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Posted on Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 1:31 p.m.

Brandon Minor nearing 100 percent, aiming for 1,000 yards

By Dave Birkett

Brandon Minor dressed and went through warm-ups last week against Delaware State, but Michigan’s hobbled senior running back understood the decision to sit him out of a 63-6 blowout.

“I wanted to play in that bad, but that was just like kind of a stats game,” Minor said on a teleconference Tuesday. “I ain’t really anxious to pad up my stats. I’d like to do it against like some competition."

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Brandon Minor

Michigan will get that Saturday when it hosts 13th-ranked Penn State (6-1, 2-1).

The Wolverines (5-2, 1-2) lead the Big Ten in scoring and rushing offense, averaging 37.3 points and 235 rushing yards per game, while the Nittany Lions top the league in points against (8.7 ppg) and rushing defense (75.4 ypg).

Both Minor (ankle) and leading rusher Carlos Brown (concussion) sat out the Delaware State game, when Michigan (5-2, 1-2) amassed 461 yards on the ground.

“That helped me out,” Minor said. “I’m feeling real good.”

Minor said he should be “close to 100 percent” at some point this year, and he still has his sights set on a 1,000-yard season. With 274 yards through seven games, Minor needs to average 121 yards the rest of the season, including a bowl game, to reach the milestone.

“It would” be nice to get there, Minor said. “But if I can’t, it ain’t breaking my heart.”

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

Comments

81wolverine

Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 2:36 p.m.

It's good to hear that Minor is getting close to 100%. He needs to get a lot of carries the rest of the way. Whenever Brandon Minor is doing well, Michigan is usually doing well. Penn State will be a good test for Michigan's Big Ten leading rushing attack. I think with a healthy offensive line, Minor, Tate Forcier, and C. Brown, we should do really well against them this weekend. Go Blue!