While the Perich news is disappointing, plenty of talent has remained loyal to sticking in Dinkytown. Among that group are edge rushers Anthony Smith and Karter Menz. They have a fellow edge rusher set to rejoin them as well.

Jaxon Howard returning to MN Gophers

Before Karter Menz broke out as a sophomore this season (6.5 sacks), the edge rushing tandem for the Minnesota Gophers was comprised of Anthony Smith and Jaxon Howard. Smith more than doubled his sack total from 2024 (6.0) and led the Big Ten with 12.5. Howard, an LSU transfer, is an integral part of the group too, and he will be back.

🔒 👇 Defense 🔒👇

🏈 〽️ @11JaxonHoward Will Be Back in 2026 〽️🏈@cubfoods is a proud sponsor of Gopher Athletics pic.twitter.com/A1Z6O5db7C

— DinkytownAthletes (@DTAthletes) January 3, 2026

Howard played in 13 games this season for the Gophers and recorded 4.0 sacks. He had 29 total tackles and 5.5 were for losses. A junior next year, and draft eligible, he’ll be looking to take another step forward.

P.J. Fleck will be turning over the rush ends position to a new coach as well. C.J. Robbins was working as the rush ends coach, but earned a promotion to take over the entire defensive line. Bobby April has been brought in to backfill his role.

With Menz, Smith, and Howard all returning for the Gophers, they are retaining their top-three sack producers from this season. Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding will need to be replaced on the defensive line, but Danny Collins has a good foundation to build on.

This was hardly a standout defensive season for the Minnesota Gophers as a whole. Collins will need to further find his footing in year two after replacing Miami’s Corey Hetherman. If the Gophers group can take a step forward defensively, it would help an offense that is returning plenty of playmakers with another year of experience.

On paper, the 2026 Golden Gophers have the chance to be the most talented team PJ Fleck has rostered in his decade-long run as head football coach.

Minnesota Gophers returning tons of talent in 2026

It starts at quarterback, where Drake Lindsey long ago announced his plan to return as a redshirt sophomore and his second season as Minnesota’s QB1.

Then, immediately after the Gophers’ bowl game win, projected top 100 draft pick (EDGE) Anthony Smith side-stepped the 2025 NFL Draft in favor of 2026, so he can play out his super senior season in Dinkytown.

Agreed. #Minnesota DL Anthony Smith (6-6, 285, rJR) is a big, powerful player. He fits teams that are base 3-down defensive fronts. Has 8.5 sacks this season.

Huge opportunity for him tonight against Oregon (9:00 PM ET). Keep an eye on #0. https://t.co/fj8MPuOLZX pic.twitter.com/ZpP2YskDnZ

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) November 14, 2025

And those two leaders are only the beginning of Minnesota’s growing list of returning starters for 2026.

Star RB Darius Taylor, (OL) Greg Johnson, (S) Kerry Brown and (CB) John Nestor, are all among other many Golden Gopher starters who have signed new NIL deals and announced their contracted commitment to remain in Dinkytown for at least one more season — which is all the guarantee you get in today’s college sports world.

Karter Menz returning to Minnesota Gophers

And Thursday night, Fleck added another defensive starter to his 2026 boat, when Minnesota’s other EDGE Karter Menz announced that he too has signed on for another season.

Standout Minnesota edge Karter Menz has signed a new deal to stay with the Gophers, per his rep @youngbucksport.

The sophomore posted 32 tackles, 9 TFLs & 6.5 sacks this year. The deal is expected to make him 1 of the highest-paid edges in the Big Ten.https://t.co/zER9sEzkS6 pic.twitter.com/JSGvF3vIlx

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 2, 2026

After appearing in just 5 games as a freshman, Karter Menz played in all 13 games in 2025 where he racked up 32 total tackles, 6.5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss.

After his breakout season, Menz undoubtedly had bigger offers coming in from across the country, just like Koi Perich did. But instead of following his 2029 classmate out the door to “greener pastures”, the North Dakota native chose to stay the course and help be part of the football solution at the University of Minnesota.

[@KarterMenz has completely bought in.”]

– @Coach_Fleck on Menz’s gROWth 🗣️📈#RTB #SkiUMah #Gophers pic.twitter.com/YjdT3oFPh1

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) October 20, 2025

“I think Karter Menz is a great example of the developmental program. Again, he came to us and he was a Dakota kid. He was long, twitchy, great athlete, but again you look at his size and you’re like this is going to take some years to get him to where he needs to be. He has completely bought in to the nutrition, the diet, the weight room. It takes players a year or two to get to where they need to be. This is a huge year for him.”

P.J. Fleck

Gopher Football going through coaching changes too

Beyond the player roster, Gopher Football has made a few changes on the coaching staff since the 2025 season ended. They’ve hired a new EDGE coach who the players clearly like. Fleck also fired his DL coach firings, and saw a RB coach hop the border to Wisconsin. More than likely, the changes aren’t done yet.

The Minnesota Gophers lost defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman to the Miami Hurricanes last offseason and he now has them in the Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss. Danny Collins has plenty of work to do, in his second season as DC, after an up and down year one. Keeping talent like Smith and Menz will make that easier.

P.J. Flecks team certainly gave them a show, and the 24-6 defeat probably wasn’t what they were expecting. Nebraska entered the game as seven point favorites. The teams felt each other out with Minnesota leading 7-6 at the half.

Then the Gophers defense decided to put the Huskers on their back.

Pass rush a strength for Minnesota Gophers in victory

A week ago the Minnesota Gophers struggled to separate from a mediocre Purdue team and never once got to the quarterback. They certainly flipped the script on that showing and Dylan Raiola felt the brunt of it. The defense racked up nine sacks with Karter Menz and Anthony Smith both grabbing 2.5, while Jaxon Howard added two of his own.

Holy moly, Gophers LB Matt Kingsbury attacked this play like it stole his phone pic.twitter.com/9PzbWonofH

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 18, 2025

It was supposed to be Raiola and running back Emmett Johnson that dictated this contest for Nebraska. Raiola never had a chance with the constant pass rush, and Johnson struggled to find running room due to the line play as well.

Minnesota starting cornerback John Nestor was out on Friday night, and that meant the rush needed to help save the secondary. Tackling issues have been persistent this season for the Gophers, but they tackled the quarterback and everyone else en route to the victory.

A week after putting up 176 yards against Maryland, Johnson was held to just 63 yards. A 4th and 1 stop with just over three minutes left was symbolistic of Johnson’s night. The defensive difference in a matter of a week could not have been more impressive.

Fleck outcoaches Penn State candidate

Matt Rhule can say whatever he wants about being tied to the Penn State head coaching opening. The reality is he’s on their radar and it has to be a distraction. On Friday night it was the Gophers P.J. Fleck who ran circles around his opponent.

The Gophers opted against going for it on two fourth downs in the first half. In the second half, with the defense still rolling, Fleck pushed the button on a 4th and three that set up Minnesota’s second touchdown. Drake Lindsey delivered a dime to Le’Meke Brockington to make it a 14-6 game.

GOPHERS ADD ANOTHER TD! 🙌 @GopherFootball goes up 14-6 against Nebraska pic.twitter.com/ySLlpV4iCc

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 18, 2025

The win was Fleck’s seventh against AP Top 25 ranked schools and set a new program record. Despite attempts by security to keep fans in their place after the clock hit zeroes, this one was worth celebrating.

The Gophers drop #25 Nebraska 24-6 pic.twitter.com/bWbqqXEsjr

— Ted (@tlschwerz) October 18, 2025

These are the types of games Fleck needs to win if he wants to take the Gophers to the next level. It’s disappointing there was a loss to Cal earlier in the season, but this is a fringe top 25 team that can reveal more of that with a road win next weekend against Iowa.

With only Oregon as a near-certain loss left on the schedule, Minnesota would finish 9-3 if they run the table.