Eskridge showing he's ready to learn under pressure

The true freshman, who became a starter earlier this season because of injury, came up big against Illinois with a 46-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: October 12, 2008 - 12:56 AM

CHAMPAIGN, ILL. — As DeLeon Eskridge took the handoff, here's what he saw: A good block by the right side of the line. "They squared out and opened the gap," Eskridge said. "There was a gap, daylight."

So Eskridge ran through the right side, looked up and saw a corner being blocked by a wide receiver. And then there was just one man left.

"I saw the safety," he said. "Coach always says, 'Make the safety miss.' I just tried to make him miss and run."

Eskridge dipped into the hole, then cut up the middle. He did make the last man miss, and he was off for a 46-yard touchdown, easily the longest run of his career.

And, perhaps, the biggest.

Eskridge is a true freshman from San Francisco. He came to the Gophers expecting to pay some dues before playing. But that was before Duane Bennett was lost for the season because of a knee injury in Week 2. The next week Eskridge came off the bench to run for 114 yards and the first three touchdowns of his college career.

Saturday, he took another few steps.

Against a good Illinois team, at a crucial time, Eskridge made the 46-yard romp with 11:11 left in the game and gave the Gophers a 20-6 lead. The Gophers would need a few more big plays to seal the deal, but Eskridge helped out.

"He's a young man who is going to be a really good football player, who is becoming a very good football player right before our eyes," Gophers coach Tim Brewster said.

Until Saturday, Eskridge hadn't shown fans the breakaway play. But he got key yards. He was tough near the goal line and on third- or fourth-and-short.

And he holds on to the football, having lost onlyone fumble in 120 carries.

"He has taken the load," receiver Eric Decker said. "You can see that, week in and week out. He's building confidence off every game. To be a true freshman and play like that in the Big Ten? That's a heck of a kid. He's got a bright future."

Said Eskridge: "I feel every game is a learning experience. I'm learning a lot about the Big Ten. And I'm just trying to keep it going, keep growing."