Gophers running back Darius Taylor makes his season debut vs. Rhode Island

Gophers standout tailback Darius Taylor said his leg felt fine to play in last week’s opening loss against North Carolina, but he was finally cleared to play Saturday against Rhode Island.

“It felt great,” said Taylor, who had 14 carries for 64 yards and four catches for 48 yards in the 48-0 victory. “I just knew going into this season the main focus for me was my body and just being able to be here for the team.”

Taylor, who rushed for 799 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman last season, appeared to injure a hamstring during practice Aug. 13. He was close to playing in the season-opening 19-17 loss against North Carolina.

“Last week before the game, I was running full speed,” Taylor said. “It was more so just making sure I’m fully healthy and making sure I will be here for the whole season.”

Taylor, a Michigan native, missed seven games in 2023 because of a hamstring injury, but he averaged 133.2 rushing yards per game. He came back to rush for 208 yards to earn MVP honors in the Quick Lane Bowl victory against Bowling Green.

Oklahoma transfer Marcus Major rushed 20 times for a team-high 73 yards and a touchdown in his debut as the starter against UNC. He had seven rushes for 12 yards Saturday.

Five different Gophers tailbacks had carries against Rhode Island, including Jordan Nubin (one carry for 12 yards), Michigan State transfer Jaren Mangham (four carries for 29 yards) and Ohio transfer Sieh Bangura (one carry for six yards).

The Gophers had to make offensive line tweaks after giving up five sacks against North Carolina last week.

Rhode Island’s defense was nowhere near as formidable, but Minnesota’s O-line looked shaky when quarterback Max Brosmer was sacked for a 14-yard loss in the second quarter. That was the only sack allowed by the Gophers the rest of the way.

“They did an amazing job today,” Brosmer said. “I love playing behind them. They’re the ultimate competitors. I can’t wait to showcase more this year.”

The pieces of what could be one of the Big Ten’s best blocking units are there but had to be moved around. The starters remained the same Saturday with Aireontae Ersery and Martes Lewis at the tackles, Quinn Carroll and Tyler Cooper at the guard spots and Greg Johnson at center.

But Carroll eventually went from right guard to right tackle to help more in pass protection. Ashton Beers, Tony Nelson, Phillip Daniels and Aluma Nkele also got into the rotation Saturday.

Freshman safety Koi Perich’s eyes opened wide as Rhode Island’s quarterback Devin Farrell had a pass tipped in his direction in the fourth quarter Saturday.

The bouncy Esko native snagged the ball out of the air for his first career interception. It was one of the defense’s three interceptions with Aidan Gousby’s spectacular takeaway and Jack Henderson’s 25-yard pick-six.

Perich also made an impact on special teams with a 28-yard punt return to help the Gophers replace Quentin Redding, who got banged up early in the game.

Another talented true freshman also got into action Saturday for a big first for his Gophers career.

Quarterback Drake Lindsey, an Arkansas native, completed his first college pass on a 10-yarder to Nathan Jones in the fourth quarter. The final score of the game also came on Lindsey’s first Gophers TD pass on an eight-yarder to Tyler Williams.