going to another P4. But he's also got 3 years left to play and he was the team's 2nd leading rusher in 2025 and was likely set up to start as an upperclassman.

Seems like he could have waited a year and been the guy for a solid P4 team. Or with DT's injury history perhaps started in 2026.
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I agree with most of what you wrote but it looks like he'll have some options. He's visiting Virginia today which would make a lot of sense. They are coming off a 11-3 season and losing their top 2 RBs. It's also only ~4hrs from home for him.
 


fmlizard said:
I hadn't been watching too closely but this is the first I heard of Fame Ijeboi transferring.

That sounds short-sighted on his part. He's the kind of guy who isn't going to get a huge bag or a guaranteed role going to another P4. But he's also got 3 years left to play and he was the team's 2nd leading rusher in 2025 and was likely set up to start as an upperclassman.

Seems like he could have waited a year and been the guy for a solid P4 team. Or with DT's injury history perhaps started in 2026.
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In a vacuum yes but on that path he’s being paid like a number 3 at Mn where he can seemingly get paid as a 1.5 or 2 somewhere now
 


It sure looks like they are doing a good job of plugging in "gaps"!

Would like to see the kicker from Bowling Green and the TE from UM-Duluth sign on......

Imho, Bowling Green still owes us for that absolute klunker a few years back......
 

restovich said:
It sure looks like they are doing a good job of plugging in "gaps"!

Would like to see the kicker from Bowling Green and the TE from UM-Duluth sign on......

Imho, Bowling Green still owes us for that absolute klunker a few years back......
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Only designated kicker on the roster now is RS FR Jackson. RS FR Ryerse is also on the roster as a P, but I think he is a very capable K, too. Hard to believe PJ would roll with only Ks as two RS FR who have never executed a college-level FG ... but both have unusually high athletic ability for the Ker position, and maybe that will carry the day.
 

Adding Elisha West and Ayden West, both CBs, from Michigan State. As with HS recruiting, PJ gets early commitments (low-hanging fruit?). Doesn't get left holding the bag if the top-end guys toy are chasing leave you in the dust. But might miss on some top-end talent by pulling the trigger on others too quickly? Hard to say.

Only 4 roster spots left unless some of the 21 or so DL we have on the roster or committed enter the portal or retire. Would like to know Mo Omonode's status. I count him on the roster, assuming he got an injury waiver from the NCAA. But without a waiver, I think he is out of eligibility.
 

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