Wisconsin Football: Predicting Running Back Stats

Garrett Groshek

Rushing yards: 475

Rushing touchdowns: 5

Groshek is my favorite to get most of the early season second-team carries. He’s not coming off an injury like Shaw and Deal, he showed more promise than James, and he’s not a true freshman like Nakia Watson. Groshek runs really hard and I like the way he balances Taylor’s game.

Groshek doesn’t have the same big-play capability that Taylor or even James and Shaw have, but he can get the job done in short-yardage situations. Groshek has the makings to become a fan and coach favorite with his hard-nosed running style.

There wasn’t very much I saw from Groshek last year that I didn’t like. You have to wonder what kind of stats he could have put up if there wasn’t a monster running for 1,900 yards in the backfield last year. Next year could be very much the same thing since I predict Taylor to break the 2,000-yard mark. But there should be more rushing yards to go around with an even better offensive line and commitment to the running game.

The Badgers would have had even better rushing numbers as a team last season if other running backs stepped up and performed better. Groshek is somebody I count on to do just that. If he can approach 500 yards rushing with a handful of touchdowns I trust he’ll be solidified as the second-best running back on the roster.