COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Gophers’ Mo Ibrahim on verge of breaking 4 more program records – InForum

NEW YORK — Mohamed Ibrahim’s final encore is directed to University of Minnesota football fans and is set to be a historic finish.

The sixth-year RB can break four major program milestones when Minnesota faces Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium Thursday at 1 p.m.

Ibrahim has built Darrell Thompson’s place at the pinnacle of Minnesota records all season long—becoming first in career rushing touchdowns, total TDs, and 100-yard games—and Ibrahim has the most career rushing yards. We’ve almost reached the high peak. Ibrahim is just 57 yards from Thompson’s mark of 4,654.

Ibrahim is also looking to set a record of three in a single season. He is 32 yards behind David Cobb’s 1,626 sets in his 2014, and he is 10 carries behind Cobb’s 314 sets in the same year. Ibrahim needs one touchdown to tie Gary Russell’s mark of 19 for his one season set in 2006.

“He meant everything to the program. He means everything to me,” Gophers offensive coordinator Kirk Siarocca said last week. “He’s the best back I’ve ever coached. He’s lucky to have him by his side.”

Syracuse (7-5) gave up at least 200 rushing yards in four of the five straight losses it suffered from late October through mid-November. If the Gophers (8-4) succeed in his 11th-place rushing offense (he has 218 yards per game), Ibrahim could break his four records by halftime.

Ibrahim has exceeded 100 yards in 10 games this season. This includes his career-high 263 yards against the Iowa defense in his 13–10 loss on November 19. when he scored in a 23–16 win over Wisconsin on November 26.

The Gophers’ defense, on the other hand, has been one of the best in the country in recent years. They don’t need to go up against Syracuse tailback Sean Tucker, who has 1,060 yards this season. He opted out of bowl games in preparation for the NFL Draft.

Gophers defensive coordinator Joe Rossi said the U’s own strong running game contributed to his defensive success.

“I like to sit in the (coach’s) box when I do long (aggressive) drives. Mo stuffs it down people’s throats,” said Rossi. “The best defense is the defense that is not played.

Ibrahim was named an All-American by multiple outlets this season and was later added to the East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas on February 3rd. He tore his Achilles tendon last August and has missed all but three of his quarters of the 2021 season.

After becoming a Big Ten running back in 2020, Ibrahim won the AP’s Comeback Player of the Year award this season.

“I think he’s going to have an illustrious career because he builds something out of nothing,” Rossi said. You don’t bounce in the NFL you do it your career is short you have to be able to build and set blocks and you have to be able to get things when you don’t have them It’s Mo.”

The University of Minnesota has recorded that Mohamed Ibrahim could break out in Thursday’s final game against Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Career:

• 57 — Rushing yards behind Darrell Thompson (4,654)

Single season records:

• 32 — rushing yards from David Cobb (1,626)
• 1 — Touchdown from tiebreak with Gary Russell (19)
• 10 — Rush behind Cobb’s attempt (314)