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Wisconsin Football: 5 reasons why Badgers will win 2017 national title

By Trevor Jossart

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 02: The Wisconsin Badgers celebrate with the trophy after the Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16 in the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 02: The Wisconsin Badgers celebrate with the trophy after the Wisconsin Badgers beat the Western Michigan Broncos 24-16 in the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT /
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LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 10: Running back Taiwan Deal #28 of the Wisconsin Badgers tries to avoid defensive back Byerson Cockrell #28 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during their game at Memorial Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 10: Running back Taiwan Deal #28 of the Wisconsin Badgers tries to avoid defensive back Byerson Cockrell #28 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during their game at Memorial Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images) /

3. Running Back U

Throughout the years, the Wisconsin Badgers have enjoyed multiple successful running backs and have grabbed on to a reputation that when you think Badgers football, you think of a tough, gritty running attack that wears you down.

While the program has seemingly become more balanced in recent years, the notion that Wisconsin will be strong in the run game is more than likely true again this year.

Of course, the Badgers will be without their main tailback this year and last year’s starter as they lose Corey Clement, along with their main third-down back and notable contributor Dare Ogunbowale.

Returning for the Badgers is sophomore phenom Bradrick Shaw, who saw significant action behind center last year and was even listed as running back No. 2 for some games, moving Ogunbowale to strictly situational plays.

Related Story: Big Ten Football: 3 dark-horse candidates to win conference in 2017

Shaw ran for 457 yards last year for an average of 5.2 yards per carry. He also saw a lot of the red zone opportunities with Clement having some injury problems throughout his career and Ogunbowale being the more speedy, outside the tackle type back. Shaw ran for five touchdowns last year as a freshman.

Joining Shaw in the backfield fun this year is Pittsburgh-transfer Chris James. After spending two years at Pitt, James decided to leave to Wisconsin to join former Pittsburgh coach and now current Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst. After sitting out last year, James will likely be the second part of a one-two punch in the backfield. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry during his two years at Pittsburgh.

While there aren’t a lot of tangible stats to show Shaw and James will live up to the hype they are given, both offer speed, quickness, and toughness on the field and are a whole package when it comes to contributing on offense.

Another thing Wisconsin has prided themselves on in terms of the running attack is the depth of the position. Whenever a big-name running back comes into Madison, he is usually followed by someone just as talented. When there was Montee Ball, he was backed up by James While and Melvin Gordon. When White was the starter, he was backed up by Gordon and Corey Clement. The list never stops of big-time backs.

Projected depth chart (RB)

  1. Bradrick Shaw (So.)
  2. Chris James (Sr.)
  3. Taiwan Deal (Jr.)

Wisconsin also welcomes in another Pittsburgh transfer Rachid Ibrahim and highly recruited freshman Jonathan Taylor.

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