Short-yardage / goal-line · enumeration
Who gets the tough yard
9/17Inside-5 share
9 of the team's 17 inside-the-5 carries (52.9%).
Darius Taylor
Rushing yards217253rd of 278 running backsLast gameL 16–23at Indiana · Oct 31
Nextvs UCLASat Nov 7 · 12 pm ET
- touchdown
Akron · W 41-7
No carries.
Indiana · L 16-23
7 carries, 43 yards
The other 6 games average 29 yards. This one was 14 above.
Taylor has carries in 7 of Minnesota’s 8 games: none against Akron.
Dashed line: 100 yards.
This week
- RecordMinnesota is 5-3.
- From the game thread
“Darius Taylor wildcat Hail Mary who says no”
- Next gamevs UCLA · Sat Nov 7
What’s being said
11 stories in the last 60 days, from 8 outlets.
His most important play this season
The story
Written , before the 2026 season
The discourse around Taylor in Dinkytown has nothing to do with whether he's good and everything to do with whether he'll be available. He's the back beat writers call the "film junkie's favorite," the centerpiece Fleck builds an offense around, and in 2025 he played eight games and gave you a season-shaped tease: a Week 2 hamstring that cost him Cal and Rutgers, a return, then another flare-up against Iowa. The counting line read like a down year — 670 yards, 4 touchdowns on 4.7 a pop — but the local read is that the number lies. In every game he carried it 19-plus times, he cleared 100 yards, including the home wins over Nebraska and Wisconsin. That's the whole Taylor paradox in one stat.
Read the rest of the story
The data underneath 2025 looks brutal if you don't know the context — 12th percentile in EPA per carry, 11th percentile in success rate among Big Ten backs — but that's not a talent reading, it's an injury reading: a hamstrung back grinding through stuff he had no burst for. The Daily Gopher and the beat writers aren't projecting decline; they're projecting a bounce-back, Resolves 2027-01-20.PENDING, with redshirt-sophomore QB Drake Lindsey needing exactly the kind of ground game Taylor provides when whole.
So the stake the boards keep circling is simple and a little cruel: not can he, but can he stay. Taylor signed with Dinkytown Athletes and came back specifically to author the healthy senior year his first three seasons never let him finish. If the hamstrings hold, 2026 is the season the tape and the box score finally agree.
The record
A falsifiable call from this player's outlook. Not yet gradeable.
What we said
the 1,000-yard year everyone's penciling in actually shows up
Graded as: at least 1,000 rushing YDS in 2026.
What happened
Resolves 2027-01-20.
PENDINGSources
Style of play
Style of play
Play style, written June 30, before the season
On tape a contact-balance, vision-and-patience between-the-tackles back with second-level wiggle; on the 2025 play-by-play, an injury-flattened version of himself. His explosive-run rate landed 40th percentile, but the efficiency and consistency markers cratered — 12th percentile EPA per carry, 6th percentile rushing success rate, and a 29th-percentile per-carry mark — the profile of a back with no burst to spare, which is exactly what a season of hamstring flare-ups produces. As a receiver he's a complementary outlet, not a weapon: 58th-percentile catch rate on volume but 17th-percentile EPA per target and 7th-percentile explosive-target rate. Read it as a healthy-vs-hurt readout, not a ceiling.
Similar players
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
37% of the carries, 27% of the yards, 56% of the touchdowns
- Carries37%83 of 226
- Yards27%217 of 812
- Touchdowns56%5 of 9
- Yards a carry: 2.6. Everyone else on the team: 4.2.
- A touchdown every 16.6 carries. Everyone else on the team: one every 35.8.
Who carried it
- TJ Thomas Jr.381 yards, 64 carries, 1 touchdown
- Darius Taylor217 yards, 83 carries, 5 touchdowns
- Xavier Ford128 yards, 29 carries, 1 touchdown
- A.J. Turner44 yards, 10 carries, 1 touchdown
- Noah Jennings32 yards, 2 carries
- 6 others49 yards
Share of the team's total this season.
Most of his carries go up the middle
1020304033
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each line is one carry: taller means more yards, and a line pointing down lost yards. Black lines are touchdowns. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside each lane the carries are lined up shortest to longest, not placed. Of his carries with a spot in the play text: left 13, middle 41, right 14.
In the news in the last 60 days
from 8 outlets
Darius Taylor Out for Minnesota - College Football News | Fantasy CFB
RotoBaller Sep 19 · 1 outlet
In the news this season
from 9 outlets
Darius Taylor rushes for one-yard TD giving Minnesota lead over Iowa
FOX Sports Oct 24 · 1 outlet
What they’re talking about
Preview and matchup2 stories
- Bring Me the SportsGophers-Akron preview: Darius Taylor’s uncertainty, MACtion and everything else to knowSep 17
Performance and stat line2 stories
Win2 stories
Week by week
- Oct 29 to Nov 4L 16-23 at IndianaNo stories
- Oct 22 to Oct 28W 13-10 vs Iowa1 storyDarius Taylor rushes for one-yard TD giving Minnesota lead over Iowa FOX Sports
- Oct 15 to Oct 21No game1 story
- Oct 8 to Oct 14L 13-41 at PurdueNo stories
- Oct 1 to Oct 7W 20-14 vs MichiganNo stories
- Sep 24 to Sep 30W 27-24 at WashingtonNo stories
- Sep 17 to Sep 23W 41-7 vs Akron8 storiesGophers-Washington availability reports: Could Darius Taylor return for Big Ten opener?
Star Tribune - Sep 10 to Sep 16L 13-38 vs Mississippi State1 story
- Sep 3 to Sep 9W 59-7 vs Eastern Illinois3 storiesLive: Javon Tracy has two punt return TDs, Darius Taylor three rush TDs as Gophers are romping past Eastern Illinois Star Tribune
- Aug 6 to Aug 12No game1 storyMost Indispensable Gophers: No. 3 Running Back Darius Taylor
247Sports - Aug 1 to Aug 5No game2 storiesMinnesota star running back Darius Taylor named to Maxwell Award Watch List
On3
Each week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
In the game threads
vs Iowa, Oct 24Why is Darius Taylor getting that handoff?Nebraska fan, r/CFB game threadat Purdue, Oct 10with Danny collins and greg Harbaugh with Darius Taylor tooMinnesota fan, r/CFB game threadNamed in
- Darius Taylor rushes for one-yard TD giving Minnesota lead over Iowa
- Darius Taylor Out for Minnesota - College Football News | Fantasy CFB
- Gophers will play without injured Darius Taylor against Akron
- Gophers RB Darius Taylor Out vs. Akron with Injury
- Darius Taylor gets brutal injury update ahead of Minnesota matchup vs. Akron
More stories
- Minnesota leading rusher Darius Taylor misses win over Akron
- Gophers-Akron preview: Darius Taylor’s uncertainty, MACtion and everything else to know
- Gophers run game is stuck in neutral. Can they get it going with Darius Taylor’s status uncertain?
- Live: Javon Tracy has two punt return TDs, Darius Taylor three rush TDs as Gophers are romping past Eastern Illinois
- Javon Tracy, Darius Taylor lead Minnesota to blowout victory over Eastern Illinois
- Minnesota star running back Darius Taylor named to Maxwell Award Watch List
Where to follow
Career stats
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Last game (Wk 9): 43 rushing yards, 3 catches.
Game log
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 7 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 59-7vs Eastern Illinois | 14 | 56 | 4.0 | 3 | 27 | Season-high 56 yds |
| Wk 2 | L 13-38vs Mississippi State | 6 | 15 | 2.5 | 0 | 5 | |
| Wk 4 | W 27-24@ Washington | 19 | 36 | 1.9 | 0 | 11 | |
| Wk 5 | W 20-14vs Michigan | 18 | 32 | 1.8 | 1 | 7 | |
| Wk 6 | L 13-41@ Purdue | 7 | 15 | 2.1 | 0 | 5 | |
| Wk 8 | W 13-10vs No. 15 Iowa | 12 | 20 | 1.7 | 1 | 5 | |
| Wk 9 | L 16-23@ No. 4 Indiana | 7 | 43 | 6.1 | 0 | 19 | |
| Total | 83 | 217 | 2.6 | 5 | 27 |
The latest game
Oct. 31 · L 16-23 at Indiana, play by play
7 carries for 43 yards, his most this season. He also caught 3 passes for 1 yards.
- 2 went 10+ yards
- 1 stopped at or behind the line
- 2 moved the chains
- 3 catches for 1 yds
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 0 for 0, 3 rec1
- Second quarterbegan down 7-3
- 3 for 92
- Third quarterbegan up 10-7
- 2 for 16
- Fourth quarterbegan tied 10-10
- 2 for 183
- FinalL 16-23
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
- 1
4-yard catch on 3rd and 22. First quarter, down 7-3.
- 2
Incomplete on 3rd and 9. Second quarter, up 10-7. Broken up by Indiana’s J. Savage.
- 3
19-yard run. Fourth quarter, tied 13-13.
The season, game by game
W 13-10 vs IowaOct. 2420 yds12 carries, 1 TD
12 carries for 20 yards and a touchdown. He converted a 4th and 1 with the score tied 3-3.
- 0 went 10+ yards
- 3 stopped at or behind the line
- 1 moved the chains
- 1 catch for 11 yds
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 3 for 6
- Second quarterbegan up 3-0
- 2 for 2
- Third quarterbegan tied 3-3
- 2 for 2, 1 rec, 1 TD12
- Fourth quarterbegan up 10-3
- 5 for 103
- FinalW 13-10
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
- 1
1-yard touchdown run on 4th and 1. Third quarter, made it 10-3.
- 2
11-yard catch. Third quarter, up 10-3.
- 3
2-yard run on 3rd and 13. Fourth quarter, tied 10-10.
10203040
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
4 more games, with the play by play
L 13-41 at PurdueOct. 1015 yds7 carries
7 carries for 15 yards. He also caught 7 passes for 51 yards.
- of the 6 carries drawn:
- 0 went 10+ yards
- 0 stopped at or behind the line
- 0 moved the chains
- 7 catches for 51 yds
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 2 for 4
- Second quarterbegan down 10-0
- 2 for 4, 2 rec
- Third quarterbegan down 20-3
- 1 for 1, 3 rec1
- Fourth quarterbegan down 27-13
- 1 for 1, 2 rec2
- FinalL 13-41
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
The per-play feed is missing a 5-yard run in the second quarter (the play drew a penalty), which the play text shows; the chart draws the 6 carries it has.
- 1
14-yard catch on 3rd and 9. Third quarter, down 27-3. Converted.
- 2
1-yard run on 4th and 2. Fourth quarter, down 34-13. Turnover on downs.
10203040
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
W 20-14 vs MichiganOct. 332 yds18 carries, 1 TD
18 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, with Minnesota ahead by one score, he carried 4 times for 5 yards. He also caught 3 passes for 32 yards.
- 0 went 10+ yards
- 5 stopped at or behind the line
- 5 moved the chains
- 3 catches for 32 yds
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 2 for -1, 1 rec, 1 TD1
- Second quarterbegan up 7-0
- 6 for 1423
- Third quarterbegan down 14-7
- 5 for 13, 1 rec4
- Fourth quarterbegan down 14-10
- 5 for 6, 1 rec, 1 TD
- FinalW 20-14
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
- 1
33-yard catch. First quarter, tied 0-0.
- 2
3-yard loss on 3rd and 2. Second quarter, tied 7-7.
- 3
6-yard run on 3rd and 2. Second quarter, tied 7-7. Converted.
- 4
4-yard catch on 3rd and 11. Third quarter, down 14-7.
1020304033
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
W 27-24 at WashingtonSept. 2636 yds19 carries
19 carries for 36 yards. He also caught 4 passes for 36 yards.
- of the 18 carries drawn:
- 1 went 10+ yards
- 6 stopped at or behind the line
- 4 moved the chains
- 4 catches for 36 yds
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 6 for 20, 1 rec123
- Second quarterbegan up 14-0
- 3 for 9, 3 rec4
- Third quarterbegan up 21-10
- 5 for 4
- Fourth quarterbegan up 24-10
- 4 for 10
- FinalW 27-24
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
The per-play feed is missing 1 of his carries (-7 yards), which the play text shows; the chart draws the 18 carries it has.
- 1
No gain on 3rd and 6. First quarter, tied 0-0.
- 2
No gain on 3rd and 2. First quarter, tied 0-0.
- 3
1-yard run on 3rd and 1. First quarter, up 7-0. Converted.
- 4
18-yard catch. Second quarter, up 14-7.
10203040
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
L 13-38 vs Mississippi StateSept. 1215 yds6 carries
6 carries for 15 yards. He converted a 4th and 1 with Minnesota down 7-0.
- 0 went 10+ yards
- 1 stopped at or behind the line
- 2 moved the chains
- 1 catch for 5 yds
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 6 for 1512
- Third quarterbegan down 28-6
- 0 for 0, 1 rec
- FinalL 13-38
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
- 1
2-yard run on 3rd and 1. First quarter, down 7-0. Converted.
- 2
5-yard run on 4th and 1. First quarter, down 7-0. Converted.
10203040
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
Signature game
Week 1 · 2026
W 59-7
56 rush yds (14 car) · 3 TD · 3 rec · 31 yds
Dominant 52-point win at home against Eastern Illinois.
With J. Tracy — 5 rec · 98 yds · D. Lindsey — 264 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · QBR 86.2
Signature plays
The plays that mattered most
- Week 6 · Purdue · 4th and 2 · Q4 · EPA −4.13D.Taylor rush middle for 1 yard gain to the Min41 (J.Hayden; B.Ishmail), TURNOVER ON DOWNS
- Week 6 · Purdue · 3rd and 9 · Q3 · EPA +3.02Lindsey to Taylor: a 14-yard pass.
- Week 8 · Iowa · 4th and 1 · Q3 · EPA +2.79D.Taylor rush middle for 1 yard gain for a touchdown
- Week 1 · Eastern Illinois · 1st and 10 · Q2 · EPA +2.74D.Taylor rush middle for 27 yards gain for a touchdown
- Week 1 · Eastern Illinois · 3rd and 7 · Q1 · EPA +2.66Lindsey to Taylor: a 19-yard pass.
- Week 1 · Eastern Illinois · 3rd and 3 · Q2 · EPA +2.62D.Taylor rush middle for 3 yards gain for a touchdown. The previous play is under automatic review - "Runner was not down by contact". CALL UPHELD
4 more plays
- Week 5 · Michigan · 2nd and 3 · Q4 · EPA +2.21Lindsey to Taylor: a 3-yard touchdown pass.
- Week 4 · Washington · 2nd and 11 · Q2 · EPA +2.12Lindsey to Taylor: a 16-yard pass.
- Week 2 · Mississippi State · 4th and 1 · Q1 · EPA +1.85D.Taylor rush left for 5 yards gain (T.Lockhart)
- Week 1 · Eastern Illinois · 2nd and 5 · Q2 · EPA −1.75D.Taylor rush left for 3 yards loss (L.Burt)
Where he ranks
Rush yards217tied for 253rdAmong 278 backs with 40 or more carries
Yards / carry2.6278thAmong 278 backs with 40 or more carries
Rush TDs5tied for 56thAmong 278 backs with 40 or more carries
Long run27tied for 205thAmong 278 backs with 40 or more carries
Carries83tied for 103rdAmong 278 backs with 40 or more carries
Rec yards16716thAmong 273 backs with 40 or more carries
Receptions2214thAmong 273 backs with 40 or more carries
317th in rushing yards, among all 1,551 FBS players with a rushing row this season, any position
Rushing yards21714th among current FBS players over the whole career (2,672).
Rushing touchdowns5tied for 9th in the Big Ten this season; tied for 28th among current FBS players over the whole career (24).
Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.
Opponents faced, by strength
Ratings of the games shown run from +0 to +24 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Rushing profile
Rush profile · Shape, efficiency, and ball security
How he gets his yards, and how often it works
81 of 83 carries matched to play-by-play
Success rate
33%81 carriesStuffed
0 or fewer yds25%of carries
20 carries
Grind
1–3 yds42%of carries
34 carries
Chunk
4–9 yds28%of carries
23 carries
Explosive
10+ yds5%of carries
4 carries
5 of 8 (62%) converted on 3rd/4th & short (≤2 to go) · 4 of 9 (44%) scored from inside the 5-yard line
2.6 yds/carry on 83 carries · 5% explosive (10+ yds) · 33% success rate.
Receiving profile
Receiver profile · Targets, catch rate, and throw depth
How often he's targeted, and how well it works
22 of 22 receptions matched to play-by-play
31 of 31 targets charted for true throw depth
Targets
3112% of team targetsCatch rate
71%22 of 31 targetsBehind LOS · Negative air yds
42% of targets (13)
85%catch rate
Air -3.6 · YAC 7.7 avg
Short · 0–9 air yds
55% of targets (17)
59%catch rate
Air 2.9 · YAC 6.1 avg
Middle · 10–19 air yds
3% of targets (1)
100%catch rate
Air 17.0 · YAC 16.0 avg
71% catch rate on 31 targets · 12% of the team's targets.
Teams and coaches
4 seasons under P.J. Fleck — 27-20 over that span.
2023Minnesota6-7HC: P.J. Fleck · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2024Minnesota8-5HC: P.J. Fleck · Balanced
2025Minnesota8-5HC: P.J. Fleck · Balanced, slow tempo
2026Minnesota5-3HC: P.J. Fleck · Balanced, slow tempo
Our ratings
Splits
Home and road splits, scheme and staff
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 7 games
Home vs Road
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home4g | 30.8 | 2.5 | 1.2 |
| Road3g | 31.3 | 3.4 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-75g | 30.8 | 2.5 | 0.8 |
| Weeks 8+2g | 31.5 | 3.9 | 0.5 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
P.J. Fleck
Pass share
54.3%
269 pass / 226 run
Plays / game
61.9
8 games
Team sack rate
3.5%
289 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced, slow tempo.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Starter
83 carries and 22 catches in 7 games, more touches a game than most FBS running backs who play every week.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
37 · #258 of 330 RBs · through 7 games
Former four-star. Now #258 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #16 of 44 Big Ten RBs
How the All-Big Ten base rate is computed
A base rate for the rank, not a forecast of this player: 22% of returning players who ranked #11–20 at their position in their conference made an all-conference team the next season (95% confidence interval 19–25%).
Starter
Returning starter at running back for a 8-5 Minnesota team that went -1 in the portal.
Four seasons at Minnesota
2026 is in progress.
- 2026 Minnesota FleckYear 4 · 7 games
- 2025 Minnesota FleckYear 3 · 10 games
- 2024 Minnesota FleckYear 2 · 12 games
- 2023 Minnesota FleckYear 1 · 6 games
- High school Walled Lake WesternWalled Lake, MI · Class of 2023Four-star, No. 351 in the 2023 class. Signed with Minnesota.Also from Walled Lake Western: Aidan Vaughan (Liberty), Koen Entringer (Louisville), Lucas Hoffmeyer (Central Michigan) and 1 more.
Honored in a first season.
The week the volume broke through — put up 148 yds vs Nebraska.Nebraska · W 24-62025
2023 6 games
- Signed with MinnesotaFour-star, out of Walled Lake Western
2024 12 games
The role got bigger.
- All-Big Ten
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Minnesota
Played every college season under P.J. Fleck.