If there are two things that one can always count on, it is a bitter Wisconsin winter and a strong Wisconsin Badgers rushing attack.
As the temperatures continue to dip in Madison, the No. 19 Badgers rushing attack continues to stay on fire. While the rest of the football world continues to transition to pass heavy, spread option schemes, the Badgers continue to rough up opponents with an old school ground and pound attack.
The Wisconsin rushing machine most recently put up 552 yards and six touchdowns with 11.3 yards per carry against their latest victim Indiana. Senior James White started right out of the gate, sprinting for a 93-yard touchdown on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
White would end his day with 205 yards on just 20 carries, and over his last three games he has totaled 484 yards and six total touchdowns.
He not only continues to dominate on the field, but his veteran locker room presence has been an enormous influence this season.
“[White] comes to work every day, he’s one of the hardest working players I’ve ever been around,” offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig said. “He plays hard on Monday’s walk through, plays hard on Thursday’s practice and plays hard on Saturdays.”
Where White’s leadership has really shone is his mentorship and influence on his two young backfield mates, sophomore Melvin Gordon and freshman Corey Clement.
“When I make a mistake, I really get down on myself. [White] is always there saying you got to move on,” Gordon said.
“James is like an older brother to me; he has taught me a lot since I’ve been here,” Clement said. “James is like another coach on the field. He helps me with the play calls and just how to stay calm.”
While White led the team in rushing this past Saturday, the two aforementioned backs also had impressive days.
Gordon added another impressive performance with 146 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries. His 8.51 yards per carry leads the nation, and if he keeps up this pace for 62 more carries, he will be eligible to break the all-time career rushing average record of 8.26 yards per carry, set by former Army running back Glenn Davis (1943-’46).
Clement also came in and rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns, numbers that earned him his second Big Ten freshman of the week honor in a row.
However, receiving another accolade is the farthest thing from his mind.
“I kind of don’t like the praise because once you get a lot of praise, you start to dial down. I try not to let it get into my ears and just keep working hard.” Clement said. “It’s a great feeling to know I got freshman of the week, but I just want to keep striving.”
The next test for Wisconsin’s rushing machine is No. 25 Minnesota. The Golden Gophers re-entered the polls for the first time since 2008, and their 8-2 record has been built on huge improvements from their defense.
“I don’t know what [Minnesota] did in the offseason, but they look a lot more athletic,” Gordon said. “You could just put on film of their team from this year to last year and you can totally see a big difference.”
“They play extremely hard and they have a really good scheme that plays to their players’ strengths,” Ludwig said. “They run to the football and do an excellent job in man-to-man coverage.”
With Minnesota’s improvement, the excitement level in Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe is even higher than normal. “This game means a lot,” Gordon said. “We’re both two good teams, and it’s going to be an exciting, bruising game.”
