Bielema hopes Badger backs get plenty of carries Saturday
University of Wisconsin head football coach Bret Bielema expects three running backs to get a lot of carries during Saturday night’s season opener at Nevada-Las Vegas.
MADISON - University of Wisconsin head football coach Bret Bielema expects three running backs to get a lot of carries during Saturday night’s season opener at Nevada-Las Vegas.
John Clay remains the starter – and Bielema says his playing time will depend on the flow of the game and Clay’s ability to handle the workload. The junior is coming off surgeries on both his ankles, after rushing for 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns a year ago. Clay fumbled twice during the Badgers’ final scrimmage last week. Bielema says sophomore Montee Ball and freshman James White are likely to get a good number of carries against the Runnin’ Rebels – who gave up 220 yards a game on the ground last season. Badgers’ senior running back Zach Brown is practicing again after having trouble with knee tendinitis. There’s talk that he might be red-shirted this season.
UNLV has a new coach this year - Bobby Hauck from the University of Montana – and the Badgers have been looking at game films from both schools to prepare for Saturday night’s contest.
Yesterday UW released its depth chart for the season opener. Besides the running backs, the three top corners are juniors Devin Smith and Antonio Fenelus, and senior Niles Brinkley. Bielema says the starters will be decided at this week’s practices. Also to be determined is the starting right guard spot, where senior Bill Nagy is competing with junior Kevin Zeitler. The latter missed some of this month’s pre-season camp with a sprained ankle. It’s not known yet if linebacker Mike Taylor will play. He’s coming off a knee injury. Senior David Gilreath is the top punt-and-kickoff returner.
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