UW might rely on hot hand for carries in backfield
MADISON – As the season opener against Penn State draws closer, Wisconsin running backs coach Gary Brown continues to evaluate his options at tailback.
Will Brown rely heavily on Jalen Berger, who is UW’s leading returning rusher but played in only four games as a freshman last season and has just 60 college carries?
Will Brown rely heavily on Chez Mellusi, who put up impressive numbers as a reserve in two seasons at Clemson?
Will Brown rely heavily on Isaac Guerendo, who missed the final six games last season after suffering a hamstring injury in the opener but who might be
the fastest back on the roster?
Or, will Brown surprise everyone and turn to 17-year-old freshman Braelon Allen, a player he acknowledges is oozing with physical ability but is making mistakes typical of most freshmen?
Brown, who coached running backs for 11 seasons in the NFL before coming to UW, made it clear after a recent practice he doesn’t care who earns the bulk of the carries.
“I’ve had a lot of guys,” he said, “and my philosophy is: Whoever is hot stays in the game and runs.
“It is not favoritism. But if that guy is hot, I’m going with him.
“That is how I go. Whether it is Jalen or Chez or whoever it is, I’m running with that hot hand.”
Based on the practices that have been open to reporters since camp opened Aug. 6, all four tailbacks appear capable of contributing to UW’s ground game.
Yet no single tailback has emerged as a potential workhorse capable of carrying the group if needed.
Berger, 6-foot and 203 pounds, and Mellusi, 5-11 and 204, appear capable of generating chunk plays if they get into the open field.
But can they handle the pounding that will come between the tackles? Mellusi ran between the tackles at Clemson, albeit often against tired defenses, and has been willing to lower his head and absorb contact so far in camp.
Brown believes Berger is capable as well.
“He is a smooth, sneaky-powerful runner,” Brown said. “He can absorb contact and continue to move forward. He is a little bit stronger than people give him credit. He did a really good job in the weight room this offseason.
“And his speed is a little bit underestimated. So if we can get him going we’re going to have a really good weapon.”
From 2017-19, Jonathan Taylor was UW’s clear No. 1 option at tailback. He averaged 21.4, 23.6 and 22.9 carries per game in his three seasons. No other UW tailback averaged double-figure carries per game during that span. The closest was Bradrick Shaw at 8.7 in 2017, Taylor’s freshman season.
UW’s ball distribution could be similar to 2020, when the top three backs averaged double-figure carries per game.
Berger averaged 15.0 carries, followed by Garrett Groshek at 11.2 and Nakia Watson at 10.6.
What might be different this season is that Berger, Mellusi and Guerendo all appear to be capable receivers.
Last season, Groshek had 22 of the tailbacks’ 25 receptions. Berger had two catches and reserve Brady Schipper had one.
“I expect them to be very viable options in the pass game,” Brown said of Berger and Mellusi. “They both have the skillset to be good at that and I expect that. We’ve got to continue to work to get them to where we need to be. We’re not there yet but we’re going to get there.”
Guerendo, timed at 4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash earlier this summer, started out as a wide receiver at UW.
“I think he has the ability to be a type of matchup issue for linebackers because of his receiver background,” Brown said. “But I still think he is a hell of a running back.
“I think if we can somehow find a niche for him to use that combination of skill set, we’ll be in good shape.”