Football: Gophers’ menacing edge rushers should be a strength this fall

Smith has accounted for 92 total pressures and 19 1/2 ...

The Gophers might have a fearsome foursome of defensive ends going into the 2026 season. The group is headlined by Anthony Smith, an all-Big Ten recipient who returns to Minnesota for his fifth season, followed by one of the U’s best additions in the January transfer portal, senior edge rusher TJ Bush from California. That pair is proven.

Smith has accounted for 92 total pressures and 19 1/2 sacks over three seasons, while Bush has amassed 91 pressures and 13 sacks in his three years (one at Cal, two at Liberty). Next up is Karter Menz, who had 25 pressures and 6 1/2 sacks in his first significant playing time in 2025. He was one of the last important players from the 2025 roster to sign with Minnesota for 2026, and the Gophers were thrilled to keep the North Dakota native in Dinkytown.

The fourth is redshirt junior Jaxon Howard, who has only 15 pressures across three seasons (two at the U, one at Louisiana State), but contributed four sacks last year. After missing time early in spring practices, the Robbinsdale Cooper alum will need to continue to take another developmental step to round out the group. During Tuesday’s practice at Athletes Village, Howard was credited with two sacks, and both received shoutouts from head coach P.