Wisconsin Football: Badgers Skill Position Depth Chart for 2017
By Tyler Hunt
Running Back
The Starter: Bradrick Shaw
The Backup: Chris James
The Wild Card: Taiwan Deal
Familar faces of Corey Clement and Dare Ogunbowale won’t be back in 2017, and the running back reins will be turned over to out coming star Bradrick Shaw. Shaw got his first carries against Akron this season, and shined in his limited role. He’s a strong runner from the football factory of Hoover, Alabama who will now be the big man on campus next fall. Shaw was impressive in his opportunities, and looks that he will continue the trend of talented backs coming through Wisconsin.
While Shaw will likely fill the void of Clement, Chris James will likely fill the role that Dare will be leaving as a passing threat out of the backfield. For those unfamiliar, James missed all of the 2016 season after transferring to Wisconsin from Pittsburgh. James is relatively unknown to many Badger fans, but has had a promising start to his career at Pitt over two seasons. A speedy and shifty back, James will step into the role and be a vital 1-2 punch with Shaw.
The wildcard remains to be Taiwan Deal, who reappeared for two carries in the Cotton Bowl victory. Deal got a large amount of play his freshman season, but hardly saw the field after injury and the emergence of Shaw. The Badgers always rotated three backs, so its likely that Deal will get the first opportunity to seize that role in the Spring.