Rodney

Smith

There are a lot of reasons that the Golden Gophers are undefeated -- yes, including their schedule -- but one of the key reasons Minnesota is 8-0 is the play of players like Smith (5'11/210). The Gophers gashed the Terrapins for 323 yards, and Smith picked up his fifth-straight hundred-yard contest, and also the fifth-straight that he’s found the end zone. Minnesota has a plethora of players they can give the ball to, but Smith is the best. He and the Gophers have a chance to move to 9-0 if they can beat Penn State on November 9.

Smith (5'11/210) found the end zone from three yards out near the end of the first quarter to open the game’s scoring, later hitting pay dirt once more -- this time from 16 yards out -- midway through the third quarter. He has now rushed for at least 100 yards in four consecutive contests. The redshirt senior is in the midst of a strong, strong campaign, having now rumbled for 786 yards and six touchdowns across seven games played. Up next on the docket for the undefeated Gophers, a home date with Maryland.

Smith (5'11/210) and Shannon Brooks made like Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney in this one, providing a tremendous one-two punch out of the backfield on a chilly day with some wintry mix at times. The Gophers were able to rack up 322 rushing yards and four scores on the ground, as Mohamed Ibrahim also got into the end zone three times to give the Gophers a nice three-pronged rushing attack. The good times should continue to roll next week at Rutgers.

Illinois is not stiff competition, but Smith absolutely dismantled them. On nearly ten yards per carry, Smith (5'11/210) was the core of a Minnesota offense that put up a season-high 40 points. Smith may have only punched in one score himself, but he was the primary reason the team got into scoring range time and time again. Smith will need another overwhelming performance to help take down Nebraska this weekend.

Smith (5'11/210) and Shannon Brooks proved to be a dynamic duo in this one, combining for 322 yards on the ground. The former was the true star, though, with his 211 yards rushing standing as a career-best mark. He ripped off a long run of 67 yards while averaging 8.8 YPC, notching an eight-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put the finishing touches on this victory. Smith has now topped 100 yards rushing in each of his last two games and has rushed for 536 yards across five contests overall. Nebraska shows next on Minnesota’s schedule.

Smith (5'11/210) found the end zone from two yards out early in the first quarter. While he wasn’t ripping it up for long gains left and right -- his longest dash went for 17 yards -- the redshirt senior was metronomic in his consistency, averaging a workmanlike 5.2 YPC. He was dealing with an oblique injury sustained against Georgia Southern last weekend, but ran without issue on Saturday. In four games this season, Smith has now rushed for 325 yards and two touchdowns. Up next on the docket for Smith and crew, a home date with Illinois.

Smith (5'11/210) managed to rush for 57 yards on 11 carries before leaving the 35-32 win over the Eagles in the second quarter. The off week gave the redshirt senior some extra time to recover, and Minnesota will open Big Ten play with its running backs fully healthy. Mohamed Ibrahim (foot) and Shannon Brooks (knee) are also available, with the latter set to make his 2019 debut after tearing his ACL last fall. In addition to that experienced trio, freshman Cam Wiley has been cleared after suffering a concussion during the Georgia Southern win.

Smith, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL, left the game in the second quarter after rushing for 57 yards on 11 carries. If the redshirt senior is unable to return after the halftime break, Bryce Williams and Cam Wiley will be asked to shoulder the load in the backfield. Minnesota is already without Mo Ibrahim (foot) and Shannon Brooks (knee).

Smith was playing in his first game since Week 2 of 2018, as the redshirt senior tore his ACL in the victory over Fresno State. He ran for nearly 2,100 yards and 19 touchdowns -- 16 of them in 2016 -- the previous two years, and while he wasn’t dominant, he looked solid in the opening win against a very good FCS team in South Dakota State. Mohamed Ibrahim is going to get his touches -- and he had a rushing touchdown on Thursday -- but Smith has a chance to put up big numbers in this system. He’ll look to build on this effort next Saturday when he faces Fresno State again.

South Dakota State will see a heavy dose of Smith (5'11/210) and Ibrahim, with the former making his return after suffering a torn ACL in the second game of the 2018 season. And there could be times when the two backs are on the field at the same time, as Fleck said before the start of fall camp that Smith could line up in the slot at times. The 2016 season was Smith’s best as a Golden Gopher, as he rushed for 1,158 yards and 16 touchdowns as the team’s feature back.