With the addition of Chris James, the Badgers add depth to the running back position after the 2016 season.
It looks as though the Wisconsin Badgers have added more depth in the backfield as it was announced former Pitt Panthers running back Chris James would be transferring to Madison this summer. Head coach Paul Chryst recruited James in 2014 while he was with the Panthers.
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Because of NCAA transfer rules, James will have to sit out the 2016 season. He will have two years of eligibility left and will be available to play for Wisconsin in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
James will not only reunite with Chryst but with offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph and running backs coach John Settle who were coaches at Pitt.
According to 247Sports.com, James was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and was the 19th ranked running back in the country. He started three years at Notre Dame College Prep and compiled 4,220 yards and 53 touchdowns. Not only was he heavily recruited by Wisconsin but James also had offers Arizona State, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Tennessee among others.
Not to mention he has a crazy workout video on YouTube from when he was 17 that has over 4 million views. Take a look for yourself.
As a true freshman in 2014, James rushed for 437 yards on 87 carries and four touchdowns as the top reserve running back. But last season he saw his carries diminish under new head coach Pat Narduzzi. James would carry the ball just 56 times for 253 yards and did not find the end zone once. It was back in December when James announced he would be transferring.
With both Corey Clement and Dare Ogunbowale graduating after this season, the Badgers are looking for any way to bolster their running back depth going forward. Taiwan Deal played well as a redshirt freshman last year rushing for 503 yards and six touchdowns behind a depleted line. Bradrick Shaw, the highly touted recruit from Hoover, AL, will look to gain experience this season and compete for the starting job with Deal and James next season.
Familiarity with the coaching staff he had his freshman year that is now in Madison will certainly make this a very smooth transition. This move ensures that the running back position will still be strong after this season. The competition next spring for the top spot at running back will be a very intriguing and exciting one to watch that will make all three involved even better.
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The timing could not have been better for James to transfer as scholarships for next year will be tight and the Badgers will look to fill needs other than at running back.