The running back position is the Badgers’ biggest strength on offense heading into the 2022 season. The rushing attack bounced back in a major way from a trying 2020 season. This unit finished second overall in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (210.9). Only the Michigan Wolverines (214.4) finished with more. However, as impressive as these stats are; the most amazing thing that happened to this unit was the rise of Braelon Allen.
Prior to the season, Allen had reclassified from the recruiting class of 2022 to 2021. He was recruited as an “athlete” and enrolled on campus at 17 years old. The Badgers had no idea what position he would play and if he would see the field at all. Allen would see little playing time during the first four weeks of the season.
This all changed when three running backs were dismissed and Isaac Guerendo was lost for the season due to injury. From that point on, Allen rocketed up the depth chart and was on the two-deep alongside starter Chez Mellusi. Allen would record his 100-yard rushing game against Illinois.
When Mellusi went down with a season-ending leg injury, Allen established himself as the starter going forward. Allen proved to be a big game performer rushing for 159-yards and making critical plays in the Las Vegas Bowl. That performance earned him game MVP. He would finish the season rushing for 1,268-yards and 12 touchdowns earning All-Big Ten second-team honors. Only Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker (1,646) and Michigan’s Hassan Haskins (1,327) had more rushing yards in the Big Ten.
While he was at it, Braelon would break the program record for consecutive games with at least 100 or more rushing yards with seven. Not too shabby for a guy who couldn’t buy a lottery ticket or sign a legal document at the time. Allen heads into this season as Wisconsin’s lead back and potentially a Heisman Trophy candidate.
Returning for his senior campaign is Chez Mellusi. Prior to Braelon Allen’s rise, Mellusi was the lead back in the backfield. Prior to his season-ending leg injury, Mellusi was well on his way to having a 1,000-yard season. Mellusi instead would finish his season with 815 rushing yards and five touchdowns. The Badgers might have had two 1,000-yard rushers for the first time since 2013 had the Clemson transfer stayed healthy.
Both Allen and Mellusi proved to be a deadly one-two punch for the Badgers. Wisconsin hasn’t had two prolific running backs in the same backfield since 2013 with James White and Melvin Gordon. When Allen and Mellusi were in the backfield; they both combined to rush for 1,095 yards and eight touchdowns in just five games together. There were also two games where Chez Mellusi and Braelon Allen rushed for over 100-yards in the same game. Allen would combine with his other backfield mates for just 843 yards and seven touchdowns. Only one of those end zone trips was made by a running back other than Allen. The Badgers would also never have two 100-yard rushers in the same game again.
Now that Mellusi is back, teams can no longer narrow in on stopping Braelon Allen. This is because Chez Mellusi can burn them as well. Mellusi should help take the pressure off Allen and keep him fresh down the stretch. Allen also won’t have to do all the work and handle most of the carries. If Mellusi can bounce back from his season-ending injury, the Badgers backfield will be even scarier.
Isaac Guerendo makes his return to the Badgers backfield. He is coming off his second season-ending leg injury in a row. Once seen as the heir apparent to Jonathan Taylor, Guerendo has been fighting injuries his entire career. His durability problems have only allowed him to appear in 15 games in four seasons. He also didn’t score a touchdown until last season against Eastern Michigan. Early in the 2021 season, he rushed for a career-high 92 yards against Eastern Michigan. This included an electric 82-yard touchdown run for the first of his career. However, the injury bug bit him once again against Michigan forcing him to miss the season.
Unfortunately, due to his durability issues, it hasn’t worked out for Isaac Guerendo. Unless he really stands out in the spring and summer; I don’t think he’ll be a major factor in the offense this season. He has missed so much time due to injuries that other running backs have moved ahead of him. He’ll have to fight for playing time and prove that he can stay healthy.
Despite being highly touted out of high school; Julius Davis hasn’t really been able to establish himself as a contributor. He is entering “now or never mode” this season. The only appearances he really has made during his time at Wisconsin is when the Badgers are winning in a blowout. When Chez Mellusi was lost for the year; former walk-on Brady Schipper was picked over him to be Braelon Allen’s backfield mate. I believe the talent is there, he just needs to earn more opportunities. He’ll have to battle for playing time against Isaac Guerendo.
The Badgers “swiss army knife” Brady Schipper returns for his senior season. Last year, Schipper was thrust into the running back two-deep due to Chez Mellusi’s injury. Schipper did as well as you might expect but he was a decent contributor in the passing game. He finished the year catching seven passes for 70 yards. While I don’t see him getting many carries, we perhaps could see him in the passing game.
Jackson Acker and Grover Bortolotti make their returns for their sophomore seasons. I don’t think they’ll be factors and will be lucky to probably get a carry. Acker might possibly switch over to fullback because that is his best opportunity to play.
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