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We’ve covered Quarterback and Running Back in our Upgrade/Downgrade series, and both position groups seem to be a likely upgrade. It helps when you return your best player at that position, but now things start to get interesting for the offense. Aireonte Ersaey was a 2nd-round draft pick, Phillip Daniels left for NIL at Ohio State and then you lost 60 combined starts between Quinn Carrol and Tyler Cooper.
As per usual, the offensive line unit improved throughout the season, but it was not a strength in 2025. So after a down year, can this year’s unit be an upgrade?
2026 POSITION GROUP
2025 Starter: Nathan Roy, Greg Johnson, Ashton Beers, Tony Nelson, Dylan Ray
2026 Starters: Roy, Johnson, Beers, Tony Nelson, Bennett Warren
Depth: Jerome Williams, Brett Carroll, Jaden Ball, Daniel Shipp, Kaveon Lee, Mark Handy
The good news here is that four starters return, and a nice transfer piece has been added.
Nathan Roy was the starter at left tackle last year for 12 of the 13 games and he had a nice season. And if you factor in that he was just a redshirt freshman, there is reason to believe that he is going to be an excellent blind-side protector for Drake Lindsey.
Next to him, you have a senior who has made 28 starts for the Gophers. Greg Johnson saw a ton of action as a true freshman, starting twice, and then has started every game as a sophomore and junior. He could very easily be an All-Big Ten caliber player this fall. And with the new five-for-five rule, I believe he’d be eligible to return in 2027, if he chose.
Under center is Beers, who started all 13 games at center last year. He will be a redshirt senior and should be a reliable starter.
After those three on the left, the rest of the line has more question marks. But most likely you will see Nelson at right guard and the Tennessee transfer, Warren, at right tackle.
Nelson is a redshirt senior who has started a few games over the last couple of seasons and likely has the inside track at starting. He also brings versatility to the line as he can play multiple positions, inside or out. But there are others lurking to take the starting RG spot. Brett Carroll and Jerome Williams both started during the Gophers’ spring game and Jaden Ball should also be in the mix. Ball and Carroll are both redshirt sophomores and should be more ready to contribute than they were a year ago. And Williams is a senior who has yet to see meaningful playing time, but he has battled injuries.
And finally, at right tackle is the transfer, Warren. He spent his first two seasons at Tennessee, where he originally signed as a highly sought-after four-star recruit. He redshirted in 2024, saw limited action in 2025 and came to the Gophers with the intention of earning the starting right tackle position. Daniel Shipp and Kaveon Lee both redshirted last year and could find their way onto the field, most likely at one of the tackle spots.
The depth along the line, particularly at tackle, is young. The future of the OL is bright, but should we need to tap into that depth this year, it might be a little green.
Upgrade or Downgrade?
There should be a lot more confidence in this offensive line than there was a year ago. The two starters on the left are guys with All-Big Ten talent and Beers at center is more than capable. You have more questions on the right side, but there are much better potential answers than we had in 2025. Who starts at RG is important, but whoever it is should be fine. Who starts at RT and how they perform is critical. Warren has the talent to be that guy, but it is yet to be realized.
I’m optimistic about this year’s line and think this will be a certain upgrade.
