The Detroit Lions gave Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Mohamed Ibrahim a sizeable signing bonus to join the team as an undrafted free agent.
It’s easy to see why the Lions coveted Ibrahim once the draft was complete. The 5-foot-8, 206-pounder is a monster at gaining yards after contact.
Only two other collegiate RBs topped Ibrahim’s 1,106 yards after contact in 2022, a season that saw him average 3.56 yards after contact per carry. He’s excellent at not going down on first contact.
Back at the NFL Scouting Combine in the winter, Ibrahim explained how he manages to be so good at grinding out extra yards despite not being the biggest type of running back.
“Feet don’t die,” Ibrahim said in Indianapolis. “That’s one thing that coach Burns always says: Don’t let your feet die so they hit you at one yard. Just keep driving your feet and you’re gonna fall forward for four. Then you look up at the end of the game, and you got 50 yards after contact and it’s only because your feet don’t stop.”
It’s important for a player like Ibrahim to find a niche role in order to make the team. Being a short-yardage running back figures to be the key for Ibrahim, who has fought through numerous injuries and will be a 25-year-old rookie. He knows how to do that task very well.
