2012 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Started 13 games • led team with 218 carries and 926 rushing yards • added six rushing touchdowns • had a career-high 152 yards, including a career-long 38-yard run, at Illinois • has carried the ball 249 straight times without turning it over • received the Bruce Smith Award as the team's outstanding offensive player • also named team's Offensive Back of the Year • first Gopher running back to rush for more than 900 yards in a season since Amir Pinnix ran for 1,272 yards in 2006. Game-by-Game: Carried the ball 13 times for 81 yards at UNLV and also recorded one catch for eight yards • ran for 71 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries vs. New Hampshire • recorded his first-career 100-yard rushing game vs. Western Michigan, gaining 110 yards on 23 carries • rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 28 carries against Syracuse • picked up 33 rushing yards on 12 carries at Iowa • rushed 18 times for 73 yards against Northwestern • carried the ball five times at Wisconsin • picked up 134 yards on 22 carries against Purdue • rushed 16 times for 58 yards against Michigan • rushed for a career-high 152 yards and two touchdowns, while tying his career high in carries with 28, at Illinois • his 152 yards at Illinois were the most for a Gopher running back since Duane Bennett ran for 187 yards in a win at Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 24, 2010 • had seven rush attempts at Nebraska and 10 carries vs. Michigan State • ruched 19 times for 80 yards and one touchdown vs. Texas Tech.
2011• FRESHMAN SEASON: Appeared in all 12 games • made his first career start in Week Nine at Michigan State • rushed 63 times for 229 yards and three touchdowns. Game-by-Game: Saw action on special teams at USC (9/3) and vs. New Mexico State (9/10 • saw first action in backfield in win over Miami (Ohio), with 23 carries for 55 yards and a TD (9/17) • carried ball 10 times for 70 yards and two TDs vs. North Dakota State (9/24) • 30-yard scoring run vs. NDSU was longest rush as a Gopher • three carries for three yards at Michigan (10/1) • rushed 12 times for 27 yards at Purdue (10/8) • carried ball eight times for 17 yards vs. Nebraska (10/22) • four carries for three yards at Michigan State (11/5) • eight carries for 20 yards vs. Wisconsin (11/12) • saw action as a reserve at Northwestern (11/19) • three rushes for 24 yards vs. Illinois (11/25).
2010: Appeared in four games as a reserve running back • carried the ball 27 times in 2010, gaining 112 yards • missed remainder of season with a leg injury • granted medical hardship waiver, regaining a year of eligibility. Game-by-Game: recorded 50 yards on 12 carries including a 18-yard gain on his first-career carry against Middle Tennessee State (9/2) • appeared against South Dakota (9/11) but did not record any stats • returned to the backfield against USC (9/18) and led the team with 44 yards on 10 carries • carried the ball five times and picked up 18 yards against Northern Illinois (9/25).
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduate of Atlantic High School • helped lead his team to a 5-5 record in 2009 • earned second-team all-conference honors as a senior • was a first-team all-conference selectin in 2008 as a junior • rushed for 491 yards and seven touchdowns in 2009 • toted the pigskin for 1,013 yards and 14 scores as a junior in 2008 • coached by Christopher Bean.
PERSONAL: Donnell Kirkwood was born Oct. 29, 1991 • son of Theresa and Donnell Kirkwood Sr.
