2026 Gophers Position Previews: Running Backs

Summer days are getting shorter. Football is coming. To make you the fan at your tailgate most informed on the top, middle, and bottom of Minnesota's depth chart, Ski-U-Blog is previewing each position group on the roster. Today, we move to the running back position.

Likely Starter

In a career that's been stop-start because of injuries, Darius Taylor's 2025 was maybe the most frustrating. It took five quarters for Taylor to miss time, pulling up with a hamstring problem on what should have been a touchdown against Northwestern State. He returned a month later, averaging just 2.0 yards per carry against Ohio State and Purdue. Though he bounced back with a big performance against Nebraska, he evidently wasn't right and took just one carry at Iowa the following week. He missed another game, returning after the bye versus Oregon.

This time, the rest helped. Taylor looked much fresher over the last four games of the season, totaling 427 all-purpose yards and averaging an additional half-yard more per carry than in the other six games he played. He had more burst, recording a run of 23 or more yards each week. That included this 47-yard touchdown on the icy surface against Wisconsin:

Last year should have been Taylor's last in college. When his body cooperates, Taylor is one of the best, most versatile tailbacks in the sport. Even if he doesn't possess truly blazing speed, he has such a complete set of tools that all he needs is better luck. If he stays healthy, he can finally receive the accolades that have eluded him and make it to the NFL.

Key Backups

Minnesota could have the personnel to rotate their running backs the most since 2019. Of course, I've said things like that before, only for the Gophers to use the same small number of players at receiver or cornerback as they do any other season. But there are still loads of guys to like in this group, even after Cam Davis ran out of eligibility and Fame Ijeboi transferred to Purdue. (As an early Ijeboi adopter, I must confess that one stung.) After the two experienced backups, there are six freshmen trying to break into the rotation, each with some appeal.

The big hope is that A.J. Turner can be something like the back he was at Marshall after missing the last three quarters of last season because of a knee injury. It seems like he is not there yet, which puts in doubt how much he will feature in September or how explosive he will be once he returns. Turner's longest carry as a Gopher is for 11 yards; we have yet to see firsthand what makes him so dangerous.

T.J. Thomas Jr. is tied for the title of shortest man on the roster at 5 feet, 8 inches and could be more of a return specialist. When healthy, he took about 10 carries per game at Elon. At his best, he can use his low center of gravity to weave through holes in the defense.

Over his two seasons for the Phoenix, he averaged 5.4 yards per carry and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. Even if he's more quick than fast, Thomas' shiftiness brings big-play potential and makes him a decent passing outlet for Drake Lindsey out of the backfield. The praise for him in camp suggests he will have a prominent place in the offense.

The most exciting back behind Taylor is Ryan Estrada, whose 7,633 rushing yards in high school broke Aaron Jones' career record for the city of El Paso. It takes about 5 seconds of watching his highlights to understand how he did that: Estrada goes from 0 to Ludicrous Speed like it's nothing. Changing directions does not seem to affect his stride, nor do opponents' flailing attempts to tackle him. He is a hypercharged slasher with tremendous explosive potential. I have little doubt Estrada will feature this season and expect him to be Minnesota's No. 1 tailback in 2027.

Potential Rotation Options

Grant Washington benefitted greatly from garbage time versus Northwestern State last year, rushing for 126 yards on 20 carries. That showing was against one of the worst teams in Division I, but live reps are live reps. Washington is the lighter of two returning redshirt freshman backs, with the 210-pound Xavier Ford also competing for carries. I quite liked Ford a year ago, but the road for him to take a major role is likely still long.

Jaron Thomas was on the opposite end of mop-up duty in his one college game last year, getting a few touches in Purdue's 56-3 loss to Indiana. Thomas (no relation to T.J.) is a stout 220 pounds. Minnesota did not offer him a scholarship out of high school, but he seems like their kind of back: mean, with cutting ability and flashes of vision to take him through traffic. I would not bet on Thomas getting immediate playing time, since he didn't at Purdue, but he could emerge from this group of young tailbacks as a contributor.

Newcomer Zeke Bates had as many Ivy League offers as he did from power conference schools (four), not to mention one from running back coach Mohamed Ibrahim's former employer, Kent State. He is even more Minnesota's type. Bates plays with patience, good pad level, and balance, traits the Gophers always like. And he's got the burst to average 15.3 yards per carry as a high school senior, even in his big frame. If Bates skips the second-year players in line, it will be for those skills.

Every regular tight end will likely get a few snaps in the backfield. If the Gophers want to designate a primary fullback again, though, Kaden Helms is the obvious candidate. He is the most proven blocker in the tight end room and light enough to lead a tailback into space. Then again, if they want someone more dynamic, this could be another place to put Roman Voss.

Notables Unlikely to Contribute

Niko Castillo played a mix of running back and tight end at Schuylkill Haven Area High School (Pennsylvania), scoring so many touchdowns on end-arounds that in another life, Castillo might be committing to Georgia Tech as Paul Johnson's largest A-back. Officially 235 pounds, Castillo's game is about power and straight-line speed. He has functional lateral movement to find holes but needs to work on that in order to shake defenders in the open field. He cannot outrun everyone to the pylon at this level.