Darius Taylor

Taylor missed the second half of the 2023 campaign due to injury, and things didn't start well, with the star back missing the opener due to a hamstring injury. Fortunately, that was the only contest Taylor missed in 2024, and he went on to log 205 carries for 986 yards and 10 touchdowns over the remaining 11 regular-season games plus the bowl game, also proving to be a weapon as a receiver with 54 grabs for 350 yards and a pair of scores. The Gophers utilized the portal to add some depth to the backfield this offseason in the form of A.J. Turner from Marshall, but the backfield should belong to Taylor until further notice. Max Brosmer was a pleasant surprise under center for Minnesota last season, but he's gone, and Drake Lindsey is a bit of a question mark as well, so it wouldn't be shocking to see a heavier lean on Taylor and the running back room. Look for Taylor to deliver a top-notch running back campaign again this year. Read Past Outlooks