Golden Gophers' leading rusher out for season

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota will be without one of its key offensive components for the rest of the season.

Duane Bennett, the Gophers' leading rusher and second-leading receiver, suffered a torn ACL in last week's victory over Bowling Green.

Minnesota coach Tim Brewster did not specify which knee was injured. But he was emphatic that the Gophers will be able to move on without their most versatile player on offense.

Bennett led the Gophers with 140 yards rushing and also had 12 catches for 125 in the first two games of the season, both victories.

Now it will be up to junior Jay Thomas and freshmen Shady Salamon and DeLeon Eskridge to pick up the slack.

Brewster says, "It is not a devastating injury to our football team."