BleedGopher
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per Gene:
The 2020 season was a weird one for everyone, and almost especially so for Minnesota. It was not a good year by any stretch for P.J. Fleck’s squad, finishing the shortened campaign 3-4 with blowout losses at the hands of Michigan and Iowa. The team averaged 27.3 points per game (71st in FBS) while allowing 30.1 points per game (70th in FBS). They were ranked as high as 19th in the preseason AP Poll, and did not come close to meeting those expectations. However, none of this stopped Ibrahim from putting on a show.
Despite the rest of his team’s struggles, the redshirt junior ran for over 1,000 yards with 15 touchdowns in just seven games, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Ibrahim racked up the accolades in 2020, earning Big Ten Running Back of the Year while being named to the All-Big Ten First Team and getting selected as an AP Third-Team All American. On top of the awards, Ibrahim broke multiple Minnesota school records in 2020, including rushing yards per game (153.7), most rushing touchdowns in a game (four, record shared with others) and most touchdowns in consecutive games (eight total against Maryland and Illinois).
Ibrahim wasn't just a one-hit wonder in a weird 2020 season. He has been balling out pretty much ever since he stepped foot on campus in Minneapolis. As a freshman in 2018, Ibrahim posted another 1,000-yard season, totaling a career high 1,160 yards with nine TDs on 5.7 yards per carry. Despite playing in only 28 games in his collegiate career thus far, Ibrahim ranks ninth on Minnesota’s career rushing list with 2,840 yards, and is tied for sixth in school history with 31 rushing touchdowns.
Wildly underrated as a prospect, Ibrahim was just a three-star recruit coming out of high school. The No. 62 running back in the 2017 class and the No. 19 player in Maryland, the 5-foot-9 Olney, MD native came in as the No. 1125 player in the country. Crazy enough, he received only five total offers during the recruiting process — and those did not even include the in-state Terrapins. A shorter back whose high school numbers don't exactly jump off the page, Ibrahim would wind up choosing between Kentucky and Minnesota, and he clearly made the correct choice as he has quickly blossomed into a star with the Golden Gophers.
Heading into 2021, Ibrahim will truly have a chance to shine as a senior. Named to the Walter Camp pre-season All-America First Team, the running back could easily prove to be not only one of the best in the Big Ten, but in the entire nation. Ibrahim rules his backfield, and will not be expected to share the load with anyone. Minnesota is actually one of the few Big Ten teams that likes to throw the ball quite a bit, but whenever they keep it on the ground, you can be assured the ball will be in Mo’s hands more often than not. Ohio State will be breaking in a new trio of linebackers this season, and we will learn a lot about them in the very first game as they take on the Big Ten’s best non-OSU running back.
www.landgrantholyland.com
Go Gophers!!
Gene’s Take: Mohamed Ibrahim
I understand Josh not wanting to take Ibrahim after selecting Tanner Morgan in our best returning non-OSU QB debate. Ohio State kicks off the season against Minnesota, and saying they have two of the best non-Buckeyes in the conference at two of the most important positions on offense makes the Gophers seem like a really scary Week 1 opponent. Luckily for me, I chose Michael Penix last time around, so I will gladly take the layup here at running back, and that is Mohamed Ibrahim.The 2020 season was a weird one for everyone, and almost especially so for Minnesota. It was not a good year by any stretch for P.J. Fleck’s squad, finishing the shortened campaign 3-4 with blowout losses at the hands of Michigan and Iowa. The team averaged 27.3 points per game (71st in FBS) while allowing 30.1 points per game (70th in FBS). They were ranked as high as 19th in the preseason AP Poll, and did not come close to meeting those expectations. However, none of this stopped Ibrahim from putting on a show.
Despite the rest of his team’s struggles, the redshirt junior ran for over 1,000 yards with 15 touchdowns in just seven games, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Ibrahim racked up the accolades in 2020, earning Big Ten Running Back of the Year while being named to the All-Big Ten First Team and getting selected as an AP Third-Team All American. On top of the awards, Ibrahim broke multiple Minnesota school records in 2020, including rushing yards per game (153.7), most rushing touchdowns in a game (four, record shared with others) and most touchdowns in consecutive games (eight total against Maryland and Illinois).
Ibrahim wasn't just a one-hit wonder in a weird 2020 season. He has been balling out pretty much ever since he stepped foot on campus in Minneapolis. As a freshman in 2018, Ibrahim posted another 1,000-yard season, totaling a career high 1,160 yards with nine TDs on 5.7 yards per carry. Despite playing in only 28 games in his collegiate career thus far, Ibrahim ranks ninth on Minnesota’s career rushing list with 2,840 yards, and is tied for sixth in school history with 31 rushing touchdowns.
Wildly underrated as a prospect, Ibrahim was just a three-star recruit coming out of high school. The No. 62 running back in the 2017 class and the No. 19 player in Maryland, the 5-foot-9 Olney, MD native came in as the No. 1125 player in the country. Crazy enough, he received only five total offers during the recruiting process — and those did not even include the in-state Terrapins. A shorter back whose high school numbers don't exactly jump off the page, Ibrahim would wind up choosing between Kentucky and Minnesota, and he clearly made the correct choice as he has quickly blossomed into a star with the Golden Gophers.
Heading into 2021, Ibrahim will truly have a chance to shine as a senior. Named to the Walter Camp pre-season All-America First Team, the running back could easily prove to be not only one of the best in the Big Ten, but in the entire nation. Ibrahim rules his backfield, and will not be expected to share the load with anyone. Minnesota is actually one of the few Big Ten teams that likes to throw the ball quite a bit, but whenever they keep it on the ground, you can be assured the ball will be in Mo’s hands more often than not. Ohio State will be breaking in a new trio of linebackers this season, and we will learn a lot about them in the very first game as they take on the Big Ten’s best non-OSU running back.
You’re Nuts: Who is the best returning non-OSU RB in the Big Ten?
Which running backs should you be on the lookout for in 2021?
www.landgrantholyland.com
Go Gophers!!