Estrada Out for Season, Gophers Adjust | Minnesota Golden Gophers Football News

Minnesota Golden Gophers Football Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Sep 7, 2026 · 1m

Gophers true freshman running back Ryan Estrada’s season is over after a brutal fourth-quarter injury against Eastern Illinois — a tackle from behind that left his left leg in serious trouble. Once poised to be Minnesota’s third running back, his absence opens the door for Xavier Ford, with Jaron Thomas and Niko Castillo ready to step up. The blow is especially hard given the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rule, which wipes out his redshirt option — now he’ll enter next year as a sophomore with four years left. A highly-touted recruit from El Dorado High in El Paso, Estrada was a standout…