BleedGopher
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per Randy:
A day after announcing that running back Rodney Smith, the Gophers’ leading rusher and all-purpose threat, would miss the remainder of the season, coach P.J. Fleck on Tuesday addressed what’s ahead for his team’s backfield.
Getting the first crack at replacing Smith, the two-time team MVP who tore his left anterior cruciate knee ligament on the third offensive play Saturday night against Fresno State, likely will be true freshman Bryce Williams, who rushed 25 times for 87 yards against Fresno State in relief of Smith.
The Sarasota, Fla., native is listed in an “or” situation with redshirt freshman Mohamed Ibrahim as the starter against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday. Ibrahim, however, dressed but didn’t play against Fresno State because of a left knee injury suffered in the opener against New Mexico State. Fleck said Ibrahim looked good in individual drills Tuesday.
“I expect him to play; it just depends how much,” the coach said.
Adding a longer-term twist to the plot is the status of senior Shannon Brooks, who has rushed for more than 1,700 yards in his career. Brooks suffered a knee injury just before spring practice, and Fleck initially ruled him out for the 2018 season. But a new redshirt rule the NCAA adopted in June allows players to participate in up to four games without losing a year of eligibility. That made Brooks a possibility to play this fall.
Fleck said Brooks participated in semi-contact drills for the first time Tuesday.
“You could tell he was like a kid in a candy store,” he said. “Big smile on his face, because he was finally involved in some real football. But it’s going to take a little bit of time [for Brooks to return].”
One thing Fleck won’t do is use up Brooks’ final season of eligibility this fall.
“I am not going to play him more than the four games. I made it very clear to him and his family,” Fleck said. “There’s a strategy. We might have to play him sooner, but I highly doubt it. … We have a plan, and I’ll keep that plan to ourselves, but he’ll play four games by the end of the year.”
http://www.startribune.com/gophers-...-but-shannon-brooks-will-re-emerge/493000271/
Go Gophers!!
A day after announcing that running back Rodney Smith, the Gophers’ leading rusher and all-purpose threat, would miss the remainder of the season, coach P.J. Fleck on Tuesday addressed what’s ahead for his team’s backfield.
Getting the first crack at replacing Smith, the two-time team MVP who tore his left anterior cruciate knee ligament on the third offensive play Saturday night against Fresno State, likely will be true freshman Bryce Williams, who rushed 25 times for 87 yards against Fresno State in relief of Smith.
The Sarasota, Fla., native is listed in an “or” situation with redshirt freshman Mohamed Ibrahim as the starter against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday. Ibrahim, however, dressed but didn’t play against Fresno State because of a left knee injury suffered in the opener against New Mexico State. Fleck said Ibrahim looked good in individual drills Tuesday.
“I expect him to play; it just depends how much,” the coach said.
Adding a longer-term twist to the plot is the status of senior Shannon Brooks, who has rushed for more than 1,700 yards in his career. Brooks suffered a knee injury just before spring practice, and Fleck initially ruled him out for the 2018 season. But a new redshirt rule the NCAA adopted in June allows players to participate in up to four games without losing a year of eligibility. That made Brooks a possibility to play this fall.
Fleck said Brooks participated in semi-contact drills for the first time Tuesday.
“You could tell he was like a kid in a candy store,” he said. “Big smile on his face, because he was finally involved in some real football. But it’s going to take a little bit of time [for Brooks to return].”
One thing Fleck won’t do is use up Brooks’ final season of eligibility this fall.
“I am not going to play him more than the four games. I made it very clear to him and his family,” Fleck said. “There’s a strategy. We might have to play him sooner, but I highly doubt it. … We have a plan, and I’ll keep that plan to ourselves, but he’ll play four games by the end of the year.”
http://www.startribune.com/gophers-...-but-shannon-brooks-will-re-emerge/493000271/
Go Gophers!!