One of the Gophers’ biggest skill-position standouts in fall camp didn’t touch the football in a game last season.

Wideout Jalen Smith has been the talk of training camp after being on the receiving end of a few bombs from quarterback Drake Lindsey during open practices.

It’s a head-turner, because the second-year player from Mankato wasn’t considered a top recruit, redshirted in 2024 and only played one snap in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over Virginia Tech.

Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said Smith will “play a ton” this fall, and the first opportunity will be in the season opener against Buffalo at Huntington Bank Stadium on Aug. 28.

On his KFAN show Monday, Fleck went on to say the 6-foot-1, 195-pound target is a combination of Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman — which is bonkers consid

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