Gophers star redshirt-senior running back Mohamed Ibrahim underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday, leaving the team with the daunting task of replacing the massive hole left in their offense.

The Gophers relied heavily on Ibrahim against Ohio State in week one. He had 30 carries in less than three quarters, and was later forced to leave the game with a lower-leg injury.

Last season, Ibrahim averaged a program-best 153.7 rushing yards per game en route to totaling 1,076 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in only seven games.

After his prolific redshirt-junior campaign, Ibrahim became one of the most accomplished running backs in college football and was expected to be one of the best running backs in the country this season. He was named to the AP 2021 Preseason All-America Second Team and was added to the Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award watchlists.

After accumulating 163 yards in last week’s game, Ibrahim moved into eighth place in career rushing yards (3,003) in Gophers program history. Whether we have seen the last of him in a Gophers uniform or not, he will go down as an all-time great.

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

“Next man up” is a phrase commonly used in football, and the Gophers will have to do just that as they attempt to replace their star running back.

The Gophers will likely deploy a stable of running backs instead of using just one. The group will likely be led by redshirt-sophomores Trey Potts and Cam Wiley, alongside redshirt-junior Bryce Williams. They also have a very talented group of young backs led by redshirt-freshman Ky Thomas and freshman Mar’Keise “Bucky” Irving.

“Every back is going to be able to get a look…every one of those backs can play football and whoever the best ones that complement each other really well from this point forward are going to play,” Fleck said.

Potts was the clear No. 2 option in the Gophers week one contest with Ohio State. The Williamsport, Pa. native recorded 10 carries for 34 rushing yards, which were both second on the team. He also added one catch for 12 yards in the passing game. His 36 career carries for 206 yards both rank No. 4 on the team.

“Everybody knows what Trey can do, but he has gotten a lot better,” Fleck said. “Trey is going to be able to take a lot of that load upon himself, but not all of it.”

Wiley was third on the team with three carries for four yards in week one. He is now No. 3 on the team in career rushing attempts and yards with 43 carries for 215 yards in his now three-year career.

“He’s got to continue to get better, and play lower and do some other things,” Fleck said.

Williams also played a role with one carry for two yards. As of now, he is the most experienced running back on the roster, it is fair to expect that his role will expand. His 140 career-carries for 541 rushing yards both rank No. 2 on the team.

“Bryce Williams has played a ton of football for us,” Fleck said. “in 2018 at Miami (OH) he rushed for 150 yards.”

Irving and Thomas have yet to record a carry in their Gophers careers, but Fleck has been impressed by their talent.

“Bucky is a really talented back, he is just young, so hopefully we’re able to get him in the mix as well,” Fleck said. “Ky Thomas is the type of guy that has that physicality too.”

The Gophers’ week two opponent Miami (OH) will be a great measuring test for their running back group. When the Gophers defeated the Redhawks 26-3 in 2018, Williams recorded a team-high 33 carries for 141 yards, but this time they will likely need all hands on deck.

“We have a lot of numbers, but you haven’t seen a lot of them, because Mohamed has been so good,” Fleck said.