Badger of Honor
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Wisconsin Football: Grading position groups from week two

By Tanner Nestle

MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 08: Alec Ingold #45 of the Wisconsin Badgers jumps over Jalin Burrell #13 of the New Mexico Lobos during the first half at Camp Randall Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 08: Alec Ingold #45 of the Wisconsin Badgers jumps over Jalin Burrell #13 of the New Mexico Lobos during the first half at Camp Randall Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin Football RB Jonathan Taylor
MADISON, WI – SEPTEMBER 08: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers rushes for a touchdown during the first half against the New Mexico Lobos at Camp Randall Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

. . Wisconsin Badgers. RUNNING BACKS. A

We’ll get the fumble out of the way first. It was bad. Near the end zone, Jonathan Taylor coughed up his second fumble of the year in as many games. I’d like to chalk this one up to bad luck, as the New Mexico defender just put his shoulder on the ball in the perfect spot, but this is a trend for Taylor. The hit may have forced the ball loose on any running back. Taylor isn’t just ‘any’ running back though. He needs to be better.

Fortunately, he was much, much better after losing that fumble. He had 7.7 yards-per-carry on his way to a career day and found the end zone three times. If not for touchdown vulture Alec Ingold, Taylor may have had four scores.

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Taiwan Deal had another great day taking secondary snaps at the position. His nine carries for 57 yards are exactly what the offense needs when Taylor isn’t in the game.

Ingold, mentioned earlier, had four carries for 45 yards and a touchdown. Will anybody be able to stop the fullback dive this year?

Chris James had six carries for 29 yards and Garrett Groshek had three carries for 21 yards. The Badgers combined for 417 rushing yards and 7.1 yards-per-carry as a team.

If only the position group wasn’t responsible for a turnover near the goal line, this would be a rock-solid A+. Groshek also fumbled once, but it was recovered by the Badgers and was in the closing seconds of the first half. A fumble is still a fumble, but I’ll cut Groshek some slack on this one.