BleedGopher
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per Randy:
When the subject of Gophers running backs comes up, immediately Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks come to mind. The Georgia natives have led Minnesota in rushing the past two seasons — Brooks in 2015, Smith in 2016 — and they have shared the No. 1 job, when healthy, throughout this first season under coach P.J. Fleck.
But now, Smith and Brooks have some company in that backfield, someone who has literally shoved aside opponents to earn more playing time.
Meet Kobe McCrary, whose play during two fill-in roles has Fleck changing a two-back rotation into a three-back timeshare beginning with Saturday’s game at Iowa.
“Kobe gives us a completely different dynamic than the others,” Fleck said.
That dynamic was on display Saturday in the Gophers’ 24-17 victory over Illinois. With Brooks out because of a leg injury suffered the week before, McCrary, a senior from Chipley, Fla., became Smith’s complement. The 6-1, 233-pounder made his presence known immediately, bursting through a big hole for a 26-yard gain to the Illinois 8-yard line. He was brought down by 180-pound Illini cornerback Nate Hobbs, but only after Hobbs was taken for a 10-yard ride.
http://m.startribune.com/big-fella-...ions-to-attack-iowa/453173353/?section=sports
Go Gophers!!
When the subject of Gophers running backs comes up, immediately Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks come to mind. The Georgia natives have led Minnesota in rushing the past two seasons — Brooks in 2015, Smith in 2016 — and they have shared the No. 1 job, when healthy, throughout this first season under coach P.J. Fleck.
But now, Smith and Brooks have some company in that backfield, someone who has literally shoved aside opponents to earn more playing time.
Meet Kobe McCrary, whose play during two fill-in roles has Fleck changing a two-back rotation into a three-back timeshare beginning with Saturday’s game at Iowa.
“Kobe gives us a completely different dynamic than the others,” Fleck said.
That dynamic was on display Saturday in the Gophers’ 24-17 victory over Illinois. With Brooks out because of a leg injury suffered the week before, McCrary, a senior from Chipley, Fla., became Smith’s complement. The 6-1, 233-pounder made his presence known immediately, bursting through a big hole for a 26-yard gain to the Illinois 8-yard line. He was brought down by 180-pound Illini cornerback Nate Hobbs, but only after Hobbs was taken for a 10-yard ride.
http://m.startribune.com/big-fella-...ions-to-attack-iowa/453173353/?section=sports
Go Gophers!!
