Around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, 2020 Big Ten Running Back of the Year, Mohamed Ibrahim announced on Twitter that he will be returning to play football for the Minnesota Gophers in 2022.

Ibrahim in 2021 rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns in a single game versus Ohio State. In his career, he has rushed for 3,003 yards and 33 touchdowns from 2018-2021.

“At first, I just thought it was a cramp but then when I got up I knew it was something serious,” Ibrahim said. “The season that I was dreaming of was gone in a blink of an eye.”

The University of Minnesota football staff has been tight-lipped about the inner details of Ibrahim’s injury. All the public knows is that Ibrahim suffered a leg injury against Ohio State that would sideline Ibrahim for 4-6 months. Similar mystery surrounded Trey Potts’ undisclosed injury versus Purdue that knocked him out of the season as well.

With Ibrahim returning, along with Potts not being draft-eligible, the Gophers will have almost their entire backfield from 2021 around again in 2022, minus Cam Wiley who left the program mid-season to the transfer portal.

“It’s been a grind the past three months…with that being said I’m excited to be back for the 2022 season.”