This is a bittersweet Upgrade/Downgrade as it will be the last to include Maverick Baranowski. The senior has been a starter at middle linebacker since his redshirt freshman season and has been outstanding for the Gopher defense in all three seasons. He is now a 5th-year senior, and this will be his final campaign.
Last season, lining up next to Baranowski was Devon Williams. The two primary linebackers combined for 202 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 17.5 TFLs. Williams was a senior, and he will need to be
replaced.
Will the group of young linebackers be able to fill in for Williams and ensure this group is an upgrade for the Gopher defense?
2026 Linebackers
2025 Starters: Maverick Baranowski, Devon Williams
2026 Starters: Baranowski, Matt Kingsbury
Depth: Emmanuel Karmo, Joey Gerlach, Nate Cleveland
When it comes to the Gopher defense, Anthony Smith may rack up the sacks and hear his name discussed as an early NFL Draft pick, but the heart of this defense is Maverick Baranowski. He was the first Gopher to have over 100 tackles (he had 103) since 2018 when Blake Cashman had 104. And he capped off the season with 17 tackles in the Rate Bowl win over New Mexico. He is the starting Mike linebacker and is one of the best in the Big Ten.
But as mentioned, Williams is gone and he took with him 89 tackles, which was the second most on the team behind Baranowski’s 103. Fortuntately there was a great mix of experienced guys and a couple of exciting freshmen who saw significant time last year.
Most likely to line up next to Baranowski next week will be Matt Kingsbury. He is battling it out with Emmanuel Karmo and Joey Gerlach in camp, but the smart money is on Kingsbury to start. He will be a redshirt junior after playing in 12 games a year ago and he had some solid games while being a part of the rotation. He ended the season with 2.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown (though everybody scored against Northwestern St).
Joey Gerlach is a 5th year senior who will also be seeing action on the field. He has played on and off throughout his career, mostly on special teams, but is poised to contribute in his final season.
Karmo was a true freshman in 2025 and was a fantastic surprise for this defense. He ended up playing in all 13 games, finished the season with 14 tackles, had one sack and made a few eye-popping plays in coverage. I suspect you will see Karmo on the field on passing downs, moreso than first or second down, but #2 will be on the field and should continue to grow.
Finally, Nate Cleveland was another true freshman who played more than anticipated last season. He played in eight games last year but started to emerge more this offseason and led all Gophers with 10 tackles in the Spring Game and added two TFLs as well. I suspect he will some action on the field this year, but he is being groomed for to replace Baranowski and we will see more of him in 2027.
Mason Carrier will be in his third season with the program and the Detroit Lakes product will also be on the field this fall, though mostly on special teams.
Upgrade or Downgrade?
Can we call this an upgrade after graduating the team’s second-leading tackler?
In this case, I think I can confidently say yes, this will be an upgrade. A slight upgrade because it was already solid last year, but I love this unit for the Gopher defense. Baranowski is All-Big Ten caliber, Kingsbury is progressing every year and has been performing well in fall camp, and I really love these sophomore linebackers in Cleveland and Karmo.
I’m confident in linebackers coach, Mariano Sori-Marin. I have confidence in this group now and over the next few seasons.
And the interior of the defensive line is a little bigger this year, hopefully eating up blocks and freeing these backers to make plays.
