Minnesota could be without one of its top playmakers in the most important game of the season.
Senior running back David Cobb strained his left hamstring in the Gophers’ road win over Nebraska and head coach Jerry Kill expressed concern about his status for Saturday’s game against Wisconsin – the game that will decide the Big Ten West division and who will face Ohio State in the conference championship game.
“He’ll be questionable, very questionable,” Kill said Tuesday. “You know he’ll do everything he can to be ready, but that’s a difficult injury to deal with.”
Kill’s update on Cobb on Wednesday afternoon was equally concerning for Minnesota fans.
After picking up 80 yards and a touchdown, Cobb missed much of the second half with the injury. He was seen on the sidelines cheering on his teammates with his leg heavily wrapped, but was unable to go back in the game. Kill said his senior leader is determined to get back on the field on Saturday.
“He's going to tell me he's going to play. He's going to tell everybody he's going to play. And that's a great attitude because sometimes the mind, if you're down and you're negative and all that, sometimes you don't heal up as quick,” Kill said. “I'm glad he's positive, and if he's ready to go we're going it to play him. He told me that on the flight home. I said, ‘You doing okay?’ (He said) ‘Coach, I'm not missing this one.’”
The 5-foot-11, 229-pound Cobb is ninth in the country with 1,430 yards this season – just 34 yards shy of Minnesota’s single-season record for rushing yards in a season.
The Badgers are certainly aware of Cobb’s hard-nosed brand of rushing and are preparing as if he will see the field on Saturday.
“David Cobb is physical and he runs low to the ground. His pads are underneath him very well,” Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen said. “He's a very viable option outside of the pocket in the throw game and the check down runs, but his toughness is a reflection – week in and week out, when you think you got him for a couple, he usually gets three or four.”
If Cobb can’t go, Kill is confident that senior Donnell Kirkwood and junior Rodrick Williams Jr., along with sophomore dual-threat quarterback Mitch Leidner, can get the job done. Leidner’s 110 yards and two touchdowns on the ground were critical to the Gophers’ win at Nebraska. Kirkwood gained 33 yards on seven carries while Williams Jr. gained 22 yards and scored a crucial touchdown on just three carries.
“I think the big thing with Donnell right now is that he's focused. And Rodrick – he's unique,” Kill said. “If you watch him on kickoff, he's running over everybody on kickoff. He's just a physical kid. I've got confidence in them. Plus they should be fresh-legged, too.”
Cobb’s health could have an impact on the other side of the ball for the Gophers as well. As long as Cobb can eat up yards and clock like he has all season, that keeps the ball away from Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon – the nation’s leading rusher with 2,109 yards and 25 touchdowns.
“We’ve got our hands full,” Kill said. “Great challenge, but that’s what life is about. I’m looking forward to it and seeing what happens."
For more Minnesota news, GopherIllustrated.com.
For more Wisconsin news, visit BadgerBlitz.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
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