During the previous 2024 recruiting cycle, the Wisconsin football team made a unique commitment to a running back.
In the last recruiting cycle, the Wisconsin football staff added three talented running backs to add to the ranks of established players in the room. Now Wisconsin has a major problem as it must decide which talented defenders will play and which will not touch the field. The Badgers front office will have to make some tough decisions going forward, but the question is which defensemen will be the main players.
Wisconsin football needs to go through an incredibly talented running back
For the Wisconsin football staff, recruiting at the running back position has been a priority in order to maintain the program’s historic success. A school cannot call itself the “University of Running Backs” based solely on its success on the field, but also on its success in recruiting for the position. The running backs want to play in Madison and there has been no doubt about that over the last few years.
This past recruitment cycleWisconsin Football added three runners after the touchdown Darrion Dupree, Dilin JonesAND Gideon Ituka. Jones, a four-star running back and top-rated head coach Luke Fickell hired by the team, is currently considered the front-runner for playing time next season. Jones isn’t the only player with eyes on the field, however, as Wisconsin returned three running backs with carries a season ago.
In Mellusiawho suffered a nasty season-ending injury a year ago, is now in line to take over as the starter Jackson Acker providing a change of pace. Cade Yacamelli will also return to the show as a “Do It All” style running back.
With Chez Mellusi back, Wisconsin Badgers Football players will be fighting for that elusive playing time
With Mellusi, Acker and Yacamelli back on the show, Wisconsin football finds itself in quite an awkward situation. Theoretically, this is a forceful enough three-back group for the program, but Wisconsin adds Jones, Ituka and Dupree to the equation. With the fresh Freshman, Wisconsin also received a transfer back Tawee Walker who will fight for playing time.
Walker has experience, having carried the ball 102 times for 513 yards and seven touchdowns for Oklahoma last season.
However, with seven defensemen competing for playing time, there is a risk that a player will enter the transfer portal, and it is more than likely that someone will. The Badgers only have so much playing time at the position given their offensive style. It all comes down to which runner really wants it the most and impresses enough in practice to earn playing time.
Which Running Back will have the biggest impact in the 2024 season?
The Wisconsin Badgers football program has long followed a tradition of requiring players to prove themselves in practice before they get a chance to do so on the field. Wisconsin has players fighting for their spots because playing time is not given, but rather earned.
It will be quite a competition for the Badgers defensemen, considering that there are seven players on the team who want to touch the field. However, there is one player who really seems to have an impact on both staff and recruiting analysts.
Gideon Ituka finished at the bottom of the rookie running back rankings, but he provides a solid running back that Wisconsin loves to see. Ituka could become a defenseman the Badgers operate situationally, and that role could be developed for him sooner or later.
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