Gophers’ Anthony Smith named preseason Big Ten defensive player of the year

A lot is expected out of Gophers defensive end Anthony Smith this fall.

The 16th annual Cleveland.com poll of the Big Ten Conference’s reporters pegged Smith as its preseason defensive player of the year on Monday.

The redshirt senior from Shippensburg, Pa., edged four players from Oregon for the honor. Smith received 26 total votes and two first-place tallies, followed by Ducks cornerback Brandon Finney Jr., who totaled 25 votes and six first-place votes, safety Koi Perich, who transferred from Minnesota after last season, got 22 and four, defensive end Teitum Tuioti 20 and six and A’Mauri Washington 20 and five.