as Luke FickellAs the second act approaches in Madison, BadgerBlitz.com breaks down Wisconsin's roster position-by-position ahead of spring training, scheduled to run from March 22nd to May 2nd.
BadgerBlitz.com is again expected to monitor public practices that reporters can attend.So our position preview continues on Saturday with the unit facing life after that: running back Braylon Allen.
Preview: Quarterback
Roster overview
Wisconsin's running back room will be much different in 2024, built on different principles than when Allen was leading the backfield. The Badgers don't have a clear superstar. If anything, they have a lot of interesting talent across the board.
Chez Merci He will headline the unit after choosing to return to Madison for his fourth year. The halfback played in just four games last fall before suffering a season-ending fibula fracture. However, before his injury, Merci was on pace for a career year. His tailback rushed for 307 yards and four touchdowns, averaging easily a career-best 6.0 yards per carry.Merusi seemed like a perfect fit Phil LongoThe coordinator called him “absolutely our most explosive player.”
In his three years at Wisconsin, Melusi was never consistently a top option at the position. That's partly because his debut season with the Cardinal and White coincided with Allen's breakout freshman season. However, tailbacks have also been plagued by injuries year after year. He has missed a total of 17 games in his three years with the Badgers, missing at least four games each season. Merci has proven that he can be a dynamic runner, but his health will always be a big factor.
Melusi's medical history is likely the main reason the staff chose him to transfer to Oklahoma Towie Walker, those who present exciting options should be ready to contribute immediately. The former Sooner is a stocky, powerful runner who stands 5-foot-9 and 216 pounds. He combines his strength and low center of gravity with deft shifting in the open field and ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Last season at Norman, Walker had 513 yards and seven scores on 5.0 yards per carry.
Merusi and Walker should be a great one-two punch for the Badgers, and their styles also complement each other well. Given the experience and pedigree of these two backs, there is little question that they will enter spring training as the top options in the backfield. How the rest of the room shakes out behind them is where things get interesting.
Wisconsin returns its No. 3 and No. 4 running backs from a season ago. jackson acker and Cade Yacamelli. Both were useful at times, but neither could prove that they could spearhead a rushing attack. That being said, the Badgers' young talent should get every opportunity to show what they are capable of.
The young talent is in the form of a redshirt freshman; nate whiteand a true freshman Gideon Itsuka, Those who enrolled early. White is a slippery pass catcher, and it will be interesting to see how far he progresses physically over the course of the year. Itka is a bulldozing power back with a lot of upside.
In the summer, two other true freshman tailbacks Darrion Dupree and Dillin Jonesparticipate in the program.
Expected dropouts on University of Wisconsin's spring 2024 roster
*Indicates walk-on
Players leaving the position group
One question heading into spring practice: Where is Che Merci in his recovery stage?
If Merusi still needs time to rehab from his fibula fracture, it's very likely that his participation will be limited or completely ruled out this spring. It's a long road back to running back after a season-ending lower leg injury, and Wisconsin is likely to be very cautious given Mellusi's injury history and his importance to the offense.
If so, you should have a healthy dose of Walker and the rest of the people in the room. Ultimately, that should bode well for the Badgers. Mellusi is a known entity. Longo and his guys have already seen the tailback's game-breaking ability. If Merci is limited in any way, the extra reps to adjust how Walker is used should be beneficial to Longo. Additionally, Wisconsin's aforementioned young talents should be given more of a chance to shine, and the progress of Acker and Yacamelli should be evident as well.
Player to watch this spring: Gideon Itsuka
Ituka was the last of the three halfbacks Wisconsin signed in the 2024 cycle, but has a tremendous chance to contribute meaningful snaps first. why? Early registration certainly helps. And at 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds, he has a very similar build to Walker and should be ready to roll right away.
When analyzing Ituka, you can't help but think that Wisconsin may have gotten some stolen base potential from the Maryland native. In addition to his obviously powerful stature, he exhibits good vision and explosive power belying his size. After Merusi and Walker, return production and proven ability have dropped significantly. That means freshmen, especially its early enrollees, should have the opportunity to contribute early in their careers.
White would get an honorable mention here. As hinted, it is clear that he was not ready to contribute his true freshman season, primarily due to his lack of size.After a whole year brady collinsIt will be interesting to see how White transformed his body with his strength program. Now he fits into the scatback mold, so don't expect him to suddenly have the same physique as Walker or Itsuka. But White, who weighed a hefty 170 pounds last year, will need to add weight, and it will be interesting to see where his homegrown tailback stands in his development.
Quarterback potential depth chart
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