In a Wednesday morning press conference with local media, Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst addressed the depth at the RB position after losing Jonathan Taylor to the NFL.
“Certainly, not trying to match what J.T. did, but we do have to get really good, consistent production out of that group,” Chryst told reporters on Wednesday.
So, who will be called on for that consistent production? Expect Doak Walker award watch list selection Nakia Watson to lead the way coming off of a freshman season where he played second fiddle to Taylor.
The rising sophomore averaged 4.5 yards per carry a year ago, while finding the end zone twice on the ground. In addition to Watson, senior Garrett Groshek returns to fill the third-down back role and play a major factor in the receiving game.
“Groshek has been tremendous this off-season,” said Chryst. “Despite it being a very different off-season, he’s taken the leadership role to heart and done it a lot of different ways.”
Who becomes that third guy for Wisconsin with Watson and Groshek handling the majority of the work? Chryst was singing the praises of rising sophomore Isaac Guerendo.
“Nakia [Watson]’s played a lot of football for us, and yet all these guys’ roles are yet to be defined. I appreciate Isaac Guerendo and how he’s started to feel comfortable at the position. Between those three you hope to be productive.”
It won’t be one player filling the massive shoes of one of the greatest backs in college football history, but the Badgers feel as though they can get it done by committee in 2020.