Mohamed Ibrahim Will Return to Gophers in 2022

The Minnesota Gophers have struggled with injuries in their offensive backfield all season but it started on opening night when preseason All Big Ten running back Mohamed Ibrahim suffered a lower leg injury that would shelf his 2021 season.

But on Wednesday morning, Ibrahim released a video to his social medias announcing his return in 2022. That’s right, Mo will be back taking handoffs for the Gophers next season.

pic.twitter.com/Ch8vVxNUaa

— Mohamed Ibrahim (@_MoIbrahim) November 24, 2021

Mohamed Ibrahim will be a 2022 5th year senior so his comeback isn’t unprecedented. Most of his current offensive line has been here that long, if not longer.

The Gophers will hope to see the same guy who carried the ball 30 times for 163 yards and 2 TD’s vs Ohio State this season and the same dude who blew up in 2020 for 1076 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 7 games. We don’t know that will be possible, given the significance of the injury he is recovering from, but hopefully it won’t matter.

In Ibrahim’s absence this season, PJ Fleck and Co have found reliable and talented running backs behind him. First, it was Trey Potts (who later suffered his own season-ending injury) and later Mar’Keise Irving and Ky Thomas. After taking the reins, those two have amassed 1,234 yards and 8 touchdowns in the 8+ weeks that they’ve taken the bulk of carries (since playing @ Purdue).

We do not yet know the status of Potts for 2022. But Mo, Ky and Bucky would make for one hell of a three-headed running back monster next season, just by themselves.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan