Thank you, Jordan Nubin! This has been an amazing season for Jordan. Former walk-on DB turned RB. Has has now started several games, playing as our only "available" RB in some. His durability is really on display--he is there every series; he handles the ball a lot but doesn't fumble; he is a good blocker on passing downs. Think where the Gophers would be without Jordan's emergence as an everyday player. Bryce Williams out for the year several games ago. Darius Taylor has been out for weeks as well, maybe the season. Zach Evans, when he can play, seems to be injured early in every game, having to exit. Sean Tyler has fumblitis and is simply too easy to bring down for the knife-fight-inside a-phone-booth rushing attack the Gophers play; even LeCaptain has been unavailable this year (injury). That means our #5 RB not only has to start, but he has to be on the field for almost every play; virtually no rotation.
Injuries have decimated our LB corps this year, and the effect has been very noticeable. Guys being put into critical positions before they are fully ready. Our offensive backfield is in the same position as our LB corps, injury-wise. But the fall-off hasn't been as noticeable, because of Jordan. It would be nice if we had a one-two punch at RB available for the Badger finale, but if not, in Jordan we trust.