Have the Badgers ever had a dud starting at RB?
Who is Wisconsin's Lydell Ross?
Good question.
I assume we'll set aside someone that people sort of got tired of. Like, PJ Hill kind of lost his luster that last year, but he still ran for 1,161 yards at 5.1 a carry. We'll also set aside guys that got easily jumped. Taylor was behind two somewhat experienced backs right before his first year, a Pitt transfer and a guy who ran for 450 yards the year prior, but then he went for 1,900. So we'll go with situations where they just didn't have a great guy at the top.
2015: Starter (Clement) had something happen, either concussion or injury. Theoretical backup Taiwan Deal wasn't great, so third-down back Dare Ogunbowale ends up running for 800 so-so yards. The former walk-on was in over his head, and got back to being a nice third-down back the next year.
2003: Started Anthony Davis showed wear from 591 carries his first two years. He was hurt. His backups were so-so, with Dwayne Smith getting 850 and Booker Stanley getting 520 at under 4 a carry. Davis was a little healthier the next year, getting 973 at 4.8 a carry, with Stanley at 115 carries at 3 yards per.
Next worst top back since 1993 was Carl McCullough, who barely got 1,000 at 4.4 carry with three TDs. His backup was Aaron Stecker, a little-used third-down guy, who got squeezed out by Ron Dayne, blew up at Western Illinois and carved out 10 years as an end of the roster NFL guy.
Clement's last year was a little below standard, but he did get 300 carries and 1,375 yards
