PHOENIX — Four important Gophers football players were part of a unique media campaign on Tuesday.

Offensive linemen Greg Johnson and Nathan Roy and defensive backs John Nestor and Kerry Brown allowed the Gophers’ NIL collective, Dinkytown Athletes, to share news they will play in the Rate Bowl against New Mexico on Friday and will return to Minnesota for the 2026 season.

The social media posts were “presented by Cub Food,” and those players will be recipients of the grocer’s NIL contribution next year. A few more current Gophers players are expected to join the NIL campaign, but if players on the current roster aren’t included in this specific rollout, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are leaving the U to go into the transfer portal.

For instance, quarterback Drake Lindsey said two weeks ago he would return to Minnesota for his redshirt sophomore season in 2026. Other current players have shared they will be back with the Gophers next year.

Meanwhile, the futures defensive end Anthony Smith, safety Koi Perich and running back Darius Taylor have yet to be shared, for example.

Johnson, who started all 12 regular-season games at guard, will return for his senior season next fall. The Prior Lake native played nearly 700 snaps and was Minnesota’s highest-graded starting offensive lineman in 2025 (75.3 overall mark, per Pro Football Focus).

Roy stepped in as the U’s left tackle during his redshirt freshman year and showed aplomb, playing a team-high 702 snaps, with a 69.0 grade from PFF. The Mukwanago, Wis., native will be back for his redshirt sophomore year.

Nestor transferred in from the Iowa Hawkeyes last year and the Chicago native started 10 of 12 games as Minnesota’s most-reliable corner, with a team-high five interceptions, adding 47 tackles in 538 total snaps. He will be a senior in 2026.

Brown continued to be a linchpin in Minnesota’s defense for second straight season. The safety and nickel back from Naples, Fla., was fourth on team with 55 tackles and added two interceptions in 579 snaps. He will return for his redshirt junior year in 2026.

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