The interior of the defensive line is the polar opposite of the guys on the edge. Basically everyone who played a meaningful amount of snaps is gone from the program. Starting tackles Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding are gone, as are Rushawn Lawrence and Nate Becker who saw the most action as backups.
So the staff brought in a few transfers to compete with the younger guys coming up in the program and we are left with several unproven names who are competing for snaps this fall. Someone will
get playing time, but will this unit be a massive downgrade?
2026 Defensive Tackles
2025 Starters: Deven Eastern, Jalen Logan-Redding
2026 Starters: Riley Sunram, Naquan Crowder
Depth: Jaylin Hicks, Xion Chapman, Theo Randle, Sid Kaba, Howie Johnson (FR)
We will start with the guys who were a part of the program last year and at the top of that list is Sunram. Now in his third year with the program, Sunram is poised to see his playing time increase dramatically. He came to the program out of high school in North Dakota and he was one of the top-rated recruits in Minnesota’s 2024 class. He redshirted as a freshman, played sparingly as a redshirt freshman in 2025 behind the four guys mentioned above and is likely a starter for week one against Eastern Illinois. He comes into the season at 6’5” and 305 pounds, ready to plug the middle.
Jaylen Hicks is also a redshirt sophomore who saw minimal action in 2025. It is expected that Hicks will not be playing as much on early downs, but will be a vital part of the rotation, particularly in passing situations. In his third year in the program, Hicks is about 10-15 pounds heavier than he was a year ago, but still “just” 6’3” and 270 pounds.
The next two guys most likely to be seen on the field are both transfers. Naquan Crowder, Xion Chapman and Sid Kaba are new to the program and hoping to make an impact. Crowder is likely going to be a starter, with Chapman and Kaba fighting to be a part of the rotation.
Crowder comes to the U after spending his first two seasons at the DII level and then 2025 at Marshall. He is a big human at 6’2” and 330 pounds. He is expected to cause problems up the middle with this size and he has been impressing with his quickness this spring and fall.
Chapman, an FIU transfer, spent his first two seasons playing at the JUCO level before playing a year with the Panthers. He’s a 6’3”, 305-pound tackle who has been recovering from an injury for much of the offseason.
Theo Randle is in his fourth season with the program and has spent most of his time battling injuries. He redshirted in 2023, played in three games as a redshirt freshman in 2024, then missed the 2025 season due to injury and now has an opportunity to make an impact, but I think any amount of contribution the team gets from Randle would be considered a bonus.
And finally we get to a few freshmen who may surprise. Jay’Quan Stubbs and Mo Saine are redshirt freshmen who were solid gets in the 2025 recruiting cycle. And then Howie Johnson is a true freshman from Forest Lake who has a very bright future. Typically, you don’t see first or second-year players making an impact in the trenches of a Big Ten football game, but the opportunity is there for the taking.
Upgrade or Downgrade?
The losses of Logan-Redding and Eastern are going to be felt. But it should also be pointed out that both of those former Gophers redshirted, then played minimally as redshirt freshmen and both started for most of the rest of their careers. They came into their own in year three. The hope is that Sunram and Hicks are on the same path, with help from some key transfers.
This, on paper, has to be a downgrade. Losing the experience and production of Eastern and Logan-Redding is a lot to overcome, especially when the next two most productive players are also gone. The next wave of talent wasn’t able to gain valuable experience last year and will be learning on the job this fall.
There is hope here; some of the younger guys are talented and could blossom. If there’s one position that scares me the most, it is this one. But if there’s one position where someone is likely to surprise with a breakout season, also think it is this one.
