Ex-Gophers RB transfers back to the school he left last offseason

Bangura will be heading back to Athens, Ohio.

Ohio running back Sieh Bangura outraces Akron defender LaJoshua Jackson for a third-quarter touchdown on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. / Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sieh Bangura was at Minnesota for less than 12 months, but he's now heading back to Ohio — the school he transferred away from last offseason.

PORTAL: Former #Gophers RB Sieh Bangura is heading back to Ohio, where he totaled more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 25 TDs from 2021-23. https://t.co/CpsVrwczhD https://t.co/VYoeooePQK

— Tony Liebert (@TonyLiebert) December 31, 2024

After totaling more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 25 total touchdowns at Ohio from 2021 to 2023, Bangura wanted to try his luck in the Big Ten at Minnesota in 2024. He wasn't able to get on the field much, playing only seven snaps, and recording four carries for 12 yards.

This time last year there was hope that Bangura would be the Gophers' No. 2 option after Darius Taylor, but he was beat out by Oklahoma's Marcus Major for that role. He fell all the way down the No. 4 or even No. 5 on the running back depth chart, trailing Jordan Nubin and Jaren Mangham in overall work.

He seemed like nearly a sure thing to be a contributor at Minnesota, but he will now head back to Ohio in hopes of finding the form he had as an underclassman.

---

Stay up to date on all things Gophers by bookmarking Minnesota Gophers On SI, subscribing to our YouTube Channel, and signing up to receive our free Gophers newsletter, which will enter you into a drawing for the EA College Gameday 25 video game (you choose between PS5 or Xbox).