Taylor, Smith give Gophers reasons for optimism

A Detroit upbringing and a new position coach fuel his game 

Darius Taylor came to Dinkytown several seasons ago as a highly rated running back from Detroit. He eventually became one of the Big Ten’s best, a three-time conference Player of the Week honoree in his freshman season.

Taylor’s running back coach is former Gopher Mohamed Ibrahim, a two-time All-American and 2020 Big Ten Running Back of the Year, who went on to run in the NFL for two seasons before turning to coaching. This is Ibrahim’s first season as running backs coach.

“I say the biggest thing with Coach Mo is he’s given me the ability to have somebody to talk to on a personal level about the things that are going on in life, on the field, different things,” said Taylor on Ibrahim after meeting with local reporters. He and Ibrahim once were teammates, and the latter was his recruiting guide during the former’s official campus visit during high school.

“I think that’s something that sets him apart from other coaches I’ve had,” stressed the Gopher. “He was a friend before he was my coach. So, it’s been really cool to have him in and be able to have those conversations.”

The 6-foot, 215-pound Taylor played in 10 games last season, carried the ball 143 times for 670 yards and four touchdowns, and caught 34 passes for 245 yards. He missed three games due to injury.

Back in Motown, Taylor was All-State, All-Conference and All-Metro at Walled Lake Western High School, outside Detroit in Walled Lake, Mich. He later enrolled in Minnesota in January 2023. But the Minnesota back didn’t leave behind his roots, his inner passion to succeed back at home.

“I think coming out of Detroit, that’s allowed me to be the way I am,” Taylor said

“Just how hard I work and how hard I wanted to play, I wanted to get my family in a better situation,” said Taylor on his life growing up as one of seven siblings, the only male among six sisters.

“My family would say I was born with it,” said Taylor of his Detroit toughness and corresponding passion. He runs so hard with every carry.

Before speaking with us, Taylor told reporters when asked about his goal of staying healthy this season, “I understand how to fluctuate my weight. I’m able to go up in weight, go down in weight because I’m paying attention to those macros and how much calories I’m taking in.”

Taylor is on the Maxwell Football Club’s watch list for the outstanding college football player award, one of 17 Big Ten players and one of 30 running backs put on the list last month.

The Gophers open their 2026 season Thursday, Sept. 3, at home against Eastern Illinois. Taylor said the key is for him and his mates to “stick together … not getting too up and too low, staying even keel and understanding that the job’s not finished,” he concluded. “We have to keep going and finish the game.”

A shot at a title brought the sack leader back for one more year 

Anthony Smith could have entered the NFL Draft this past spring, but opted to return to Minnesota for his fifth season as a redshirt-senior defensive lineman.

The 6-6 player told reporters during media day in late July, “I’m going to my second year of being an actual true starter. Being a leader on this team, I definitely have learned a lot from last year.”

Last season, Smith had 17.5 tackles for loss and led the Big Ten with 12.5 sacks. He made All-Big Ten in 2025 and has 31 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks for his career.

Speaking to MSR, the young man recalled a recent experience with NFL defensive players that gave him a fresh perspective as he enters his final collegiate season: “I was one of two college players that got invited to it. It’s called the Sacks Summit. I think there were 60 NFL players there,” Smith pointed out.

“I was very fortunate and very blessed that I got invited to go out there,” said Smith. “I got to be the young pup that weekend” as opposed to his current status with the Gophers. “I’m the old head of the group,” he said, smiling but matter-of-factly.

Coming back to Minnesota actually was a no-brainer for Smith, the Shippensburg, Pa. native: “I think every single year we’ve fell short” of winning the conference or getting into a bigger bowl, he reiterated. “We’re very fortunate to have the (2025) season that we had,” he said of the Gophers’ 8-5 overall record, tied for seventh in the conference with a 5-4 mark and Rate Bowl winner.

“I think this year is the year that we’re going to do it,” predicted Smith of the 2026 season, which starts Thursday, Sept. 3, at home against Eastern Illinois.

Along with being named preseason All-Big Ten, Smith is one of 50 players on the 2026 Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year watch list, one of only nine defensive players on the list.

Finally, when this reporter remarked on Smith’s looking slim and trim for this fall, “Seriously, I’m heavier. I’m 285 right now,” he said proudly.