The Gopher defense is shaping up to be a fascinating unit heading into the 2026 season. While the offense returns plenty of familiar faces, the defense carries a few more question marks—but also some serious firepower up front.
Last season, Minnesota finished in the middle of the Big Ten pack, allowing 23 points per game and ranking 11th in total yards allowed. Their SP+ rating placed them 33rd nationally and 12th in the conference. That’s respectable, but the Gophers are hungry for more.
When Eastern Illinois comes to town on September 3rd—likely for a paycheck and a tough afternoon—here’s how we see the defensive depth chart shaking out.
Edge Rushers (Starters & Rotational)
Starters: Anthony Smith, TJ Bush (Cal transfer), Karter Menz
Depth: Adam Kissayi, Jaxon Howard
Freshmen: Aaden Aytch, Anthony Charles
You’ll notice we listed three starters for a position that typically fields two. That’s intentional—these three will all see significant snaps and are essentially co-starters. Smith, Menz, Bush, Kissayi, and Howard form a deep, talented group of ends that could be the backbone of this defense.
It all starts with Anthony Smith, who led the Big Ten with 12.5 sacks last season. He’s not just a stat-sheet stuffer—he’s a leader on and off the field. While matching that sack total might be a tall order, opposing coordinators will certainly be losing sleep over him.
Karter Menz broke out in 2025 with 6.5 sacks of his own and is the likely starter opposite Smith. Behind them, TJ Bush brings immediate pass-rush juice after transferring from Cal. Adam Kissayi, a redshirt sophomore who came over from Clemson, adds depth and experience. And Jaxon Howard—a former 4-star recruit who transferred from LSU back to his home state—has the talent to make an impact every time he steps on the field.
This five-man rotation is a genuine strength. If they stay healthy, they’ll make life miserable for Big Ten quarterbacks.
Defensive Line (Interior)
Starters: Xion Chapman (FIU transfer), Naquan Crowder (Marshall transfer)
The interior gets a major boost from two experienced transfers. Xion Chapman brings quickness and disruption from the inside, while Naquan Crowder adds size and power. Together, they give the Gophers a formidable presence in the middle—something that was sometimes lacking last season.
Linebackers
The linebacker corps returns several key pieces, providing stability behind that talented front. This group will be counted on to clean up plays and provide run support against the Big Ten’s physical ground games.
Secondary
The defensive backfield is where the most questions linger. With some departures and new faces stepping into starting roles, this unit will need to gel quickly. But there’s athleticism and potential—if they can stay disciplined, the Gophers could surprise some people.
Overall, this defense has the pieces to be better than last year’s middle-of-the-pack finish. The pass rush looks elite, the interior got stronger, and the back seven has something to prove. If everything clicks, Minnesota could be a tough out in 2026.