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Taylor Darius
Photo by: Brad Rempel

Taylor Repeats as Big Ten Freshman of the Week

9/18/2023 10:10:00 AM | Football

Minnesota's first back-to-back winner since Shannon Brooks in 2015

University of Minnesota running back Darius Taylor was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week today after a standout performance at North Carolina. This is the second straight week that Taylor has received the honor.  

Taylor, who is a true freshman, gained 138 yards and scored one touchdown on 22 carries against the Tar Heels. He also caught one pass for 25 yards. 

A week ago, he rushed 33 times for 193 yards (second most in school history for a true freshman behind Darrell Thompson who had 205 yards against Bowling Green in 1986) and one touchdown against Eastern Michigan. Taylor is the first Minnesota true freshman to rush for more than 100 yards in consecutive games since the 2021 season and just the second to do so since 2003. 

In his past two games, Taylor has paced the Gophers with 55 rushes for 331 yards (6.0 ypc) and two touchdowns. Taylor's 2‐yard touchdown run with 30 seconds left in the first half at North Carolina was his second in as many games. 

He rushed 12 times for 66 yards and the score in the first half against the Tar Heels, including two runs of more than 10 yards. Taylor had four rushes of more than 10 yards in the game, giving him 10 this season.

Taylor is Minnesota's first repeat Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree since running back Shannon Brooks, who claimed the honor on November 16 and November 23 in 2015. 

Minnesota's Big Ten Football Players of the Week 
Sept. 18

Darius Taylor (Freshman)

Sept. 11
Darius Taylor (Freshman) 

Sept. 5
Dragan Kesich (Special Teams) 
Tyler Nubin (Defensive)
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