Early on, the play appeared as if it would make a highlight reel. With the Gophers on their first offensive possession, situated at the Northwestern (La.) State 18-yard-line and already ahead 7-0 on the Demons, Darius Taylor took a handoff, raced off left tackle and found a clear path to the end zone.
Except the Gophers’ leading rusher didn’t make it to paydirt, instead slowing just after reaching the 5. Taylor went out of bounds at the 1 while grabbing the back of his right leg, then collapsed to the turf. He was tended to by the training staff, and coach P.J. Fleck ran across the field to check on him. It soon was clear that Taylor’s afternoon was over because of what appears to be a hamstring injury.
“Things happen. Injuries are part of the game,” Fleck said Monday, two days after the Gophers’ 66-0 victory. “It’s not ‘if’ it happens, it’s ‘when’ it happens.”
The timing of Taylor’s injury means he might not be available for Saturday’s game at California, the Gophers’ first test against another Power Four conference program. Fleck said during his news conference Monday that the Gophers received good news about Taylor’s injury but wouldn’t give specifics. When the coach was asked if it were possible Taylor could practice this week, he referred reporters to the Big Ten availability report, which will be released two hours before Saturday’s 9:30 p.m. Central game time in Berkeley, Calif.
Earlier Monday on KFAN-FM, Fleck described Taylor’s injury this way: “It wasn’t as bad as initially thought.”
Preparing the backups
At the very least, the Gophers (2-0) will prepare their backup running backs as if they’ll need to play against the Golden Bears (2-0). Fleck and his staff bolstered the backfield depth by adding transfers A.J. Turner (formerly of Marshall) and Cam Davis (formerly of Washington) this offseason.
Turner, who ranked second nationally with an average of 8.31 yards per carry last year, has rushed 12 times for 49 yards, including a 1-yard TD run against Northwestern State. Davis has carried six times for 25 yards, with a 7-yard TD run Saturday.
At 6-feet and 195 pounds, Turner brings a big-play threat to the running back group, and he has eligibility for 2026. Davis, a 6-1, 215-pound seventh-year senior, has more of a between-the-tackles style.“We wanted players with experience who have played major Group of Five and had a ton of success there, or Power Four football and had success there,” Fleck said. “That’s where Cam and A.J. came to the top, because they’re really good human beings.”
