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Photo by: Bjorn Franke
Four Gophers Invited to NFL Combine
2/8/2023 12:13:00 PM | Football
Howden, Ibrahim, Schmitz and Smith Heading to Indianapolis
MINNEAPOLIS – Four members of the University of Minnesota football team have been invited to Indianapolis later this month to represent the Golden Gophers at the 2023 NFL Combine.
Defensive back Jordan Howden, running back Mohamed Ibrahim, offensive lineman John Michael Schmitz and defensive back Terrell Smith have all been invited to the annual showcase in front of NFL personnel, Feb. 28 through March 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Howden started 12 games at safety for Minnesota this year and made 51 tackles (34 solo). He had 2.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and two interceptions. An All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honoree this past season, Howden participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl earlier this month. In his career, he played in 57 games for the Gophers and made 233 tackles (162 solo) with 4.5 tackles for loss, 19 pass breakups and four career interceptions.
Ibrahim heads to the Combine after a record-breaking career with the Golden Gophers. He finished his time in the Maroon and Gold with career school records for rushing yards (4,668), rushing yards per game (113.9), rushing touchdowns (53), total touchdowns (53), 100-yard rushing games (24), 200-yard rushing games (5). This year, he established Gopher single-season school records for rushing yards (1,665), rushing touchdowns (20), rushing attempts (320), total touchdowns (20) and points (120).
Among Ibrahim's other highlights was a 19-game streak of at least 100 yards rushing, the longest such streak in the FBS since at least 2000. He was tabbed a second-team All-American by the AFCA, AP, FWAA and Walter Camp, and Ibrahim was part of the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl.
Schmitz played in 57 games in his career for the Golden Gophers with 35 starts at center. This past season, he was named a First-Team All-American by the AP and FWAA and a second-teamer by the AFCA and Walter Camp. He was the first Gopher to be a First-Team All-American since Antoine Winfield Jr. in 2019 and the first such offensive lineman since Greg Eslinger in 2005. A finalist for the Rimington Trophy and semifinalist for the Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award, Schmitz was PFF's highest-graded offensive lineman for 2022.
Smith came on strong in his fifth season at Minnesota, starting all 13 contests at cornerback. He made 38 tackles (34 solo) and had 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks, broke up five passes, had two interceptions and forced one fumble. For his efforts, he was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and participated in the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl.
This is the second straight season, and third time in the last four years, that Minnesota has sent four to the NFL Combine. Last year, Blaise Andries, Daniel Faalele, Boye Mafe and Esezi Otomewo all went to Indianapolis; the latter three of which were later drafted, while Andries spent time in the Miami Dolphins organization.
Defensive back Jordan Howden, running back Mohamed Ibrahim, offensive lineman John Michael Schmitz and defensive back Terrell Smith have all been invited to the annual showcase in front of NFL personnel, Feb. 28 through March 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Howden started 12 games at safety for Minnesota this year and made 51 tackles (34 solo). He had 2.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and two interceptions. An All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honoree this past season, Howden participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl earlier this month. In his career, he played in 57 games for the Gophers and made 233 tackles (162 solo) with 4.5 tackles for loss, 19 pass breakups and four career interceptions.
Ibrahim heads to the Combine after a record-breaking career with the Golden Gophers. He finished his time in the Maroon and Gold with career school records for rushing yards (4,668), rushing yards per game (113.9), rushing touchdowns (53), total touchdowns (53), 100-yard rushing games (24), 200-yard rushing games (5). This year, he established Gopher single-season school records for rushing yards (1,665), rushing touchdowns (20), rushing attempts (320), total touchdowns (20) and points (120).
Among Ibrahim's other highlights was a 19-game streak of at least 100 yards rushing, the longest such streak in the FBS since at least 2000. He was tabbed a second-team All-American by the AFCA, AP, FWAA and Walter Camp, and Ibrahim was part of the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl.
Schmitz played in 57 games in his career for the Golden Gophers with 35 starts at center. This past season, he was named a First-Team All-American by the AP and FWAA and a second-teamer by the AFCA and Walter Camp. He was the first Gopher to be a First-Team All-American since Antoine Winfield Jr. in 2019 and the first such offensive lineman since Greg Eslinger in 2005. A finalist for the Rimington Trophy and semifinalist for the Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award, Schmitz was PFF's highest-graded offensive lineman for 2022.
Smith came on strong in his fifth season at Minnesota, starting all 13 contests at cornerback. He made 38 tackles (34 solo) and had 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks, broke up five passes, had two interceptions and forced one fumble. For his efforts, he was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and participated in the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl.
This is the second straight season, and third time in the last four years, that Minnesota has sent four to the NFL Combine. Last year, Blaise Andries, Daniel Faalele, Boye Mafe and Esezi Otomewo all went to Indianapolis; the latter three of which were later drafted, while Andries spent time in the Miami Dolphins organization.
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