SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In four seasons, Minnesota senior Eric Decker transformed himself into one of the top wide receivers in the country.

Decker has etched his name at the top of the Gopher football record books, becoming Minnesota’s career receiving yards leader and the first Gopher to collect more than 3,000 yards in a career (3119).

But while running a route during Minnesota’s eighth game of the season against Ohio State this year, Decker tore several ligaments in his left foot. The injury not only ended his season, but also his career.

Minnesota, who will take on Iowa State tomorrow in the Insight Bowl, has had to adjust quickly to life after Decker.

“He’s going to go down as one of the greatest of all-time at the at the University of Minnesota,” Gopher quarterback Adam Weber said this week during Minnesota’s preparation for Thursday’s game. “Without him, it will hurt. But we still have young guys that have stepped up and shown what they can do.”

The struggles the Gophers have had in Decker’s absence have been easily visible.

Minnesota scored only one passing touchdown in its last three games this season and did not score an offensive touchdown in its last two, including a 12-0 loss to Iowa in the regular season finale.

The offense’s woes aside, Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster said his quarterback Weber, who amassed only 247 yards in the last two games, has responded positively to the loss of his number one target.

“I think he is very comfortable,” Brewster said after the Gopher’s practice on Tuesday. “We’re striving to be more consistent. Today, we had an excellent practice throwing and catching the football. I think Adam is going to play well and those around him are going to play well.”

With month to let the disappointment from the last two games fester, the Gopher offense feels it has something to prove when it takes the field against the Cyclones.

“We have had a lot of time to sit back and look at what we got to change and get going and just build the momentum up and come out there and have a strong offensive performance,” Gopher tight end Nick Tow-Arnett said during Wednesday’s press conference.

Although his college playing career reached an untimely end, Decker has remained with the team and has worked to be a positive assistant for the Gophers.

“He’s a very settling influence,” Brewster said. “He’s a veteran guy. He’s a heck of a kid. Him being in the room and be around the guys hopefully is a plus.”