Our rookie scouting reports combine film and analytics to provide the best possible predictions for player performance. With the 2023 NFL Draft less than a month away, let’s take a look at the scouting report for Minnesota RB Mohamed Ibrahim.
Mohamed Ibrahim NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Running back
- School: Minnesota
- Year: Sixth-year senior
Ibrahim was a three-star recruit out of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland. He received offers from Kentucky, Iowa, Temple, Towson, and Minnesota and elected to play college football for the Golden Gophers.
After sitting out his entire freshman season in 2017, Ibrahim dominated in 2018. He carried the ball 202 times for 1,160 yards and nine touchdowns. Unfortunately, Ibrahim’s lead-back role stemmed from Rodney Smith’s injury. When Smith returned for what was Ibrahim’s redshirt sophomore season, the former retook control of the backfield.
That limited Ibrahim to just 114 carries for 604 yards and seven touchdowns. Essentially, his production was cut in half.
MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
With Smith moving on the following season, the stage was set for Ibrahim to close out his college career in a dominant fashion. As a junior in 2020, Ibrahim basically matched his freshman-year production in three fewer games. The Baltimore native ran the rock 201 times for 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns.
After being limited to just seven games due to COVID-19, Ibrahim opted to return for a fifth year in 2021. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles at the end of his first game after racking up 163 yards on 30 carries.
As a result of the injury and knowing how it would negatively impact his draft stock, Ibrahim chose to return to Minnesota for a sixth year. The only hope he had at any sort of NFL career was to completely and utterly dominate. Well, he did. Ibrahim carried the ball 320 times for 1,665 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Overall, he finished his six years at Minnesota with 40 games played, 867 carries, 4,668 yards, and 53 touchdowns.
Tony Pauline’s Scouting Report for Mohamed Ibrahim
Strengths: Intelligent, hard-working ball carrier who gets the most from his ability. Patient and displays outstanding vision and instincts. Waits for blocks to develop, finds the open lanes, and has a burst through the hole. Follows blocks everywhere on the field, runs with excellent lean, and plays fast.
Rarely tackled by the initial defender and doesn’t go down without a fight. Squeezes through the small openings of the offensive line, finds ways to pick up yardage, and breaks arm tackles. Sidesteps defenders, quickly gets to top speed, and gets a lot of momentum going. Puts his shoulders down and drives them through defenders at the point of contact. Solid pass catcher out of the backfield.
Weaknesses: Not a perimeter ball carrier and cannot beat defenders into the open field. Not a quick cutback runner and must gather himself to change direction. Must improve his blocking strength and gets run over by opponents. Caught just 22 passes in four seasons despite showing pass-catching ability.
Overall: Ibrahim is a competitive team player with high character and terrific intelligence. He lacks next-level size and speed, but his approach to the game and ability to produce anytime he handles the ball are appealing.
Mohamed Ibrahim Combine Measurements and Results
- Height: 5’8″
- Weight: 203 pounds
- Arm Length: 28 5/8″
- Hand Size: 9″
- Bench Press: N/A
- 40-Yard Dash: N/A
Minnesota RB Mohamed Ibrahim Current Draft Projection
On Tony Pauline’s Big Board, Ibrahim ranked 261st overall and is projected to be drafted in the seventh round. With a 3.28 grade, he is Pauline’s RB23 in this class.
Many of the most prominent running backs currently near or atop team depth charts are getting up there in age. The guys from the 2015-2017 classes are all nearing the end of their careers. The NFL needs a youth injection at the position, and they very well may get it.
With that said, if Ibrahim is around the 23rd running back selected, he will have a very difficult time making an NFL roster. The majority of Day 3 RBs will never matter, and even fewer seventh-round running backs make long-term impacts.
Ibrahim is also one of the oldest players in this entire draft class — he will be 25 years old by the time the 2023 season kicks off.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
Collegiate production is the biggest predictor of NFL success, and Ibrahim’s production was quite impressive, especially in his final season. Even so, Ibrahim spent six years at college. The list of successful NFL running backs who were drafted close to the age of 25 is very short.
Ibrahim has quite a few factors playing against him. He’s incredibly old for a rookie, he’s not especially athletic, and he provides nothing in the passing game, (totaled just 22 receptions in his 40 collegiate games) His best single-season target share was just 5.4%.
Ibrahim’s path to making an NFL roster will be challenging. The production is there, though. Even if he doesn’t get drafted, it would be a major surprise if he didn’t latch on somewhere as a UDFA. At the very least, he should get an opportunity to prove his worth in rookie minicamp and training camp.
In a best-case scenario, Ibrahim is able to work his way into part of a committee. In a worst-case scenario, he fails to make a roster, and his NFL career just never gets off the ground floor.