Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck opened his weekly press conference in a somber tone Monday, announcing that star running back Mohamed Ibrahim would be out for the remainder of the 2021 campaign.

“Mo sustained an injury which you know and will have season-ending surgery tomorrow, on a lower-leg,” Fleck said. “Unfortunately it will end his year, 2021, not career-ending, he will make a full recovery from it.”

Ibrahim entered his redshirt senior season with a plethora of preseason accolades. After being named preseason second-team AP All-America as well as being named to the Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award watchlists, he was expected to be one of the best running backs in the country this season.

After recording 30 carries for 163 rushing yards in less than three quarters of play against Ohio State, you could only expect that Ibrahim was down a path for success.

“You feel really really bad for the young man, there is no replacing Mohamed Ibrahim,” Fleck said.

The Gophers will now look ahead to their week two matchup with the Redhawks of Miami (OH). With Ibrahim now out, redshirt-sophomores Treyson Potts and Cam Wiley will likely assume a much larger role at the running back position alongside redshirt-junior Bryce Williams.

“He [Ibrahim] has got a smile on his face, and everything happens somewhat for a reason he feels,” Fleck said.