Minnesota’s best running backs

Mohamed Ibrahim has the most rushing yards in Minnesota history, 4,668 from 2018 to 2022. Darius Taylor is 5th, with 2,672; 141 more passes Laurence Maroney for 4th.

Of the Big Ten’s best running backs since 2004, Mohamed Ibrahim is 6th.

Next: UCLA at Minnesota, Sat, Nov 7 · analysis

Minnesota’s running backs this season

TJ Thomas8 games, 47.6 a game381rushing yards
Darius Taylor7 games, 31.0 a game2,672 at Minnesota, the 10th-most in school history.217rushing yards
Xavier Ford7 games, 18.3 a game163 at Minnesota.128rushing yards

By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2004–09

rushing yards in Minnesota history

1Mohamed Ibrahim2018 – 20224,668
2Darrell Thompson1986 – 19894,518
3Rodney Smith2015 – 20194,125
4Laurence Maroney2003 – 20053,933
5Thomas Hamner1996 – 19993,810
6Marion Barber III2001 – 20043,276
7Chris Darkins1992 – 19953,235
8Marion Barber, Jr.1977 – 19803,087
9David Cobb2011 – 20142,896
10Darius Taylor2023 – 20252,455

Darius Taylor is 10th in school history at tonight’s number, with 2,672; 225 more passes David Cobb for 9th.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), through the 2025 season, which counts bowl games from 2002.

Compare with in · side by side

Every running back since 2004

Minnesota’s best running backs
Place	Player	rushing yards	rushing touchdowns	yards from scrimmage
1	Mohamed Ibrahim2018 – 2022 · 40 games	4,668	53	4,813
2	Rodney Smith2015 – 2019 · 52 games	4,122	29	4,643
3	David Cobb2011 – 2014 · 30 games	2,896	20	3,235
4	Laurence Maroney2004 – 2005 · 23 games	2,812	22	2,998
5	Darius Taylor2023 – 2026 · still playing	2,672	24	3,526
	+217 this season · passes Laurence Maroney for 4th in 5 games at his pace
6	Amir Pinnix2004 – 2007 · 33 games	2,439	18	2,643
7	Shannon Brooks2015 – 2019 · 36 games	2,290	20	2,603
8	Duane Bennett2007 – 2011 · 49 games	2,126	17	2,932
9	MarQueis Gray2009 – 2012 · 44 games	1,731	12	2,497
10	De'Leon Eskridge2008 – 2010 · 34 games	1,670	17	1,906
11	Donnell Kirkwood2010 – 2014 · 46 games	1,471	11	1,519
12	Gary Russell2004 – 2005 · 14 games	1,274	18	1,442
13	Marion Barber III2004 · 12 games	1,269	11	1,296
14	Trey Potts2019 – 2022 · 24 games	1,198	11	1,255
15	Bryce Williams2018 – 2023 · 41 games	1,097	12	1,325
16	Ky Thomas2021 · 9 games	824	6	868
17	Rodrick Williams Jr2012 – 2015 · 26 games	815	9	928
18	Kobe McCrary2016 – 2017 · 18 games	738	11	782
19	Bucky Irving2021 · 12 games	699	4	772
20	Jordan Nubin2022 – 2024 · 15 games	604	3	663
21	Jay Thomas2006 – 2009 · 21 games	464	5	598
22	Fame Ijeboi2024 – 2025 · 12 games	454	2	508
23	TJ Thomas2026 · still playing	381	1	475
	+381 this season
24	Kevin Whaley2009 · 11 games	367	2	373
25	Marcus Major Jr.2024 · 12 games	352	3	496

rushing yards by decade

2020s

Mohamed Ibrahim2020 – 2022 · 20 games2,904
› Darius Taylor2023 – 2026 · 35 games2,672
Trey Potts2020 – 2022 · 22 games1,147
Ky Thomas2021 · 9 games824
Bucky Irving2021 · 12 games699

2010s

Rodney Smith2015 – 2019 · 52 games4,122
David Cobb2011 – 2014 · 30 games2,896
Shannon Brooks2015 – 2019 · 36 games2,290
Mohamed Ibrahim2018 – 2019 · 20 games1,764
Donnell Kirkwood2010 – 2014 · 46 games1,471

2004–09

Laurence Maroney2004 – 2005 · 23 games2,812
Amir Pinnix2004 – 2007 · 33 games2,439
Gary Russell2004 – 2005 · 14 games1,274
Marion Barber III2004 · 12 games1,269
De'Leon Eskridge2008 – 2009 · 22 games972

Also at Minnesota: quarterbacks · wide receivers · tight ends · defenders · kickers · punters · Minnesota record book

Method

Every running back who played at Minnesota since 2004, ranked by rushing yards over his games there. Bowl and playoff games count.
The numbers here start in 2004, so a running back who played at Minnesota before then isn't here.
A decade counts his rushing yards at Minnesota in its seasons.
The record book's numbers are the school's own. Where they and the box scores differ for one player, the box scores are missing a game or count bowls another way.
A running back still playing at Minnesota is counted at tonight's numbers against the record book's, which run through the 2025 season.