The Gophers football team on Wednesday bolstered its defensive line with the addition of former Harvard tackle Chris Smith, who announced on Twitter that he is transferring to Minnesota.
Gophers land defensive tackle Chris Smith, a transfer from Harvard
Smith, a 6-3, 300-pounder, was a first-team All-Ivy League selection and will have one year of eligibility at Minnesota.
January 19, 2022 at 7:25PM
![The Minnesota Gophers take the field before the start of an NCAA football game between the Gophers and the Wisconsin Badgers Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. Minnesota defeated Wisconsin 23-13. ] AARON LAVINSKY • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/FVQRRQATIRPSMXNFH6JAKOJ37A.jpg?&w=712)
Smith, 6-3 and 300 pounds, earned first-team All-Ivy League honors for the Crimson in 2021 after collecting 40 tackles, five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. The Detroit native played 29 career games over three seasons for Harvard, finishing with 72 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He will have a year of eligibility remaining with the Gophers.
The Ivy League did not play in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, so the league's players didn't get an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA that many others have used to play an additional year.
Smith is the third defensive lineman the Gophers have added through the transfer portal this offseason, joining Darnell Jeffries, formerly of Clemson, and Lorenza Surgers, formerly of Vanderbilt. Minnesota has added six transfers in the offseason.
No. 3 Michigan State scored the final four goals and rallied past top-ranked Minnesota for a 5-3 victory.
