It was a revolving door in seemingly every game for the Gophers last season in their running back room. It wasn’t just one thing either, as it was a culmination of injuries and inconsistent play. That’s what new running back coach Nic McKissic-Luke had to deal with each week: adjusting to who was healthy and playing well.
Looking forward to 2024, the media got to chat with second-year position coach McKissic-Luke for the first time since last season. And he’s proud of how those 2023 running backs didn’t back down from last year’s challenges.
“I’d say the biggest thing that stands out from last year is just the way those guys accepted the challenge,” McKissic-Luke said about what he’ll remember most about last year’s running back room. “Guys coming in that maybe you wouldn’t expect to play, and then play as much as they did and attacking that. Jordan Nubin being ready for his time is what’ll stand out to me.”
One place where Minnesota tried to build depth was in its running back room, with the additions of Oklahoma’s Marcus Major and Ohio’s Sieh Bangura. McKissic-Luke explains the two main things that made him want to pursue them.
“Size and speed, plus their experience of having success at the division one level,” McKissic-Luke detailed. “They’re really good players and they’re good players also. But getting more depth was a big point of emphasis this off-season. The one thing that you don’t want to have happen is an entire season one guy having 20, 30 or 40 carries every game. But we’re gonna do what we need to do to win a football game. You want to be able to have depth in your room, and also guys that can go win you a football game.”
When running back Darius Taylor was healthy last season, he was one of the best running backs in the Big Ten. The issue is he wasn’t healthy enough last season for Minnesota, and it’s something that he and McKissic-Luke are working on building in 2024.
“That has been the biggest emphasis this off-season has been working with Darius on taking care of his body. Doing the things he needs to do to make sure he lasts an entire season.
But what makes him special is his competitiveness. He’s a guy that wants to compete. Everything is a competition to him. Even in the meeting room. He’s always competing. Just the other day, the guys were having a conversation about who is the toughest. He’s always the one that wants to be the best in the room in everything.”
The Gophers have two true freshmen running backs going through spring practice right now in Jayden Wright and Ohifame Ijeboi. And I think we’re learning that McKissic-Luke certainly has a type he’s looking for in a tailback.
“What made me want to go after them in the recruiting process was their size and speed. They’re great players and they’re good in the open field. They can create, but in our offense, there’s a style of back that we want and they fit that…but for me, I like big backs. Guys that have a mindset to be a division one running back. Guys that can go from speed to power, instantly.
The biggest thing though is them understanding the game. Understanding what it takes to be a guy, but most of it is a mindset.”
As far as what changes he’s seen potentially in this 2024 offense, one that may have some fans excited.
“Right now, the biggest thing we have seen more of is being a receiver out of the backfield,” McKissic-Luke said. “Max Brosmer is a guy that has leadership that is second to none, but he’s a guy that also understands his progression. He loves to get to the checkdown. So we’re asking our room to be more receivers out of the backfield.”
We saw Darius Taylor break down after 90+ touches over 14 days in September, and then Jordan Nubin wasn’t the same player after his 40-carry game against Michigan State. But McKissic-Luke knows that, and he’ll take it all in stride.
“It’s all a game-by-game thing. We’re gonna do what we need to do to win that football game. Even with Darius, there’s no set amount of touches we want to see him get this season. It’s all week-by-week, but we’re excited to see what he does this year.”
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