Anthony Smith

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Photo by: © /University of Minnesota

Position:
DL
Ht./Wt.:
6-6 / 285
Hometown:
Shippensburg, Pa.
High School:
Shippensburg
Years in College / At Minnesota:
5 / 5
Letters:
4
Class:
Redshirt Senior

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS:
All-Big Ten First Team, Edge (2025, coaches)
All-Big Ten Second Team, Edge (2025, media)
AP Second Team All-Big Ten (2025)
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2024)

2025 • JUNIOR SEASON: Started all 13 games • made 38 tackles • had 17.5 tackles for loss and a Big Ten leading 12.5 sacks (first Gopher since Karon Riley in 2000 with 13.0 to lead the conference in sacks) • broke up three passes. Game-by-Game: Totaled two tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, .5 sack and one pass breakup against Buffalo • recorded three tackles and had 1.5 sacks against Northwestern State • made two tackles and had one sack at Cal • tallied four tackles, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against Rutgers • started at Ohio State • made two tackles against Purdue and had half of a tackle for loss • recorded 2.5 sacks and had five tackles versus Nebraska • finished with three tackles at Iowa • made five tackles, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against Michigan State • had two tackles and one sack at Oregon • totaled three tackles and one sack at Northwestern • had one tackle against Wisconsin • recorded six tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups against New Mexico.

2024 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Played in all 13 games, starting three of them • made 27 tackles • led the team with 11.5 tackles for loss and shared the team lead with six sacks • broke up one pass, forced one fumble and blocked one field goal. Game-by-Game: Had one sack and made two tackles against North Carolina • tallied one tackle against Rhode Island • notched one tackle and blocked a field goal against Nevada • made two tackles against Iowa • played at Michigan and started against USC • had five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack at UCLA • had one tackle against Maryland • broke up one pass, had one sack, recorded 1.5 tackles for loss and made three tackles at Illinois • had five tackles, made one sack and forced one fumble at Rutgers • made four tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack against Penn State • totaled two tackles and had one tackle for loss at Wisconsin • had one sack and two tackles for loss against Virginia Tech.

2023 • FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in all 13 games • had 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack • forced two fumbles. Game-by-Game: Competed against Nebraska and Eastern Michigan • made one tackle at North Carolina • registered one tackle at Northwestern • had two tackles against Louisiana • saw action against Michigan • had three tackles at Iowa • had one tackle against Michigan State • made two tackles, had one sack and forced one fumble against Illinois • made one tackle at Purdue • competed at Ohio State • totaled two tackles against Wisconsin • made two tackles, one tackle for loss and forced one fumble against Bowling Green.

2022: Redshirted • played in two games and made one tackle • made his Minnesota debut and totaled one tackle against New Mexico State • competed against Western Illinois.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Shippensburg High School in Shippensburg, Pa. • wore No. 80 for the Greyhounds • as a senior, helped lead team to an 11-1 record • led team in tackles (64), tackles for loss (12.5) and sacks (9.5) • also played on offense, where he rushed 18 times and scored seven touchdowns • caught 13 passes for 253 yards and three scores • named Mid-Penn First Team and was named the Defensive MVP • as a junior, made 43 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, nine sacks and forced three fumbles • coached by Eric Foust • also threw shot put and discus and was a standout basketball player • four-star recruit according to 247Sports, which listed him as the No. 6 recruit in Pennsylvania and as the No. 29 defensive lineman in his class.

PERSONAL: Son of Darryl Smith and Heather Sharar • God son of Jeremy and Sharmeica Thomas • has four siblings (Sean Smith, Jeremy Thomas, Jayla Thomas and Jaynee Thomas) • uncle, Jamie Thomas, played college football at Maryland and then played for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.