Anthony Smith and Greg Johnson prepare for Gophers season opener
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 2, 2026, 5:12 PM
Last updated Sep 2, 2026
MMAMinnesota Gophers linemen Anthony Smith and Greg Johnson maintain a competitive rivalry that has defined their practice sessions over the last four years. Both players enter the upcoming season with significant preseason recognition, including selections to multiple watch lists for national awards. Smith, a defensive end, returns for a fifth year after leading the Big Ten in sacks last season. Johnson, a senior guard, has established himself as a fixture on the offensive line with nearly 2,000 career snaps. Head coach P.J. Fleck noted that the pair frequently challenge one another during first-team reps at the Larson Football Performance Center. The two teammates emphasize that their ongoing physical battles serve as a tool for mutual improvement ahead of the team's season-opening game against Eastern Illinois.
- •Anthony Smith enters the season on the Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists.
- •Greg Johnson was named to the Outland Trophy preseason watch list for interior linemen.
- •Smith recorded 12.5 sacks during the previous season.
- •The pair has competed against each other in practice for four years.
- •The Gophers host Eastern Illinois in their season opener.
- 5:12 PMYahoo Sports — The ‘love-hate’ relationship between Gophers stars Anthony Smith and Greg Johnson
"It was fitting that Anthony Smith and Greg Johnson went back-to-back for interviews during the Gophers’ internal media day in July. Those acclaimed linemen have been have been butting heads across the U’s line of scrimmage in practice for years. “Hate that guy,” Smith said as he left the podium at the Larson Football Performance Center. “Guy sucks.” As Johnson entered stage right, his chiseled ...
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