GopherSports: 2020 Vision: Running Backs

[BleedGopher]

per GopherSports:

Minnesota must replace Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks at running back this year, as both graduated after last season. Smith left Minnesota ranked second in program history with 4,122 rushing yards, while Brooks was ranked 12th with 2,290 yards.

Those are some impressive numbers to replace, but running back coach Kenni Burns has some elite talent in his room that is ready to step up.

Mohamed Ibrahim is the most tenured of the running backs. The Baltimore, Md., native is one of the hardest-to-tackle and physical backs in the nation and packs a lot of power in his 5-10 frame. Ibrahim has played in 21 career games, but already ranks 24th on Minnesota's career rushing list with 1,764 yards. His 5.58 yards per carry average ranks seventh all-time in school history (minimum 200 carries) as well.

Ibrahim redshirted in 2017 and was thrust into action in 2018 after Smith was injured and Brooks was still recovering from an injury. He responded by rushing 217 times for 1,160 yards (second most ever for a Gopher freshman) and nine touchdowns. He rushed for more than 100 yards in five games to become the first Gopher freshman to do so since Laurence Maroney in 2003. Ibrahim set a freshman single-game record with 224 yards against Georgia Tech in the 2018 Quick Lane Bowl, which was also the 12th-best rushing game in school history.

In 2019, Ibrahim shared the backfield with Smith and Brooks after they returned from injury. He logged 114 carries and totaled 604 yards and seven touchdowns and had only one negative rush all season.

https://gophersports.com/news/2020/6/14/football-2020-vision-running-backs.aspx

Go Gophers!!

 

[BTChamp]

Mo had a negative rush last year? It can't be. We'd better double check that atrocious stat, or delete it from the record books...........

 

[KoolAid]

Mo's gonna pop the record this year. It's something like 1,600 and change from David Cobb.

 

[PitinoFan]

Mo had a negative rush last year? It can't be. We'd better double check that atrocious stat, or delete it from the record books...........

Yeah, what an amazing stat. I had no idea, but I’m not surprised. He sees and hits the hole as quickly as anyone, and he’s deceptively slippery and strong, so an arm tackle isn’t going to bring him down.

 

[hungan1]

Gazooks! Look at the RB Room: Bryce Williams, Cam Wiley, Treyson Potts, Preston Jelen, Jason Williamson, and Ky Thomas. That is a lot of horsepower.

Next man up would not be a problem. Wouldn't it be nice to see three RB have hundred yard games in a single season?

Symmetry is a thing of beauty. The Gophers are close to a 50/50 RPO Offense. I am sure they can shift 40/60 - 60/40 split depending on the opponents. If they play like a well oiled machine, they are hard to stop. Mo is slippery as an eel.

Off topic - The Auburn Game and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
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I still marvel at how the Gophers dismantled the vaunted Auburn Defense with a 45/55 split offensively: 226 yards rushing, 279 yards passing; 12 1st downs rushing, 11 1st downs passing. It was a well-planned perfectly executed game.

The Gophers firepower proved to be too much. Mo mowed down the tiring Auburn Defense. Then, Tyler Johnson's long TD in the Fourth Quarter killed them.

Some folks were watching the detasselling of Auburn.

The Tampa Bay Bucs Director of Player Personnel John Spytek and other Bucs pro scouts were in attendance. They were so impressed that they drafted the Gophers top player on offense and defense in Tyler Johnson and Antoine Winfield, Jr. Spytek reasoned that if these two can perform against a top SEC team like that, they deserve serious attention.

Spytek could not contain his joy that TJ was still available in the fifth round after trading two fourth round picks to secure Rob Gronkowski in a trade. They were aided by a loaded WR Draft. If TJ was playing in the SEC with his stats, he would have been a 1st or 2nd Round draft pick.

They were also on hand to witness AWJr's play. They are well aware of his pedigree. Even though he did not get an IT, they were impressed. They went back and looked at AWJr's game films. That was enough for them to say they have to have this guy.

I am disappointed that the Vikings did not get one or both of these two former Gophers. It would have been a nice PR move to get home town boys on the team. Spielman had other agendas.

Well, I think the Bucs got a really good deal taking these two Gophers.

I will be watching and cheering for the Bucs. The exception is when they play against the Vikes. Maybe not.

2020 NFL Draft: WR Tyler Johnson, Minnesota, Draft Pick Number 161

www.buccaneers.com

2020 NFL Draft: Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota, 45th Pick

www.buccaneers.com

 

[BTChamp]

That really shows how perception vs performance plays into draft. If the Yuckaneers didn't physically see Tyler and Antoine, then what? Again they say if Tyler in the SUC he's 1st or 2nd round (perception, not performance). Good that they got noticed, but looking forward, I think NFL teams will look closer at the U. Given Blake Cashman the year before coming from nowhere to be valuable for the J.E.T.S. until injury. Within 2 years, the U will be a valuable commodity.