Time continues to tick away before the Wisconsin Badgers take the field to begin their 2024 football season.
The next step is fall training camp, which spans from July 29 to the week leading up to the team’s Aug. 30 season-opener against Western Michigan. The first two weeks from July 29 — Aug. 12 will be held on the campus of UW-Platteville before the team travels back to Madison, Wisconsin for its final preparation.
Related: These 13 Badgers can become household names as the 2024 football season goes on
The 2024 season is one of both intrigue and importance for the Wisconsin football program. The goal will be a step forward after consecutive 7-6 seasons. It will need to be accomplished against one of the sport’s toughest schedules as the Big Ten expands to 18 members, plus as head coach Luke Fickell continues to install his program and its identity.
That dynamic creates a substantial unknown surrounding the season with it kickstarting the conference’s new era. It also puts further importance on the job required of Fickell and his staff to turn the program around. 2024 projects to be a turning point in the program’s history in the conference. Which direction the program turns is the big variable.
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Preseason Previews
Big Ten Team Previews: Indiana Hoosiers — Purdue Boilermakers — Illinois Fighting Illini — Northwestern Wildcats — Minnesota Golden Gophers — Nebraska Cornhuskers — Iowa Hawkeyes — Rutgers Scarlet Knights — Maryland Terrapins — Michigan State Spartans — USC Trojans — UCLA Bruins — Washington Huskies — Michigan Wolverines — Penn State Nittany Lions — Ohio State Buckeyes — Oregon Ducks — Wisconsin Badgers
Big Ten Position Previews: Quarterbacks — Running Backs — Wide Receivers — Offensive Lines — Tight Ends — Defensive Line — Linebackers — Cornerbacks — Safeties
Wisconsin Position Previews: Quarterback — Running Back
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Wisconsin is reporting to training camp at UW-Platteville later today (Monday, July 29). As camp gets underway, our position preview series continues with the running back room:
Notable Departures
Jul 25, 2024; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (0) participates in a drill during training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Braelon Allen (NFL, New York Jets) — Allen left school early for the NFL draft, where he was a fourth-round selection by the New York Jets. The talented running back led the Badgers in rushing each of the last three seasons, totaling 3,494 yards, 5.9 yards per carry and 35 rushing touchdowns.
Incoming Freshmen
Darrion Dupree, a running back from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, carries the ball during the team’s season-opening win over East St. Louis at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Ill. on Saturday Aug. 26, 2023. Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Dilin Jones — four-star, No. 139 in class of 2024, No. 10 running back, No. 4 player from Maryland
Darrion Dupree — four-star, No. 392 in class of 2024, No. 29 running back, No. 12 player from Illinois
Gideon Ituka — three-star, No. 1,080 in class of 2024, No. 81 running back, No. 31 player from Maryland
Incoming Transfers
Wisconsin running back Tawee Walker turns upfield after catching a pass during the team’s final spring practice, which was held on the field north of Camp Randall Stadium on Thursday May 2, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Tawee Walker (Oklahoma) — Walker transfers to Wisconsin after recording 513 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries for Oklahoma in 2023. He is an exciting talent who should benefit from Wisconsin’s scheme, and from the presence of returning starter Chez Mellusi.
Returning Players
Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi goes through a drill during spring practice Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday April 13, 2024. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
6th-year senior Chez Mellusi — four games (injury), 51 carries, 306 rushing yards, four touchdowns
Redshirt junior Jackson Acker — 12 games, 72 carries, 322 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, 19 receptions, 108 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown
Redshirt sophomore Cade Yacamelli — nine games, 36 carries, 169 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 23 receiving yards
Two-Deep Depth Chart
Sep 22, 2023; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Chez Mellusi (1) runs the ball during the first half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Starter(s): Chez Mellusi, Tawee Walker
Backup: Jackson Acker
Mellusi and Walker will form a 1a, 1b backfield entering 2024. That approach should benefit both players, as neither will be strapped with a full-time workload. That especially matters with Mellusi’s long injury history and general durability questions. When healthy, the Badgers’ top duo is one of the best in the Big Ten.
Acker, Yacamelli and the three freshmen will battle for the No. 3 position. Acker enters the year with the most experience and production, and should win the job.
Names To Know
Apr 11, 2023; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin running backs coach Devon Spalding talks with running back Chez Mellusi (1) during practice Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Dilin Jones, Darrion Dupree and Gideon Ituka — Mellusi and Walker will lead the backfield this season, with Acker and Yacamelli each likely playing smaller roles. The names to know entering training camp and the upcoming season are the three incoming freshmen, led by one of the class’ best in Dilin Jones.
Special talents tend to emerge early at positions like running back (see: Jonathan Taylor and Braelon Allen). It’s possible that one of those true freshmen becomes a household name this fall.
Storylines
MADISON, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 02: Chez Mellusi #1 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts after scoring on a 1 yard touchdown run in the first quarter against the Buffalo Bulls at Camp Randall Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
The biggest running back storyline entering 2024 is health. When on the field, Mellusi and Walker could be one of the five best running back duos in the Big Ten. But that has been an issue for Mellusi — he’s played in only 22 total games over the last three seasons.
Next to the health of the starters, the biggest storyline is the talented youth in the room. We could see a glimpse of Wisconsin’s bright future at the position if any of the true freshmen running backs win carries.
Overall Outlook
Sep 17, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Chez Mellusi (1) rushes with the football during the second quarter against the New Mexico State Aggies at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Running back is one of the strongest positions on the 2024 Badgers, and should continue to be moving into the future. The group may look a bit different in an air raid offense compared to in Paul Chryst’s pro-style attack. But a good running back is a good running back. The scheme doesn’t matter nearly as much when they get the ball in the open field.
This is one of the positions that will be more of a reason why the offense experiences a resurgence, as compared to the alternative.
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Publish date : 2024-07-29 08:10:00
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