Darius Taylor Ruled Out, Gophers RB Situation Uncertain

Badgers’ Road Success Continues in Williams Arena

Gophers Fall 71-65 to No. 10 Wisconsin

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – University of Minnesota running back Darius Taylor will miss the season opener against the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sept. 1, head coach P.J. Fleck announced Monday.

Taylor suffered a foot injury in practice last week and will undergo surgery this week. The injury is not expected to be season-ending, but it will keep him out of the lineup for an extended period of time.

The Gophers are already thin at running back, with Trey Potts and Bryce Williams both out with injuries. Redshirt freshman Ky Thomas and true freshman Mar'Keise Irving are expected to start against the Tar Heels.

Taylor's absence is a big blow to the Gophers' offense. He was expected to be the team's leading rusher this season after rushing for 533 yards and six touchdowns in 2021.

The Gophers will now have to rely on Thomas and Irving to carry the load in the backfield. Thomas is a physical runner who has good vision, while Irving is a shifty back who can make defenders miss in the open field.

Despite the injuries at running back, the Gophers are still expected to be competitive in 2022. They have a talented quarterback in Tanner Morgan and a solid defense led by linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin.