A healthy Darius Taylor is a great thing for the Gopher offense. He’s back with a new host of backs behind him. Will this group be an upgrade over
2025 Running back
2024 Starter: Darius Taylor
2025 Starters: Darius Taylor
Depth: AJ Turner, Cam Davis, Fame Ijeboi
The starter returns, but the rest of the backfield will be brand new. Marcus Major and Jaren Mangham combined for 97 carries last year, running behind Taylor. They have both moved on, along with Jaydon Wright, and the staff needed to backfill the RB room with a couple
more transfers.
But this room starts with Darius Taylor. As a true freshman, Taylor exploded onto the scene for 6 games in 2023, before injuries ended his season. He was back for all 13 games in 2024 and had a solid year with 205 carries, 986 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. But he was also dynamic catching passes out of the backfield, where he led the Big Ten with 54 receptions. He is the team’s lead back and looks primed for a huge season.
Up next is likely going to be AJ Turner, an incoming transfer from Marshall. Turner will be a junior and last year for the Thundering Herd he had 104 carries for 864 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers are not typos…he had an 8.3 yard per carry average. Turner add a big-play element to the Gopher ground game that should be rather exciting.
Cam Davis spent the past 6 seasons at Washington and brings a lot of experience to the running back room. He will certainly play as part of the usual “pair and a spare.”
And look for Fame Ijeboi to make his mark after redshirting last season. Reports are very good out of spring and summer camps that he is going to make an impact on the Gopher offense…someday.
Upgrade/Downgrade
I think that this roster upgraded the entire unit. Turner, Davis and Ijeboi are a step up from last year’s depth, and think we see Taylor break out in a major way this season. This group is an upgrade and while there is a ton of excitement around Drake Linsday, this offense will be carried by Taylor.
