The Gophers football program needed an immediate infusion at running back coming out of this season. It came in the form of Indiana transfer Trent Howland on Sunday.

“New crib. Let’s row,” he wrote in Instagram caption to pictures of him in a Minnesota jersey while visiting the U this weekend.

For the Hoosiers in 2023, Howland rushed for 354 yards on 75 carries and two touchdowns.

The Gophers recruited Howland out of high school in Juliet, Ill., and pursued him again since the portal opened on Monday. He will have two years of eligibility for the U.

At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, Howland will be a complement to returning to-be sophomore Darius Taylor next season.

The Gophers needed reinforcements. Sean Tyler exits after his senior season concludes in the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 26. Two other tailbacks entered the transfer portal in Zach Evans, the fourth-leading rusher in 2023, and Marquese Williams who didn’t play in his true freshman season.

Howland played in nine games in 2022 and moved to linebacker during the season. He redshirted in 2021.

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