Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota Football News: Draft Scout Player News

09/02/22 - RB Mohamed Ibrahim, rSr/2023, Minnesota

Jerry Kill's unexpected return to Minnesota with his rebuilding team was a predictably emotional night for New Mexico State's new coach. After some apparent reconciliation with P.J. Fleck, Kill was given an up-close reminder that a Gophers program he never wanted to leave is still in pretty good shape. Mo Ibrahim rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns for Minnesota in his seamless comeback from a season-ending injury in the opener a year ago, and Fleck and the Gophers overwhelmed the Aggies 38-0 on Thursday night to spoil a homecoming of sorts for Kill. "I guess I take it as a blessing that I got the opportunity to come back," said Kill, who had a cordial pregame conversation with Fleck, his former assistant at Northern Illinois of whom he'd been critical in the past.

Fleck and Kill shared an extended postgame handshake, too, after Minnesota outgained New Mexico State a whopping 485-91 in total yardage. Fleck said he approached Kill by thanking him for his impact on his career. "I appreciate Jerry's passion, because I know how bad Jerry loves this place," Fleck said. "The one thing I'll say is, So do I. I know how he feels, because I want to be here. It's a very special place to me, and I couldn't imagine not being here." Ibrahim, who tore his Achilles in the loss to Ohio State last Sept. 2, started his sixth college season in style. He bounced off and bashed into the Aggies over 21 carries, extending his school-record streak of 100-plus yards to 10 straight games and moving into a tie with Marion Barber III for second place in Gophers history with 35 career touchdowns. The return of Kill was even more remarkable in Minnesota, where he inherited a bottomed-out program in 2011 and won the Big Ten Coach of the Year award in 2014 before epilepsy-related health problems forced him to retire midway through the 2015 season. - Minnesota/AP College Football

rSr/2023