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David Pollack lists Darius Taylor as Minnesota's player to watch in 2025

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•07/02/25
Darius Taylor

Minnesota running back Darius Taylor is one of the best returning players in the country. He’s also an absolute key for the Golden Gophers this fall.

Highlighting the top players to watch on each team ahead of the 2025 campaign, former Georgia superstar turned analyst David Pollack had an easy pick when he got to Minnesota. It’s hard to pick anyone but Taylor.

“Minnesota, the Golden Gophers, I’ve got running back Darius Taylor,” Pollack said of his top Minnesota player to watch in 2025. “You should know who he is, but Minnesota running backs are always very similar. Like they’re just, they’re rugged, they’re tough. They don’t get tackled very often. They break tackles. There’s just something about them.”

Darius Taylor is coming off a season in which he nearly hit 1,000 yards on the ground. He finished with 986 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing, while also adding 54 catches for 350 yards and two touchdowns.

He had three multi-touchdown games, including a three-score outing in a win over Nevada. Better yet, the system sets up for him to run wild in 2025.

“PJ Fleck is an interesting bird. I like him a lot, man,” Pollack said. “Spending time around PJ and his energy, I just like his system and how he talks to his guys, and they love the crap out of him, man. They love him, they fight for him. But their running back spot, you can always count on him, man. They’re going to be tough, they’re going to break tackles. And last year watching Darius Taylor, consistently did it. Like consistently made plays.”

Darius Taylor ran for 144 yards against No. 11 USC. He tallied 143 yards on the road at Wisconsin. He also topped 100 yards in the bowl game against Virginia Tech and that Nevada contest.

So while there are some questions elsewhere on offense, Taylor isn’t one. The Golden Gophers know what they’ve got.

“They’ll have another new QB, because they have a new QB every year,” Pollack said. “That’s what Minnesota is. But what you can count on is the physicality in the run game.”