Last season, Taylor burst onto the scene in Dinkytown with three-straight Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards. Unfortunately, injuries slowed his breakthrough year, limiting him to just six games.

Darius made the best of his opportunities, though, rushing for 799 yards (5.8 YPC) and five touchdowns. He also played a significant role in the pass game, (11 receptions, 92 yards).

That’s why the Minnesota Gophers need Darius Taylor on the football field. When healthy, he will be far and away the number one focus for defenses to try and slow down. Obviously, that would certainly help a transfer FCS quarterback who is trying to acclimate to the speed of division one football.

Superstar RB Darius Taylor appears to be questionable for Minnesota Gophers vs UNC Tarheels

Unfortunately, we don’t know if that will actually happen next week, when the Gophers open their 2024 season vs the North Carolina Tar Heels, at Huntington Bank Stadium.

At one of the few practices media has been invited to attend this summer, Taylor hobbled off the field with what is now being reported (via the Star Tribune) as a hamstring injury. Fleck spoke with reporters yesterday and, as expected, failed to update anyone on his situation. But reporters on the beat are skeptical.

“[Darius Taylor] is doing great. You know, we brought in a ton of players for that reason, in general. If anybody ever gets banged up. We got a few bumps and bruises, but you know, I’m gonna use the same line, as we get in 10 days before game day. The injury report will come out, you know, two hours before kickoff. But this is a very healthy football team.”

Star Tribune

Then (included in the video), PJ Fleck went into the depth that the running back depth that the Gophers built during the offseason. ‘Beefed up’ would be an understatement. This spring, the Gophers made it their mission to improve the running back room, through the portal. They couldn’t continue to lose talent at such an important position on this offense.

Gophers stacked running back room with veteran depth

Dinkytown Athletes helped convince Darius Taylor to stay for his sophomore season. Fleck & Co then went on to add Marcus Major (Oklahoma), Sieh Bangura (Ohio) and Jaren Mangham (Michigan State).

Related: Expect Minnesota Gophers Football to Hire a GM Soon

Combined, those three running backs bring 13 years, 4,147 yards and 53 collegiate touchdowns worth of experience to the University of Minnesota backfield for 2024. Like I noted, Fleck was on a mission to add RB depth during the offseason.

🫶🏾 pic.twitter.com/3eI6N6DJNh

— Sieh Bangura🇸🇱 (@5iehBangura) January 5, 2023

Marcus Major puts the game away for the #Sooners against SMU.

Check out my full highlight video: https://t.co/45KQHYvc4H pic.twitter.com/Qp2HLjaEpi

— Randall Sweet (@RandallSweet5) September 10, 2023

The Gophers brought in all these reinforcements because of how baren that room had gotten, from a talent standpoint. The depletion happened due to Mohamed Ibrahim’s Van Wilder style tenure, as Minnesota’s RB1. That, along with a slow start to the NIL era of college football cost Minnesota’s running backs big time.

Related: Gophers’ Koi Perich Already Earning Accolades

So, that is why PJ feels good about where the Gophers running back room is, entering week one of the regular season. Still, this doesn’t seem like good news, if you are hoping Darius Taylor’s hamstring will be healthy for that contest. Of course, we don’t know for sure if Taylor will play, but I wouldn’t hold your breath for the next nine days hoping so.

The now sophomore running back launched himself onto the power five college football scene, in 2023, by winning three-straight Big Ten Rookie of the Week awards. That was before injuries held him out for much of the back half.

Darius Taylor limps off Minnesota Gophers practice field

Well, on Tuesday at a practice open to media members, Darius Taylor limped off the practice field with an apparent leg injury, of some sort, according to Andy Greder (Pioneer Press). Darius could be seen icing his left leg, on the sideline, after he limped off. PJ Fleck noted after practice that Taylor’s injury wasn’t serious.

Updates: #Gophers star tailback Darius Taylor left Tuesday’s practice limping and then icing his left leg. Head coach PJ Fleck said it wasn’t serious issue. Top wideout Daniel Jackson has been limited for more than a week. Experienced safety Darius Green was active in practice.

— Andy Greder (@andygreder) August 13, 2024

Look, I appreciate PJ Fleck’s report of optimism. But Minnesota sports fans have gone through some wild and difficult injury rollercoasters, recently. All summer, we’ve been told that multiple Twins injuries were minor, in nature, only to find out they are much more severe, days or weeks later. Now, we are waiting on an update regarding Byron Buxton’s hip.

Pair that with what just happened to JJ McCarthy over the last 24 hours. I’ll believe Taylor’s injury is minor when he is back on the practice field, or suited up on August 29. Until then, I’ll remain skeptical.

Gophers need their star running back in the starting lineup

In 2023, as a true freshman for the Minnesota Gophers, Darius Taylor totaled 799 yards on 138 carries (5.8 YPC), and delivered nearly 150 more yards through the air. He projects to be the main weapon for PJ Fleck’s offense in 2024, if healthy.

Darius Taylor was electric in the final game of 2023, can’t wait to see what he does in 2024 🚣‍♂️🚣‍♂️

Backfield of Taylor, Bangura, Major, & Nubin is going to be UNREAL 〽️ pic.twitter.com/QcaMm3xzz8

— (0-0) RTB GOPHERS (@RTBGophers10) June 12, 2024

But in the end, PJ Fleck remained undefeated in bowl games, as Gophers head coach (5-0), and Minnesota extended their bowl winning streak to SEVEN games, the longest in college football.

Longest active bowl winning streak in the nation 💪 https://t.co/MYCxmnyvB4

— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) December 26, 2023

Darius Taylor returns to dominance in Quick Lane Bowl victory

Fresh off of a new contract with Minnesota’s official NIL collective Dinkytown Athletes, phenom freshman running back Darius Taylor made his triumphant return to the football field, after spending about half of the regular season nursing undisclosed injuries.

Related: Phenom Freshman Darius Taylor Announces He’s Staying in Minnesota

Just like when he won three-straight Big Ten Freshman of the week awards a couple months ago, Taylor was playing on another level compared to everyone else, running up, down and all around the Bowling Green defense.

When the dust settled and the scoreboard showed a Minnesota 30-24 victory, Darius had racked up 208 yards and a touchdown, on 35 carries, as PJ Fleck showed off his most prized weapon for the 2024 season.

🗣️ Nobody can stop Darius Taylor‼️

Here are some of the highlights from the Minnesota freshman RB's career-high 208-yard day on the ground. ⤵️@Dariustay1or x @GopherFootball pic.twitter.com/FdWlQsuSRj

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) December 26, 2023

Minnesota Gophers underwhelming through the air

With Taylor running at full speed, Fleck realized very quickly that the Falcons defense was not going to be able to slow him down. And when PJ knows that you can’t stop his running game, he’s going to run and run and run and run and run and run and run.

So to nobody’s surprise, that’s what happened. Minnesota ran the ball 44 times, between Taylor, Jordan Nubin and QB Cole Kramer. On the contrary, aforementioned super senior quarterback — who pushed off some wedding planning to make his first career college start — only threw 16 times, completing half of them for a total of 26 yards and one early game touchdown strike to Elijah Spencer.

Related: Gophers Football Receiving ‘Substantive NIL Packages’ Recently; Basketball Still Behind

Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler mocks Gophers pass attack

After the game, Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler appeared frustrated with losing to a Gophers team that couldn’t even muster 30 yards through the air, telling a local reporter at the postgame podium that Minnesota “couldn’t throw it from me to you”.

Loeffler didn’t seem concerned with the many other reporters within earshot, who do not cover the Falcons, including Pioneer Press beat reporter for Gophers sports, Andy Greder.

Quote: Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler at postgame podium to a reporter sitting roughly 10 feet away about the #Gophers’ passing attack in Quick Lane Bowl:

“They couldn’t throw it from me to you.”

— Andy Greder (@andygreder) December 26, 2023

The funny part about the opposing head coach’s comments is that they aren’t wrong. There’s a reason why Cole Kramer was a career backup at the University of Minnesota, a school that has not been known for its passing prowess for at least two decades.

PJ Fleck will PJ Fleck no matter who is making jokes

But as has often been the case under PJ Fleck, that didn’t matter on Tuesday night because Loeffler’s Falcons couldn’t stop Darius Taylor, just like defenses struggled to stop Mo Ibrahim before him. I expect the Gophers passing attack to improve by leaps and bounds next season, under transfer QB Max Brosmer.

Related: 4 Minnesota Gophers Defensive Coordinator Candidates to Replace Joe Rossi

But as long as Darius Taylor is healthy or Minnesota has a dominant feature back to feed, opponents are going to have to prove they can stop the ground game before Fleck worries about throwing the ball against them. And I can promise Scot Loeffler’s comments aren’t going to change his ways. In fact, they’ll make PJ him smile from ear to ear.

• Gophers’ Darius Taylor Wins B1G Freshman of the Week
• Gophers’ Darius Taylor Wins Big Ten Freshman of the Week Again
• Darius Taylor Wins B1G Freshman of the Week for 3rd-Straight Time

The only two weeks he didn’t win freshman of the week honors, he totaled just 17 carries. In the three games he took 20 or more carries, he rushed for 529 yards and four touchdowns.

Darius Taylor announces return to Minnesota Gophers

On Saturday afternoon, Taylor decided their was no reason to have fans panicking about his eventual departure, when it wasn’t going to happen. So, he made an announcement via Twitter, to put the Minnesota fanbase at ease.

Thanks to his partnership with the U of M collective, Dinkytown Athletes, Darius Taylor is returning to the Gophers for his sophomore season in 2024.

Thank you Gopher fans for supporting me during my time in Minnesota.Thank you to my TEAM who has made this a world class experience. After talking with my family and taking time to think I have decided to come back for another year with Dinkytown Athletes. Who's going to join me? pic.twitter.com/VZTOqXrsPX

— Darius Taylor💫 (@Dariustay1or) December 2, 2023

Obviously, Taylor’s biggest problem this season was staying healthy. . If he can stay on the field next year, it would go a long ways in erasing what happened to this program in 2023, the worst season of the PJ Fleck era in Minnesota.

Because magic happens when this kid gets the ball in his hands.

WATCH: Minnesota RB Darius Taylor (@Dariustay1or) reached a max speed of 20.5 mph on this 43-yard touchdown. #ReelSpeed

🎥: @BigTenNetwork

🔗 https://t.co/orrD059ykP pic.twitter.com/oTQKoDeTa1

— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 25, 2023

Darius Taylor, Zach Evans out vs Michigan State

Related: Tyreek Hill Weighs in on Cooper DeJean Invalid Fair Catch vs Minnesota

But, the task Saturday got a lot more difficult early this afternoon, when Minnesota’s pregame injury report came out and both Minnesota B1G Freshman of the Week running backs, Darius Taylor (3x) and Zach Evans (1x). Cody Lindenberg is listed as questionable for what seems like the 47th week in a row.

Here is the #Gophers availability report ahead of today's game vs. Michigan State. Darius Taylor, Zach Evans and Tyler Cooper are out. Cody Lindenberg is listed as questionable. pic.twitter.com/Yv7R5syHro

— Daniel House (@DanielHouseMN) October 28, 2023

Minnesota B1G Freshman of the Week backs will be missed

That’s bad news for the run-loving PJ Fleck, given Taylor (true freshman) and Evans (redshirt freshman) account for 2/3 of Minnesota’s ground game production on the season. I’d imagine the Gopher offense will lean on upperclassmen transfer, Sean Tyler, to get them by vs the underwhelming Spartans.

We’ll see if they can get the job done because we know one thing, Fleck isn’t going to use this as an opportunity to flex the arm of Athan Kaliakmanis and the pass game. Kickoff is at 2:30 PM.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

After 8 years in Hawkeye possession, the Floyd of Rosedale is finally coming home to Dinkytown.

FLOYD🐖

pic.twitter.com/iJUAcDu4C9

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) October 21, 2023

Minnesota Gophers win doesn’t come without controversy

The win didn’t come without plenty of drama and controversy. There was only one touchdown scored all game and it was the Iowa Hawkeyes who found the pay dirt. Yet, PJ Fleck stayed true to what he sees as the best mixture to beating the Hawkeyes and, finally, he was paid off.

The controversy came late in the 4th quarter, when Minnesota punted out of its own end zone with the same lead as how the game finished. Iowa’s stud returner, Cooper DeJean, returned the punt up, down and around the Gophers special teams and weaved his way into the end zone for what looked like a classic disappointing end to this rivalry game.

But then, after further review, the return was brought back to the spot of the catch, because DeJean slightly waved his left arm when the ball was in the air, technically signalling for a fair catch.

Oh no Iowa.

Cooper DeJean house call overturned after it was ruled a fair catch.
pic.twitter.com/Fjqve46yP9

— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) October 21, 2023

3 Takeaways from Minnesota vs Iowa

There was a lot to learn in today’s slogfest. Here are my three biggest takeaways from the historic, yet ugly Minnesota victory in Iowa City.

1. Fleck finally succeeds in beating Kirk Ferentz at his own game.

I wrote about it multiple times this week and we saw it unfold in front of our eyes on Saturday. I believe the Minnesota Gophers could have walked away with an easy victory in Kinnick Stadium, but PJ Fleck was not going to allow that to happen.

Related: Gophers Could Force Inept Iowa Offense to Beat Them but PJ Fleck Probably Won’t

It wasn’t that I didn’t think the Gophers could win on Saturday, by playing scared and conservative vs the Hawkeyes, like Fleck usually does. When the opposing offense is as inept as Iowa’s, you’re almost always within striking distance of a victory.

But much like what happened in 2022, when Mohamed Ibrahim fumbled at the goaline with a chance to win the game, you also leave yourself one big mistake away from a loss, which we almost saw play out again Saturday.

2. Athan Kaliakmanis Ain’t It

I think, 7 games into the regular season, PJ Fleck and the Minnesota Gophers coaching staff can officially start sending out unofficial feelers to high-caliber quarterbacks who might be looking at the transfer portal this offseason. Because it’s become clear that Athan Kaliakmanis is not it.

#Gophers have more penalties(6) than 1st downs(4).
Athan Kaliakmanis has 8 passing attempts & 8 yds passing.
Gophers are 0/7 on 3rd down. The offense has no turnovers. Losing 10-3 at half feels worse than it looks.
Honestly wondering when WR coach Matt Simon will call plays.

— Ron Johnson (@3RonJohnson) October 21, 2023

It’s time for Fleck to dig into his new Dinkytown beer fund and pull out a few $100 thousand, in order to entice a new quarterback to lead the team in 2024. Kaliakmanis was once a 4-star prospect who did not show the accuracy issues he has in 2023.

If he beats out the newcomer in the spring and fall, so be it. But what Athan has displayed so far this season is unacceptable for a power-5 starting quarterback, especially in a Big Ten that will include Oregon, UCLA, Washington and USC next year.

3. Thank God the Minnesota Gophers play in the Big Ten West

At the end of the day, there’s one narrative that continues through the end of the Big Ten West and East divisions. If you are a West team, you need to go to sleep at night thanking the football gods that the conference was split the way it was for most of the last decade.

The Gophers still have a chance at playing in the Big Ten championship because the Big Ten West is half the caliber of it’s Big Ten East brother. It’s almost like half of the conference is playing in a subdivision that still gets a chance at winning the championship.

The Big Ten East and West divisions will cease to exist, after this season. But we’ll enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Gophers Darius Taylor active vs Iowa Hawkeyes

Related: Gophers Could Force Inept Iowa Offense to Beat Them but PJ Fleck Probably Won’t

And after being out with an injury for the last two weeks, Darius Taylor is active vs the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday afternoon.

It appeared to be trending this way last week and optimism continued into the weekend, but per Big Ten rules, the Gophers released their official pregame injury report early this afternoon and Taylor was not on it. Another running back, Bryce Williams was listed as out for today and out for the season. Cody Lindenberg is questionable.

Historic start for phenom freshman

Up until his injury in week 4, Taylor was on pace to challenge, not just the freshman Gopher rushing record, but Mohamed Ibrahim’s all-time single season record of 1,665 yards on the ground, set just last season.

Darius has technically appeared in four games this season, but in all three games where he has received more than one carry (weeks 2-4), Taylor has taken home the Big Ten Freshman of the Week award.

But in the Gophers’ final offensive play of the game vs Northwestern, Taylor was tackled short of the sticks on a crucial 3rd-and-one. When he stood up, he was grabbing his left leg. Beyond that, we do not know the details of his injury but it cost him two weeks and a chance at Gopher football glory.

Minnesota Gophers need Taylor to beat Hawkeyes

Taylor’s return is well timed because Saturday in Kinnick is a game PJ Fleck needs, if the Gophers’ 2023 season is to be salvaged in any respectable way. Iowa’s defense is one of the best in the country, no doubt, but they did show some weaknesses against the run last week vs the Wisconsin Badgers.

Related: Gophers Top 2024 Football Commit Koi Perich Moves into National Top-100

The overall numbers do not show it because Badger head coach, Luke Fickell, all but gave up on the running game, when Braelon Allen was off the field nursing injury. But even banged up, Allen averaged 4.8 yards per carry (18 att, 87 yds) against the Hawkeyes. Sure, Allen is one of the conferences premiere backs, but I’d argue Darius Taylor is too.

We know PJ Fleck is going to make sure Athan Kaliakmanis hands off at least 40 times on Saturday, as long as Iowa doesn’t jump out to an early lead. There’s only one way Fleck is willing to end his losing streak vs the Hawkeyes.

In PJ’s wettest dreams, he beats Kirk Ferentz for the first time, at Ferentz’ own game. Fleck literally fantasizes over the way Iowa wins football games… AKA: with as little offensive firepower as possible.

PJ Fleck understands who Iowa is and it should come as no surprise (although to some it does) that he’s impressed.

“They don’t get enough credit for what they do”

This is a good segment from PJ, and you can tell from his body language and demeanor, he’s got a lot of respect. pic.twitter.com/hFHmNuE7qn

— Joe Hugen (@Joe_Hugen) October 19, 2023

Let me translate the above for you. Much like every year this matchup occurs, we can expect a lot of handoffs on Saturday. And if Minnesota is going to win that way, most of those handoffs have to go to Darius Taylor. After 6 games, it’s obvious how much more talented the freshman out of Walled, MI is, compared to the rest of the Gopher backfield.

That’s not a knock on redshirt freshman Zach Evans, who will need to carry his fair share of the load in Kinnick on Saturday (probably 10ish carries), or any of the other Minnesota running backs. But if the Gophers are going to win playing Ferentz ball, Taylor will have to be that dude for Minnesota.

Read the rest of our Minnesota Gopher football blogs

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Season on the line for Minnesota Gophers, in Iowa

Related: Michigan Delivers Embarrassing 52-10 Knockout Blow to Minnesota Gophers 2023 Season

Not only is Fleck trying, yet again, for his first win (in 7 tries) ever, vs Kirk Ference & Co, but the Gophers’ season is legitimately on the line. If Minnesota were to win, they’d enter the softest portion of their Big Ten schedule with a 4-3 (2-2) record, coming off one of the biggest wins in PJ Fleck’s tenure. The positive vibes within the program would be more palpable than anything we’ve felt since their 5-0 start in 2022.

But lose, and the PJ Fleck haters are going to come out in droves. With another failure at Kinnick Stadium next weekend, Minnesota would drop to 3-4 (1-3) to start the 2023 season, including a 7th straight loss to Iowa and an indefensible L vs a reeling Northwestern already on their resume.

Darius Taylor, Cody Lindenberg trending toward return vs Hawkeyes

Again, Minnesota vs Iowa won’t happen for another week but we did get a good news update on Thursday, via Darren Wolfson (SKOR North, KSTP), who told “MN Sports w/Mackey & Judd” that phenom freshman running back, Darius Taylor, and upperclassman leader on defense, (LB) Cody Lindenberg, are both trending toward a return to the Gophers active roster against the Hawkeyes.

“Heading into the Iowa game, a week from Saturday… it’s trending towards Cody Lindenberg and Darius Taylor being back, for that game, barring some sort of setback, because Lindenberg should have been back by now — hamstring, tricky injury, setback, right — He wasn’t able to play in that North Carolina game on September 16. But, it looks like it’s trending in the right direction for Lindenberg and Taylor to play on October 21, in Iowa City.”

Darren Wolfson – MN Sports w/Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

This is big news. Cody Lindenberg came into the 2023 season with NFL aspirations and someone defensive coordinator, Joe Rossi, was hoping he could rely on to lead his defense in multiple statistical categories. Instead, they’ve played 6 games and he hasn’t logged a snap. Lindenberg returning vs Iowa would be a nice jolt for an underperforming defense.

Related: Gophers Top 2024 Football Commit Koi Perich Moves into National Top-100

Gophers offense needs Taylor back

If you’ve had your head out of the Big Ten sand, during the first 6-7 weeks of the college football season, then you know who Darius Taylor is. The game-breaking true freshman, out of Detroit, has won the Big Ten Freshman of the Week award ever week he’s received more than one carry.

Still unimpressed? Taylor has only played in 3 of the Gophers 6 games this season. Yet, his 532 yards on the season still leads the Big Ten and ranks 24th across college football. Redshirt sophomore, Zach Evans, has been pretty good, in Darius’ absence. But when a dude is different, like Darius Taylor is, there’s no replacing that talent.

Since his injury, the Minnesota offense has been absolutely brutal on offense, mostly thanks to an unexpected regression by QB, Athan Kaliakmanis. Through six games, it’s become clear that this Gopher offense will go, yet again, as its running backs do. And without Taylor, their backfield is way too mediocre for that type of responsibility.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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Here is the #Gophers availability report ahead of today's game vs. Louisiana. RB Darius Taylor and WR Chris Autman-Bell are out. LB Cody Lindenberg listed as questionable. pic.twitter.com/4fE3KIkznt

— Daniel House (@DanielHouseMN) September 30, 2023

It happened on the Gophers’ final offensive play in regulation. Taylor busted a 3rd and short designed inside run, to the outside, where he was caught and dragged down for a 1-yard loss. He came up grabbing at the back of his left leg and wasn’t available during Minnesota’s only drive of overtime, one that ended in a field goal.

PJ Fleck refused to update Taylor’s condition this week

PJ Fleck was asked for an update on Taylor’s injury during his weekly press conference, on Monday. His response was short and direct: “No injury update. I’ll have that for you two hours before game time [vs Louisiana].”

In other words: ‘I’m not telling you anything because I don’t have to tell you anything until the NCAA forces us to release the mandatory injury report two hours prior to each game’

But now, it’s official. and his absence from the active roster this weekend doesn’t provide much of an update on his health or status going forward this season. It could be a minor hamstring strain, it could be an ACL tear.

Prior to the injury, Taylor rushed for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns, moving his yardage total on the season to 532 yards. On Monday, he won his third-straight Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor. He’s the first ever Gopher to accomplish the feat and only the 2nd-ever Gopher to win it three times in one season (Shannon Brooks – 2015).

Darius Taylor 3-peats as Big Ten Freshman of the Week

3️⃣-peat❕@Dariustay1or secures @B1Gfootball Freshman of the Week for the third consecutive week! pic.twitter.com/Xjak976LyT

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) September 25, 2023

PJ Fleck can’t help but feed Darius Taylor

The Minnesota Gophers were leading for nearly the entire contest, Saturday night, and Athan Kaliakmanis rebounded well from what he described as the worst game of his career vs North Carolina, the weekend before. But as the game went on, PJ Fleck could not help but run, run and run some more, especially after jumping out to a big lead.

Related: Minnesota Gophers football schedule 2023

Offensively, Minnesota ended up running 42 times and passing just 19. While it’s true, I called for Fleck & Co to remain balanced, in the Northwestern game preview I wrote last week, it was hard to blame him for defaulting to the surprise freshman phenom, as the game went on. For three quarters, the Wildcats could not stop him.

Every time Darius Taylor touches the football, it feels like a game-changing play is one broken tackle away. That proved true on the Gophers final touchdown of the night, a 4th and short run up the middle that appeared dead in the backfield, but ended up a 43-yard TD.

He gets another! 😤

Second TD of the night for @Dariustay1or and @GopherFootball.

📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/SeulJIm3Om

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 24, 2023

Darius Taylor on pace to make Minnesota Gophers football history

Remember, Darius Taylor is a TRUE FRESHMAN. This time last year, he was getting ready for his senior homecoming game and the dance that followed, playing against 15-16 year old kids, much of the time. Now, he’s the #3 rusher in the nation in yards gained, stomping all over power-5 defenses in one of the two emerging super conferences of college football.

Legendary Gopher running back and current Golden Gopher color analyst (KFAN Radio), Darrell Thompson, set the single-season freshman rushing record in 1986, when he amassed an astonishing 1,376 yards on the ground.

Not only is that record in grave danger, should Taylor return to the Gophers’ starting lineup next week vs Louisiana, but Darius is currently on pace to rush for 1,596 yards, which would challenge Mo Ibrahim’s all-time single season record of 1,665, set just last season.

Read our entire collection of Minnesota Gopher football blogs

But, you can’t break records if you’re not on the field so, as of now, Minnesota Gophers fans will hold their breath and hope Taylor finds his way back on the field after one missed week vs the Ragin Cajuns…

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

He gets another! 😤

Second TD of the night for @Dariustay1or and @GopherFootball.

📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/SeulJIm3Om

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 24, 2023

Minnesota Gophers surrender 21-point lead vs Northwestern

Then, the Wildcats scored one touchdown… and a second touchdown… before finally, with just 5 seconds remaining in the contest, Northwestern scored a third-straight TD and tied the game at 31. Suddenly, what looked like a walk-away victory was in jeopardy of becoming a program-altering loss.

Overtime didn’t treat the Gophers any better. With Darius Taylor on the sidelines nursing an apparent injury, replacement running back Bryce Williams & QB Athan Kaliakmanis won the coin toss but failed to find the end zone, before settling for a field goal from the 2-yard line.

Northwestern then scored on their first play of OT, and just like that, the Gophers were left stunned at Ryan Field.

The @NUFBFamily win it in OT. 😤

Thanks to @CharlieMangieri. 👏

📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/1k5jxuA235

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 24, 2023

Even as Northwestern crept back into this football game, it never really felt like they had a chance until the closing minutes of the 4th quarter. But when they tied it up in the final seconds, an unsettling feeling settled in quickly.

Season crushing loss for Minnesota Gophers

Taking a step back, this was a must-win game for the Minnesota Gophers. They have one more non-conference game remaining on their 2023 schedule, vs the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns next weekend. After that, they get Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State and Wisconsin in four of their final 7 weeks.

Related: Michigan State Interested in PJ Fleck as Next Head Coach

PJ Fleck thought he could win this game like he’s won so many that have come before it. Jump out to an early lead and hand the game off to your running backs and Joe Rossi’s defense. Not a bad plan when your true freshman running back is going like Darius Taylor was on Saturday night.

Unfortunately, his running backs stopped picking up first downs, halfway through the 3rd quarter, and his normally dependable defense allowed big play after big play. In the end, it was arguably the worst loss of PJ Fleck’s career at Minnesota, right up there with the loss vs Bowling Green and Illinois in 2021 and the loss to Iowa in 2019.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan