MCCRARY KEEPS ON TRUCKING
Oct. 23, 2017
Gophers Host Nebraska on November 11
By Daniel Kobren, Athletic Communications Student Intern
The Minnesota offense has a pair and a spare at the running back position this season. Having a spare like Kobe McCrary is a luxury for the Maroon and Gold.
With Shannon Brooks sidelined against Illinois, McCrary knew he would have to step up.
“My mindset was to make sure that the running backs didn’t skip a beat,” McCrary said. “We lost Shannon (Brooks), and he is one of the best backs in the Big Ten, so I knew I had to step in and fill his role. We came in the game knowing we had to run the ball and dominate the line of scrimmage, so coach got me prepared to run hard like I did.”
McCrary earned more snaps in a crowded backfield with his impressive performance against Illinois. He finished the day with 24 carries for 153 yards along with a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
“He is so big and so powerful,” head coach P.J. Fleck said. “He runs hard, he has good vison and good feet. He has done a tremendous job. We have some guys banged up in the backfield and it is nice to have your spare be that big.”
McCrary had a hot hand from the start of the game. His first run was a 26-yard scamper on Minnesota’s opening touchdown drive. He only carried the ball three more times in the first half, but became the Gophers’ most dangerous weapon in the second half.
On Minnesota’s opening 12-play drive in the second half, McCrary carried the ball eight times, including seven straight times in the middle of the drive, for 63 yards. He had a knack for finding the sticks as five of his runs ended with the Gophers moving the chains. That drive ended in an Emmit Carpenter field goal and gave Minnesota a 10-7 lead.
Illinois tied the game in the fourth quarter. Minnesota turned to McCrary to carry the team and the senior delivered in a clutch way. McCrary put the team on his shoulders with five rushes for 25 yards. With Illini defenders all over him, McCrary lowered his shoulders, barreled through the line of scrimmage and found the end zone to give his team the lead.
While McCrary’s game against Illinois was one of his best as a Gopher, it is not the first time he has found success at TCF Bank Stadium. McCrary has carried the ball more than 10 times in a game three times. In those games the Chipley, Fla. native is averaging a staggering 145.3 yards rushing per game. The Gophers are also 4-0 when McCrary finds paydirt.
With McCrary’s success on Saturday, Fleck said that he is going to get more carries in the future.
“He is going to play a lot,” Fleck said after Saturday’s win. “He is earning himself play time by the way he runs the football.”
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102317aaa.html
Oct. 23, 2017
Gophers Host Nebraska on November 11
By Daniel Kobren, Athletic Communications Student Intern
The Minnesota offense has a pair and a spare at the running back position this season. Having a spare like Kobe McCrary is a luxury for the Maroon and Gold.
With Shannon Brooks sidelined against Illinois, McCrary knew he would have to step up.
“My mindset was to make sure that the running backs didn’t skip a beat,” McCrary said. “We lost Shannon (Brooks), and he is one of the best backs in the Big Ten, so I knew I had to step in and fill his role. We came in the game knowing we had to run the ball and dominate the line of scrimmage, so coach got me prepared to run hard like I did.”
McCrary earned more snaps in a crowded backfield with his impressive performance against Illinois. He finished the day with 24 carries for 153 yards along with a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
“He is so big and so powerful,” head coach P.J. Fleck said. “He runs hard, he has good vison and good feet. He has done a tremendous job. We have some guys banged up in the backfield and it is nice to have your spare be that big.”
McCrary had a hot hand from the start of the game. His first run was a 26-yard scamper on Minnesota’s opening touchdown drive. He only carried the ball three more times in the first half, but became the Gophers’ most dangerous weapon in the second half.
On Minnesota’s opening 12-play drive in the second half, McCrary carried the ball eight times, including seven straight times in the middle of the drive, for 63 yards. He had a knack for finding the sticks as five of his runs ended with the Gophers moving the chains. That drive ended in an Emmit Carpenter field goal and gave Minnesota a 10-7 lead.
Illinois tied the game in the fourth quarter. Minnesota turned to McCrary to carry the team and the senior delivered in a clutch way. McCrary put the team on his shoulders with five rushes for 25 yards. With Illini defenders all over him, McCrary lowered his shoulders, barreled through the line of scrimmage and found the end zone to give his team the lead.
While McCrary’s game against Illinois was one of his best as a Gopher, it is not the first time he has found success at TCF Bank Stadium. McCrary has carried the ball more than 10 times in a game three times. In those games the Chipley, Fla. native is averaging a staggering 145.3 yards rushing per game. The Gophers are also 4-0 when McCrary finds paydirt.
With McCrary’s success on Saturday, Fleck said that he is going to get more carries in the future.
“He is going to play a lot,” Fleck said after Saturday’s win. “He is earning himself play time by the way he runs the football.”
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102317aaa.html
