MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin operating again Chez Mellusi, the crew’s main rusher, is stepping away from this system as he continues to rehab from accidents in an effort to be absolutely wholesome, in accordance with a press release from this system.
“We need to let folks know that Chez goes to be stepping away from the crew for now and dealing to get his physique wholesome,” the assertion learn. “He’s endured many accidents and has labored extraordinarily laborious to have the ability to play this yr, however his physique hasn’t responded the best way he anticipated. We’re right here to assist Chez in any means we are able to and hope he’ll be again on the soccer area once more sooner or later.”
A crew spokesperson stated the Badgers aren’t ruling him out for all the season.
Mellusi, who transferred to Wisconsin from Clemson earlier than the 2021 season, has performed in 26 profession video games for the Badgers however battled accidents each season. From 2021 to ’23, he missed 17 video games. Mellusi tore the ACL in his left knee in opposition to Rutgers in 2021 and missed the final 4 video games. He was sidelined for a stretch in 2022 with a damaged proper wrist sustained in opposition to Northwestern. He suffered one other season-ending damage in 2023 in Week 4 in opposition to Purdue when he fractured his left fibula and dislocated his ankle, which he stated within the spring required “a full ankle reconstruction.”
Mellusi opted to make use of his sixth yr of eligibility to return this season and was forward of schedule as a full participant throughout spring practices. He leads the Badgers with 56 rushes for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Mellusi was averaging 4.1 yards per carry, down from 6 yards per carry in 4 video games final season. Throughout his Wisconsin profession, he has rushed for 1,827 yards and 14 touchdowns.
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Wisconsin’s operating again depth chart has six scholarship gamers remaining. Oklahoma switch Tawee Walker figures to deal with an elevated workload, whereas Cade Yacamelli, Jackson Acker and true freshmen Darrion Dupree and Dilin Jones is also potential choices. Yacamelli ranks second on the crew with 153 yards speeding. Walker has 147 yards speeding and three touchdowns. Dupree has 16 carries for 61 yards and earned two carries on Wisconsin’s second drive in opposition to USC final Saturday.
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell stated on Monday that he needed to attempt to pare down the operating again rotation to permit his finest gamers to seek out extra of a rhythm.
“We’ve obtained just a little little bit of a tricky journey proper now on the operating again spot,” Fickell stated. “That means, we’ve obtained a bunch of men. And it’s in all probability one of many issues that I’m going to sort of not say impress, however placed on the offense just a little extra to say look, I don’t know you could play 4 and 5 operating backs. We’ve obtained to focus in on hey, who’s going to be the one, who’s going to be the subsequent man after which who’s the spare?
“It doesn’t give them a chance to get into rhythms. Chez being a type of guys, Tawee being one other one. So we’re going to need to determine it out. Nothing in opposition to Chez. Nothing saying, hey, he’s going to get 30 touches now. However what we have to discover out is who can get sizzling and who with extra alternatives are going to have a greater likelihood for us. That’s what’s actually sort of tough. For Chez, for Tawee and even for among the younger guys.”
Wisconsin (2-2, 0-1 Large Ten) hosts Purdue (1-3, 0-1) on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT at Camp Randall Stadium.
Photograph: John Fisher / Getty Photos
