Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota Football News: Draft Scout Player News

05/27/21 - RB Mohamed Ibrahim, rSr/2023, Minnesota

Gophers star running back Mohamed Ibrahim joked around during the U's spring game May 1 by dressing up as head coach P.J. Fleck. Instead of pads and a helmet, he took on Fleck's semi-formal attire on game days: a necktie and a quarter-length zip-up and accessory of sunglasses. Minnesota's fourth-year running back was out for the game as he observed Ramadan, and the reigning Big Ten running back of the year has little to prove on the field in an intra-squad setup anyway. Plus, given how Fleck plans to liberally use Ibrahim again in the 2021 season, the less wear and tear the better. In previous years at Minnesota, Fleck has prescribed to the theory of having a "pair and a spare" in the backfield, and fostering that depth served him well with combinations of Rodney Smith, Shannon Brooks, Kobe McCrary, then Bryce Williams and Ibrahim entering the mix.

Fleck didn't spread the workload around in 2020 and won't plan on doing that much of it again in 2021. "I've gotten that question a few times," Fleck said Tuesday about a query on Ibrahim's workload. "Mo's going to play. It's not like, 'All right, Mo. Now that you've done all this stuff, it's your last year and we're only going to give you so many carries.' That's not going to happen. He's going to carry the load." Ibrahim led the nation with 28.7 carries per game in 2020. In a shortened seven-game season, he had a staggering 201 rushes for 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also had eight receptions for 56 yards. "He's one of the best players in college football, and you want him to continue to be one of the best players in college football," Fleck said. "He's what makes your team really good, and your best players when they're on the field make you better. So, he's going to play." - Pioneer Press

rSr/2023