This position has the potential to be very fun in 2026. Not only do you have a returning starting quarterback, with an improved offensive line…but the Gophers are returning some talented receivers and some new additions to make this one of the most talented and deep wide receiver units in recent memory.
A year ago, the wide receiver room was headlined by Le’Meke Brockington. An elite athlete who accounted for 20% of the team’s receptions and turned his solid season into an opportunity with Atlanta
to make the Falcons roster.
Along with Brockington, three other receivers who saw action are no longer with the program. Logan Loya was a UCLA transfer who only had one season of eligibility remaining. And then Cristian Driver and Malachi Coleman both transferred to other programs, seeking a new start as they saw limited action for Minnesota.
Those four names were four of the top six receivers last year with all but Brockington having fewer yards/receptions than the two returners of Javon Tracy and Jalen Smith. Those two had very solid seasons and are poised to do even more this fall. Along with some key transfers, will this unit be an upgrade over 2025?
Wide Receivers
2025 Starters: Lemeke Brockington, Javon Tracy
2025 Depth: Jalen Smith, Logan Loya, Malachi Coleman, Kenric Lanier
2026 Starters: Javon Tracy, Jalen Smith, Noah Jennings
Depth: Perry Thompson, Hayden Moore (FR), Zion Steptoe, Quayd Hendryx (FR)
Typically, transfer wide receivers do not have a significant impact in their first year at Minnesota. Elijah Spencer transfered to Minnesota from Charolette in 2023 and he managed nine receptions and 65 yards. But year two with the program, he exploded for 52 catches for 684 yards and six touchdowns. Corey Crooms Jr was here for just one season and recorded just 28 catches after transferring from Western Michigan. Malachi Coleman was a non-factor in his lone season with the Gophers. And in Cristian Driver’s first year after transferring from Penn State, he had seven catches for 49 yards.
So little was expect of Javon Tracy in his first season after transferring from Miami (OH) but he was a major factor for the Gopher offense. He finished second on the team with 37 receptions for 454 yards and led the team with six touchdown receptions. He is back for his senior season and ready to improve on those initial numbers.
Also back is Jalen Smith a sophomore out of Mankato who had a great freshman season after redshirting in 2024. Smith starter the year with a few critical drops as he was acclimating, but by the end of the season he was the Rate Bowl MVP after six catches, 64 yards and two touchdowns, the second one being the game-winner in overtime. The game should be slowing down for Smith and he also is poised to see an increase in his stats.
Up next is a trio of transfers that looks to be headlined by Noah Jennings. Jennings was with Cincinatti last season and has getting rave reviews throughout the spring and summer from media who have seen him, his head coach and his quarterback. And Jennings was the star of the spring game, highlighted by a 74-yard strike from Lindsey. He brings speed and elusiveness to this unit. Jennings looks like a headlining receiver.
The other two transfers, Perry Thompson and Zion Steptoe, will have opportunities to earn playing time, but less is expected of these two in their first year with the program. Thompson is a former four-star recruit who played his first two seasons at Auburn where in 22 games he had five starts, made 22 catches for 280 yards and one touchdown. He has the pedigree, he has great size and the potential is there to make an impact.
Steptoe played two seasons at Purdue, followed by two seasons for Tulsa and and now comes back to the Big Ten to finish his career at Minnesota. He brings another receiver to the room with speed, but he likely sees fewer snaps than the four names mentioned above. We may also see Steptoe contributing in the return game, along with running back TJ Thomas.
The last name worth mentioning here is true freshman, Hayden Moore. Moore also had a very strong spring game and he is a young receiver we should be very excited about. He will be involved in the offense this fall. He’ll likely experience some growing pains, but 12 months from now, when we are reading Upgrade/Downgrade, he is going to be a major part of the conversation.
Upgrade or Downgrade?
I am very excited about this unit and think this is going to be an upgrade.
In their second full seasons on the field at Minnesota, Tracy and Smith are going to have improved seasons. And I’m buying the hype around Jennings. Those three are all going to be solid play-makers who provide consistency and it will be difficult for defenses to contain all three of them.
And after those top three, there is tremendous upside with Moore and Thompson.
We are not Ohio State, with a bevy of first-round talent at this position. But this is the strongest and deepest wide receiver unit that we’ve seen since 2019. With improved play from Drake Lindsey and a stronger offensive line, these receivers are going to put up bigger numbers than a year ago.
