29 August 2024
Gophers’ top receiver Daniel Jackson is expected to play in the season opener against North Carolina at Huntington Bank Stadium at 8 p.m. Thursday, according to the Gophers unavailability report published two hours before kickoff.
However, U running back Darius Taylor is listed as out. Taylor injured his leg during the final open-to-media practice on Aug. 13. He was the Gophers’ leading rusher last season with 799 yards and five touchdowns in six games.
Without Taylor, the Gophers will likely give the majority of the carries to Oklahoma transfer Marcus Major as well as Seth Bangura and Jordan Nubin.
Jackson missed multiple weeks of preseason camp with an undisclosed issue. He was absent on Aug. 6 and again on Aug. 13. Jackson was their U’s leading receiver last year with 59 receptions for 831 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Gophers’ other key absence is safety Darius Green, who missed the start of camp with an off-the-field issue. Third string tight end Pierce Walsh is also listed as out.
Minnesota listed four season-ending injuries: offensive lineman Jerome Williams, defensive lineman Sam Macy, running back Jaydon Wright and defensive back Simon Seidl.
Defensive linemen Theorin Randle and Jaylin Hicks and walk-on tailback back Kaeden Johnson are also out.
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