Yahoo Sports NFL on Anthony Smith
From the article
2026 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: EDGE Anthony Smith, Minnesota. Last season, Smith was a disruptor. He finished the year with 21 solo tackles and 12.5 sacks... Smith has already proven that he's capable of posting big ones. Expect another monster campaign as Minnesota looks to build off an 8-4 (5-3 Big Ten) finish in 2025.
STACKED’s take
Smith projected as 2026 Big Ten DPOY; 12.5 sacks in 2025 not inflated by blowouts.
The source projects Anthony Smith, Minnesota EDGE, as the 2026 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Smith finished 2025 with 21 solo tackles and 12.5 sacks, with the source noting those sacks were not inflated by blowout wins—he had just two sacks in early-season wins over Buffalo and Northwestern State (FCS), and added two more against New Mexico in the Rate Bowl. The source argues Smith benefits from the award's likely focus on statistical production rather than best-defender-on-best-team criteria, since Oregon is expected to have the most balanced defense with distributed talent that may not produce extraordinary individual stat lines. Minnesota's 8-4 (5-3 Big Ten) finish in 2025 positions Smith to post another monster campaign.
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