Bowl season in 2023 means playing shorthanded. Players looking to transfer may stay for one more game but are generally gone for their new schools. Those with NFL aspirations may prefer to recuperate from the regular season and get an early start on training for the draft. Extra practices mean extra reps for everyone who is still around, but they also mean extra injuries. Every team has to plug holes.
Bowling Green was down their top two running backs after Taron Keith chose to transfer and Terion Stewart picked up an injury. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who had received a few carries during the season, had to become one of their primary rushing options. Top cornerback Jalen Huskey left for Maryland, forcing the Falcons' reserves into action in the secondary.
Minnesota was down even more. The Gophers had one scholarship quarterback after Athan Kaliakmanis and Drew Viotto's transfers, with walk-on Max Shikenjanski the only backup to fifth-year Cole Kramer. Regulars at linebacker and safety, positions plagued by instability throughout the year, appeared on the team's availability report on Tuesday. Longtime faces of the program did as well, likely sitting out to protect their pro prospects.
But Minnesota had Darius Taylor. After two months on the shelf, Taylor had maybe his best game of the season. He was the second Gopher to rush for 200 yards in a game this season and 19th overall (after Jordan Nubin's career day against Michigan State). Every one of his 35 carries gained at least 1 yard.
Bowling Green probably knew what was coming entering the game, and they definitely knew what was coming by halftime, when the Gophers had just 19 passing yards. When Taylor manned the Wildcat package, he presented no passing threat. Taylor powered through anyway, with exceptional vision, acceleration, and balance.
Nubin has proven himself a capable backup tailback this season, and when fully healthy, Zach Evans (who has left for North Texas) flashed the ability to be Taylor's foil and partner next season. Taylor, however, looked like a talent the Gophers could not go without this November. He should be the next star at a program that so often has one in its backfield. He could even be the best running back in the Big Ten as a true sophomore. It may sound hyperbolic, but the truth is that Taylor is just that good.
