College Football 2017: One x-factor for each Big Ten team

Wisconsin Badgers: RB Bradrick Shaw

With the departures of Corey Clement and Dare Ogunbowale, the Badgers are looking to replace their top two running backs. Shaw was the third-string back as a redshirt  freshman last year, finishing with 88 carries for 457 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games played.

Shaw had double-digit carries in three of the final five regular season games in 2016, highlighted by 19 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown against Illinois and two touchdowns against Purdue the following week.

Pitt transfer Chris James, who played under Badgers coach Paul Chryst as a freshman in 2014, will also be in the mix for carries in the Wisconsin backfield. Taiwan Deal is back healthy after an ankle injury shortened his 2016 campaign, and another Pitt transfer, grad transfer Rachid Ibrahim.

There’s always room for two backs to contribute in Wisconsin’s rushing attack, and rung backs coach John Settle has been complementary of both backs during fall camp. Settle first spoke of Shaw’s offseason work to become a more complete back, and his body transformation.

"If you’re going to play a Big Ten schedule, physically he’d better be ready to take a pounding,” Settle said. “He’s worked hard in the offseason to build his body up. The thing I like about him is he runs behind his pads. We’re trying to do some things with him in the pass game. He took it upon himself to learn all the protections so he could play all three downs if he wanted to. I don’t know if we’ll use him in all three phases, but the fact that he’s able to do that increases his chances of being on the field.”"

But Settle also suggested James could wind up being the starter.

"I think right now [James] probably gives you the best chance of going out and starting a game and being effective,” Settle said. “Right now those guys are going in as we alternate series.”"

An equal workload split between James and Shaw could be coming to start the season, with Deal an Ibrahim battling for what’s left. But I’m betting on Shaw eventually emerging as the best of the bunch, and becoming the next in a long line of productive tailbacks in Madison.