Where Wisconsin RB Chez Mellusi ranks among 2021 Big Ten rushing leaders

A look at the Big Ten rushing leaders through two weeks of action:

The Wisconsin RB’s have been a welcome, albeit familiar, sight for Badger fans through two weeks of football.

Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi has led the way in that department, racking up more rushing yards through two weeks as a Badger than he had in his Tigers career. Opportunity has met preparation for Wisconsin’s starter, who has carried the ball 51 times in two games.

The conference as a whole has produced solid runners through a pair of weeks. Fellow Big Ten running back Kenneth Walker III exploded in Week 1 for Michigan State, as he torched Northwestern’s defense to the tune of 264 yards on the ground and 4 touchdowns.

Class of 2020 product Miyan Williams starred for Ohio State in Week 1, and Michigan’s one-two punch of Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins have excelled in Ann Arbor.

Mellusi’s first two weeks rank near the top of the conference, but where does he currently stand among the Big Ten rushing leaders? Here is a look at the top ten Big Ten running backs through two weeks according to total rushing yards:

Chez Mellusi just broke a crazy streak for the Wisconsin Badger offense

Chez Mellusi just broke a crazy streak for the Wisconsin Badger offense

Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi just broke the scoring in the Badgers contest against the Eastern Michigan Eagles.

The game currently sits at 7-0 in favor of Paul Chryst’s team, though that touchdown did more than just give Wisconsin the lead. It broke a crazy streak by the team’s offense.

It’s a streak of inefficiency, as tonight’s opening drive saw the same red-zone struggles that plagued the Badgers during their loss to Penn State. The Badgers traveled inside the Eastern Michigan 5 yard-line thanks to a long run from Mellusi, though the team ended up turning the ball over on downs (sound familiar?). Also similar to last week, they turned the ball over due in part to yet another error during a handoff.

Going back to last week, it was the fifth total time Wisconsin traveled inside their opponents’ 5 yard-line. Those drives somehow resulted in only 7 total points.

That is why Mellusi’s first-quarter touchdown was such a breath of fresh air for the team.

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