This story was updated to add new information.
Wisconsin’s running back depth chart is gaining clarity entering the team’s Week 6 matchup against the Purdue Boilermakers.
The team had been rotating several primary running backs through the first four games of the season. Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker split the bulk of the carries, with Cade Yacamelli and true freshman Darrion Dupree also seeing work.
Related: 10 keys to Wisconsin Badgers bounce-back victory over Purdue Boilermakers
The stats through four games were as follows:
- Mellusi: 4 games 56 carries, 232 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns
- Walker: 3 games 38 carries, 147 yards, 3 touchdowns
- Yacamelli: 4 games, 21 carries, 153 yards
- Dupree: 3 games, 16 carries, 61 rushing yards
Mellusi’s surprising departure from the program on Thursday indicated what could soon follow at the position: Walker emerging as the Badgers’ lead running back.
WOZN’s Zach Heilprin’s observations from early warmups confirms that move to Walker as the No. 1 running back:
Walker was the first back during position drills in early warm-ups, with Yacamelli second. Walker also still wearing a large brace on his right knee. https://t.co/Huza7EwtIr
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) October 5, 2024
Heilprin’s note that Walker is ‘still wearing a large brace on his right knee’ is worth monitoring as Saturday’s game kicks off. The distribution of snaps and carries will be one big storyline to watch when the Badgers have the football.
Wisconsin and Purdue will kick off at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
UPDATE (11:31 a.m. ET): Wisconsin’s team warmups saw Dupree as the No. 2 running back behind Walker, then Yacamelli at No. 3
Looking like Darrion Dupree is getting the second reps behind Tawee Walker during the team portion of warm-ups.
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) October 5, 2024
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.