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Gophers football: Replacing David Cobb looks like a three-man job

Gophers coach Jerry Kill was spoiled a year ago entering fall camp knowing his team had David Cobb, one of the top tailbacks in all of college football.

Cobb didn't disappoint, producing a record-breaking senior year before moving on to the NFL.

But Kill doesn't seem concerned about replacing Cobb's single-season school-record 1,626 rushing yards from last season.

Instead of one tailback carrying the load this fall, the Gophers will open practice Friday with at least three backs with breakout potential: senior Rodrick Williams Jr., redshirt sophomore Berkley Edwards and redshirt freshman Rodney Smith.

"I think it's too early to tell, but I think we'll play probably three backs early," Kill said at Tuesday's introductory fall camp news conference.