Things have not gone according to plan for the Wisconsin ground attack so far this season. With three healthy, game-experienced running backs expected to return alongside two freshmen with bright futures, the running backs were projected, as usual, to be the key component to the Wisconsin offense.
Before the season even started, the game plan had changed when the corps received news of sophomore Dwayne Smith's career-ending heart ailment. While Smith was a huge contributor these past two years, the focus was on senior Anthony Davis and the fact that he was healthy for the 2004 season. That did not last long. After sitting out most of last season with an ankle injury, the Heisman hopeful was sidelined yet again for three weeks when he injured his eye in the home opener.
So what were the Badgers to do? With the first and second string running backs sidelined, it looked as though the corps had more on their plate than they bargained for. Luckily, Wisconsin has not had to abandon their highly-touted running game thanks to the likes of sophomore Booker Stanley, as well as freshmen Jamil Walker and Chris Pressley.
Stanley has gone from third string to first string in a matter of weeks and has quite graciously accepted this role.
\I was sad to see that Dwayne can't play now because of his heart condition,"" Stanley said. ""So I really just thought about, you know, what my reasons were for playing this game and now I just do a lot of things for myself and him. With Anthony ... I know he's going to be back, but right now it's my time to show these young guys some leadership and show that they can count on me to help this team to win.""
This has not been the first time that Stanley has had to fill in. Last year he helped out alongside Smith when Davis was out, and rushed for 523 yards. In last week's game against Arizona, he stepped up again, carrying the ball 30 times for a career-high 135 yards and scored the lone UW touchdown in the 9-7 victory.
Believe it or not, Stanley has also done well as a receiver this season. He has the most catches of any Badger (eight) and is averaging 21.7 yards a game.
""This past summer and the spring I got with the receivers and I've been working on catching the ball. It's helped me out a lot and so far I'm comfortable with it,"" Stanley said regarding his receiving abilities.
Another member of the running back group who has had to do a little bit of receiving is junior fullback Matt Bernstein. In the Arizona game, he had two catches both resulting in first downs for the Badgers. As for his rushing skills, not much needs to be said. Bernstein started all 13 games last season, and currently he is only averaging 5.7 yards a game, but as a fullback he is mostly used in third-and-short situations. Also, he has been known to utilize his 6'2"", 270-pound frame very well as an extra blocker for the offense.
Besides Stanley and Bernstein, the Badgers have received ""fresh"" help from Walker and Pressley. Walker has played in the two of the first three games and has stood out a bit more. Before Walker was able to make his Badger debut, he also had an unexpected twist when he caught a throat virus before the season opener against the University of Central Florida.
""I practiced all week, found out I got sick and I kind of had to just chill out and stay in my room. I wanted to play but it was unfortunate that I didn't get the chance to,"" Walker said.
Once his sickness was cured, with Davis now on the sidelines it was Walker's turn to step in. During the University of Nevada-Las Vegas game he made his Badger debut, rushing for 88 yards on 16 carries. Not only was he the leading UW rusher that day, but it was the highest rushing total for any true freshman in his first game during the Alvarez era.
If things would have gone as planned for the season, Walker may not have had the chance to display his skills until next year. He commented that the option to redshirt was not up to him and that offensive coordinator Brian White felt that he and Pressley were ready to play right away. Since the situation has changed, both freshmen have accepted the fact that it was their turn to contribute.
""At camp when we found out that Dwayne wasn't playing, me and Pressley really didn't understand the situation..."" Walker said. ""It didn't really sink in until [Davis] got hurt that we knew that we were going to have to step in and actually contribute. The only thing we could really do was just hop in, play our hardest and hope that it would be the best.""
There is still no definite word on when Davis will make his return, but Head Coach Barry Alvarez did mention that Davis will be undergoing eye exams late this week and early next week. Alvarez also very adamantly stressed that the injury was not a scratched cornea as some TV announcers were saying during last Saturday's game.
When Davis finally returns, the rotation will allow Stanley to stay well-rested, but it may not benefit the freshmen quite as much. Walker does not see a probable cut in playing time as a setback.
""We know that this year is for us to learn, and we have the opportunity to learn from the best running back in the country and the best running back coach in the country,"" Walker said. ""Me and Chris, we're not really thinking about playing time, we just want to practice everyday and get better.""
