The Minnesota Golden Gophers have been active in the transfer portal. The program just added its third transfer running back as Jaren Mangham has elected to head north from Michigan State. Mangham is a graduate senior and will have just one year of eligibility remaining.
BREAKING: The #Gophers have received a commitment from Michigan State graduate transfer RB Jaren Mangham.
Mangham has 23 career rushing touchdowns, and will have one year to play at Minnesota.
Another veteran tailback for 2024.https://t.co/6T7kbcKlLh pic.twitter.com/QNSR2JPyAd
— Ryan Burns (@RyanBurnsMN) May 7, 2024
Minnesota Adds Graduate Transfer Jaren Mangham From Michigan State
Mangham is a well-traveled player and will be one of the oldest players at the collegiate level in 2024. He started his career in 2019 at Colorado where he spent two years. In that time, he made an immediate impact, appearing in all 12 games as a true freshman and even logged a start. He accounted for 441 yards and three scores. In 2020, he only appeared in four games and added 35 yards and two touchdowns.
Prior to the 2021 season, Mangham transferred south to South Florida. His 2021 season was his breakout campaign as he amassed 671 yards and 15 touchdowns. He earned an All-AAC Honorable Mention for his efforts. Mangham’s 2022 season was cut short after four games due to an injury. In total, he added 104 yards and three touchdowns.
He transferred a second time before the 2023 season as he elected to join the Big 10. At Michigan State, Mangham ran for just 81 yards off of 30 attempts in six games. His season got started late as he missed the first six games of the year while rehabbing from the 2022 injury.
In total, Mangham has 1,332 yards and 23 touchdowns to his name.
Plenty of Depth Turnover
Behind the top two running backs on the roster, Darius Taylor and Jordan Nubin, the Gophers have had a line change. Three backs elected to hit the transfer portal: Zach Evans, Marquese Williams, and Max Grand. Additionally, Sean Tyler played out his eligibility. In order to supplement those losses, Minnesota added Marcus Major from Oklahoma (833 career rushing yards and eight touchdowns) who has one year of eligibility remaining. Sieh Bangura transferred in from Ohio after tearing up the MAC. With two years of eligibility remaining, Bangura brings with him 1,982 career rushing yards and 22 touchdowns.
Minnesota has to replace 35% of its productivity on the ground. Adding Mangham, Major, and Bangura will give the Gophers a more respectable rushing attack.
