Gophers O-Lineman Lands Big Spot on Mel Kiper’s Top-25 NFL Big Board

One week after taking the Little Brown Jug from Michigan, the Minnesota Gophers went to West Lafayette on Saturday and got run over 41-13 by Purdue . Now, Minnesota enters their bye week 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten.

The time off could not have come at a better time, because PJ Fleck and his Gophers have wounds to lick both physically and mentally before they take to Huntington Bank Stadium next Saturday against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Minnesota's problems come on both sides of the ball. Their defense has been a roller coaster. Minnesota held Washington to 40 rushing yards and Michigan to 180 total yards in back-to-back wins. In their two losses, the defense has struggled mightily.

Back in September, the Gophers let Mississippi State run for 252 yards during the Bulldogs' 38-13 win at Huntington Bank Stadium. Then over the weekend, Purdue piled up an astonishing 305 yards on the ground out in West Lafayette.

Minnesota offensive line could be better… but could be worse too

On offense, moving the chains has been a chore, mostly due to their struggles in the run game. The Gophers average only 96.4 rushing yards per game (3.6 YPC) . That ranks 120th in the country.

Pass protection, however, has been the bright spot for Minnesota's offense, allowing just four sacks on the season ( 0.8 per game ). That's tied for 12th nationally. That's an impressive feat, especially considering the Gophers are down their starting and backup centers on the o-line.

Dot by Drake Lindsey — Billy M (@BillyM_91) September 12, 2026

And that brings us to Greg Johnson, who might be the only reason the offensive line has shown any sign of life through six games and the main reason QB Drake Lindsey is still alive.

Pro Football Focus has Minnesota's senior interior o-lineman graded at 80.3 overall on offense this season. That ranks 13th among 737 FBS guards and fourth in the Big Ten.

On the year, Johnson has allowed only one QB pressure in 202 pass-blocking snaps, though PFF's grading system says that is his biggest weak spot (74.9). His 81.1 run-blocking grade ranks 11th nationally.

Greg Johnson leads Mel Kiper's interior offensive line rankings

Whatever it is Greg Johnson is selling, ESPN's NFL Draft superstar, Mel Kiper Jr., is buying it. On Thursday, Kiper released an updated 2027 NFL Draft Big Board .

In it, he crowned the 6-foot-6, 325-pound Prior Lake product as the No. 15 overall prospect in the 2027 class and the No. 1 overall interior offensive lineman.

15. Greg Johnson , G/C, Minnesota Height: 6-6 | Weight: 325 2026 stats over six games: Six starts, zero sacks allowed, one pressure allowed Johnson has played significant snaps at left guard and center this season, and he's a high-level blocker at both spots. Versatility is one of his best traits; he had 50-plus snaps at both tackle spots last season in addition to his work on the interior. Johnson is a strong run blocker, with an aggressive, nasty edge to his game. He's powerful and can sustain well. But he also anchors well in pass protection, and he has never allowed a sack across 43 career games (34 starts). Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN

2026 stats over six games: Six starts, zero sacks allowed, one pressure allowed

Johnson has played significant snaps at left guard and center this season, and he's a high-level blocker at both spots. Versatility is one of his best traits; he had 50-plus snaps at both tackle spots last season in addition to his work on the interior. Johnson is a strong run blocker, with an aggressive, nasty edge to his game. He's powerful and can sustain well. But he also anchors well in pass protection, and he has never allowed a sack across 43 career games (34 starts).

Kiper lists Johnson as a guard/center. He's the only Minnesota player listed anywhere in Kiper's article, which includes a top 25 big board and a top-five (plus honorable mentions) at every position.

Behind him among interior offensive linemen are Iowa's Kade Pieper (No. 19 overall), Notre Dame's Anthonie Knapp, Cincinnati's Evan Tengesdahl and Ohio State's Austin Siereveld. Pieper, a PFF first-team All-American in 2025, and his Hawkeyes will be in town next weekend.

PFF grades and watch lists back up the hype

Johnson moved to center for the win at Washington, and he has stayed there with starter Ashton Beers lost for the season . That's why he's logged only 197 snaps there, and 157 at left guard. In the end, it's a switch that could pay off in Johnson's favor because it's allowed him to prove the exact flexibility Kiper is talking about.

First start at center for Minnesota IOL Greg Johnson (6-6 1/2, 327) since 2024 and he was exceptional. Round 1 player. — Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) September 28, 2026

First start at center for Minnesota IOL Greg Johnson (6-6 1/2, 327) since 2024 and he was exceptional. Round 1 player.

Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) September 28, 2026

His peak came in the 27-24 win at Washington, when PFF graded him 88.4 overall, the top mark among every guard in the country that week. The Football Writers Association of America named him Outland Trophy National Player of the Week , and on Tuesday he landed on the Lombardi Award 's midseason watch list of 60 players.

Johnson could end a long first-round drought

None of this came out of nowhere. Per his official bio , Johnson started all 13 games at center in 2024, then started 11 at left guard plus one each at left and right tackle in 2025. He was All-Big Ten honorable mention last season and Academic All-Big Ten in 2024 and 2025.

Love the downfield blocking by Greg Johnson (#65, the center) on this play — Thor Nystrom (@thorku) October 4, 2026

Love the downfield blocking by Greg Johnson (#65, the center) on this play

If he holds onto that ranking, Johnson would snap a long dry spell. The last Gophers offensive lineman drafted in the first round was center Brian Williams , No. 18 overall to the New York Giants in 1989.

After the bye, Minnesota hosts Pieper and the Hawkeyes on Oct. 24 at Huntington Bank Stadium. Pieper has been every bit as good as Johnson on PFF's charts.

He goes in with an 81.6 overall grade at right guard, which actually ranks two spots ahead of his Minnesota counterpart nationally. Also per PFF, Pieper has allowed two pressures and no sacks on the season.

Iowa is running the ball better than Minnesota, though not by a huge margin, at 148.4 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry. Like the Gophers, Iowa is allowing just 0.8 sacks per game. Hawkeyes tackle Trevor Lauck also made Kiper's board at No. 23.