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Minnesota RB Shannon Brooks set to make 2019 debut against Purdue
By Dave Holcomb
Published:
Running back Shannon Brooks was once Minnesota’s top running back. Over the last two years, he’s dealt with a lot of injuries, but he’s preparing to make his 2019 debut Saturday against Purdue.
#Gophers running back Shannon Brooks is set to make his 2019 debut in the #B1G opener vs. Purdue on Saturday, coach PJ Fleck said Monday.
— Andy Greder (@andygreder) September 23, 2019
Brooks led Minnesota in rushing as a freshman with 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 2015. He nearly averaged 6.0 yards per carry that season.
As a sophomore, though, he lost carries to fellow sophomore Rodney Smith. Brooks still posted 650 rushing yards but Smith received 100 more carries than Brooks in 2016.
Then the injuries starting piling up for Brooks. He played in just six games during 2017 and then only one last year. He’s also missed the first three contests of 2019.
But Golden Gophers head coach PJ Fleck plans to use Brooks this weekend against Purdue.
Minnesota could surely use another playmaker on offense. Smith leads the team in rushing with 210 yards but is averaging only 3.9 yards per carry. Sophomore Mohamed Ibrahim is second for Minnesota with 124 rushing yards.
Brooks has 1,882 rushing yards 29 career college games.