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 jaw didn't budge over Smith's bit of trash talk. Johnson knew it wasn't serious.
This summer, Johnson, a 6-foot-6, 325-pound senior guard from Prior Lake, was named to the Outland Trophy preseason watch list for the nation's best interior lineman and was mentioned in a bevy of All-America and All-Big Ten teams.
Meanwhile, Smith, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound, fifth-year defensive end from Shippensburg, Pa., was placed on the Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists in best defensive player categories. He also was the Big Ten preseason defensive player of the year and mentioned on preseason All-America and All-Big Ten squads.
Johnson and Smith, two future NFL players, have been tussling in one-on-one reps and first-team snaps for four years. The results aren't always sunshine, rainbows and kittens.
"It's a love-hate relationship," Johnson said. "On the field, we respect each other and make each other better. Then off the field, we are teammates. There are going to be times when things get tense. and we all know it's for the betterment of each other."
Power and physicality are the calling card for each player. They're both enormous. They have the versatility to play multiple positions. And they're relentless to the whistle.
"Very competitive people," head coach P.J. Fleck said. "They both always think they won the rep."
Smith checked in at No. 19 on The Athletic's preseason list of top 100 players for this season; Johnson registered at No. 66.
Smith led the Big Ten with 12½ sacks last season but returned to the U after the NFL gave him a mid-round draft grade last winter. He comes back to improve on elements of his game pointed out by pro evaluators, including adding more speed moves to his pass-rush cupboard.
"He is not just a power guy, which a lot of people think he is," Johnson said. "Then the run game, he can sit down on a double-team with the best of them, that's something good about him, too."
Johnson, a rare true freshman who played O-line in the Big Ten back in 2024, has amassed nearly 2,000 snaps across four different positions in three years with left guard becoming his primary spot. His Pro Football Focus grades jumped from 60.5 in 2024 to 75.1 in 2025 and pass blocking was his best category at 80.1.
"The way he anchors in the pass game," Smith said. "He's always going to sit on your power and force you to kick outside, but you can always recover from that. Again, I think Greg Johnson is so versatile. Iron sharpens iron. He is really good."
Smith and Johnson know the litany of preseason accolades are nice but mean nothing if they aren't backed up by production on the field.
"My mom probably thinks it's cooler than I do, to be honest," Johnson said. "It's just preseason hype. Like I said, if I don't go out and play well. … I'm just looking to play for the guys next to me."
That includes Smith on the other side of the ball.
