Minnesota defensive starter enters NCAA transfer portal, per report

Minnesota is reportedly losing one of its top defenders.

Gophers DL Trill Carter has entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to a report from On3’s Matt Zenitz.

Minnesota defensive lineman Trill Carter has entered the transfer portal, @on3sports has learned.

Was a starter the last two years and an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last season.https://t.co/eVdQABcSl0

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) March 24, 2023

Carter has been with the Gophers since 2019. He has been a regular starter on the defensive line the past 2 seasons.

What do Gophers do about Carter?

Losing Carter would be a massive blow to the Gophers defense in 2023. Entering the NCAA transfer portal does not bind a player to follow through with a transfer, but P.J. Fleck’s staff presumably already tried to keep Carter from entering the portal.

Carter has been a productive starter for the past 2 seasons. He recorded 20 tackles with 5 for loss and 1 sack in 2021. This past season, Carter logged 19 tackles with 2 TFL and 1.5 sacks.

Fleck and his staff will now likely have to look to the portal to find a defensive lineman ready to start in the Big Ten. Landing a veteran lineman of Carter’s caliber as a replacement will be easier said than done.

Currently, only graduates are able to enter the transfer portal. The next window for undergraduate entry opens on May 1.