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5 realistic running back options for Detroit Lions in 2023 NFL Draft

By Brad Berreman

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 25: Zach Charbonnet #24 of the UCLA Bruins carries the ball against the California Golden Bears during the third quarter of an NCAA football game at California Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 25: Zach Charbonnet #24 of the UCLA Bruins carries the ball against the California Golden Bears during the third quarter of an NCAA football game at California Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota

Ibrahim capped a nice career at Minnesota by leading the Big Ten with 1,665 rushing yards last season, and he also led the conference with 20 rushing touchdowns. He also did both of those things in 2020, with 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns in that truncated COVID season.

If not for suffering a torn Achilles in the 2021 season opener against Ohio State, when he had 30 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns against one of the best teams in the country by the way, he may have made it three years in a row as the Big Ten’s top rusher. Over his last 20 games as a Gopher, he scored 37 touchdowns.

Ibrahim is not going to wow in any single area. But the whole is so obviously greater than the sum of the parts. He just finds a way to gain yards, always falling forward with a low center of gravity (5-foot-8), running instincts, sneaky power and a nose for the end zone. He certainly has some untapped potential as a pass receiver too.

Ibrahim does have some durability concerns, having missed at least one game due to injury in four of five seasons in college.

I’ve said this before, but Ibrahim just feels like the kind of back who will be a Day 3 pick and play like 10 years in the NFL.

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