Gophers running back Shannon Brooks will be out three to five weeks with a foot injury, meaning he might miss the start of the season, coach Tracy Claeys said during his Twin Cities Dunkers appearance Wednesday.
Claeys didn't give specifics about the injury, but the coach is scheduled to give an update when he meets with the media Saturday.
Brooks led the Gophers with 709 rushing yards last season and his average of 6.0 yards per carry was the third highest for a freshman in team history. He was a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
The Gophers open the season three weeks from Thursday, against Oregon State. If Brooks needs the full five weeks, he would also miss the Sept. 10 game against Indiana State. The Gophers have a bye in Week 3 before playing Colorado State on Sept. 24 and then opening the Big Ten season at Penn State on Oct. 1.
Without Brooks, the Gophers will likely turn to fellow sophomore Rodney Smith, who rushed for 670 yards last year. Their other top tailbacks are junior college transfer Kobe McCrary and redshirt freshmen Jonathan Femi-Cole and James Johannesson.
