BadgersWire power rankings are back with today’s focus being the top five returning running backs in the Big Ten.

(Here are the links to the previous power rankings of Big Ten quarterbacks, the best 2020 NBA draft prospects in the Big Ten and the top five quarterbacks the Badgers will face in 2020)

A conference known for its old school, ground game-reliant football, the Big Ten said goodbye to several of the best backs in the conference’s recent history after last season in Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor.

The returning names at the top of this list, now, are guys many fans haven’t yet heard of as they began their careers in the shadows of some of the conference’s best backs over the last few years.

So, here are the top five runnings backs in the Big Ten this year

 

No. 5: [Insert name] – Wisconsin

Yes, this may be a cop out because nobody’s completely sure who will take over the lead role in Paul Chryst’s backfield this season.

What has been clear for decades, though, is that the Badgers seem to reload at the position better than any other team in the Big Ten. This year, with Nakia Watson entering his second season and four-star recruit Jalen Berger coming in as a true freshman, Chryst and offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph have a lot to work with as they try to recreate Jonathan Taylor’s record-setting production from the last three seasons.

The so-called “hand-off” has happened for years now with line of backs being Ron Dayne–Michael Bennett–Anthony Davis–Brian Calhoun–P.J. Hill–John Clay–Montee Ball–James White–Melvin Gordon–Corey Clement–Jonathan Taylor.

Oh, and you put [Watson or Berger] behind an annual top-5 offensive line in the nation? The backfield won’t miss a beat even with Taylor now playing in the NFL.

My guess is Watson starts this year while Berger is brought along, but what we see could be similar to 2017 when as soon as Jonathan Taylor stepped on the field–both he and Berger are New Jersey natives–it was impossible to give anybody else carries.

Regardless, this backfield is set for success and earns the No. 5 spot only because of the lack of experience of the projected starters.

 

Next…No. 4 whom Badger fans might not want to see ranked higher than their running back on this list