Chez Mellusi
FILE - Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen (0) and Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst confer after defeating Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, in Las Vegas. After playing in five of the first seven Big Ten championship games, the Badgers have made it to Indianapolis just once in the last four years. They blew a chance to get there in 2021 by losing at Minnesota in their regular-season finale. (AP Photo/L.E. Baskow, File)
Badgers RBs have big goals as they honor their former coach

By Steve Megargee Aug. 31, 2022 01:56 PM EDT

Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Badgers' Mertz confident he can improve his consistency

By Steve Megargee Aug. 02, 2022 07:00 PM EDT

FILE - Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi (6) leaves the game against Rutgers during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Nov. 6, 2021, in Piscataway, N.J. Mellusi says he has reached out to former Clemson teammate and current Green Bay Packers wide receiver Amari Rodgers for advice on recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)
Badgers' Mellusi hopeful he can be ready for start of season

By Steve Megargee Mar. 28, 2022 04:07 PM EDT

Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen (0) breaks away for a touchdown run against Nebraska safety Marquel Dismuke (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Allen carries No. 19 Wisconsin to 35-28 win over Nebraska

By Steve Megargee Nov. 20, 2021 07:14 PM EST

Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi (6) rushes for a touchdown against Rutgers during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
No. 20 Badgers lose RB Mellusi to season-ending knee injury

Nov. 11, 2021 12:13 PM EST

Wisconsin safety John Torchio (15) is shown warming up before NCAA college football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Wisconsin at Rutgers 11/6/2021

Nov. 06, 2021 03:23 PM EDT

Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral is hit by Illinois defensive back Sydney Brown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Vedral left the game for medical attention but returned later. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Hot Wisconsin brings nation's top-ranked defense to Rutgers

By Tom Canavan Nov. 04, 2021 11:51 AM EDT

Iowa defensive back Jermari Harris (27) pushes Wisconsin wide receiver Jack Dunn (16) out of bounds after a reception in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Iowa at Wisconsin 10/30/2021

Oct. 30, 2021 01:57 PM EDT

Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis (5) celebrates a touchdown on an interception against Wisconsin during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin at Purdue 10/23/2021

Oct. 23, 2021 04:51 PM EDT

Wisconsin's Chez Mellusi runs past Army's Jaylen Jacobs during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
No. 25 Purdue tries to build momentum against Wisconsin

By The Associated Press Oct. 21, 2021 05:10 PM EDT

Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi scores during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Wisconsin won 24-0. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Army's triple option to test Wisconsin's vaunted run defense

By Steve Megargee Oct. 14, 2021 03:31 PM EDT

Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen heads for the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Braelon Allen is only 17 years old, but the 6-foot-2, 238-pound freshman running back already is earning a reputation for his bruising approach each time he carries the ball. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Wisconsin RB Allen plays with power that belies his youth

By Steve Megargee Oct. 13, 2021 06:33 PM EDT

Michigan's David Ojabo loses his helmet as he stops Wisconsin's Jalen Berger during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Wisconsin dismisses running back Jalen Berger from team

Oct. 10, 2021 02:44 PM EDT

Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph (25) intercepts a pass intended for Wisconsin wide receiver Kendric Pryor (3) as Devon Witherspoon also defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Wisconsin at Illinois 10/9/2021

Oct. 09, 2021 05:01 PM EDT

Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie (17) sacks Villanova quarterback Daniel Smith, right, during an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Michigan State, Penn State getting big boost from transfers

By Steve Megargee Oct. 05, 2021 05:47 PM EDT

Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz scrambles during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chryst says Wisconsin's troubles on offense go beyond Mertz

By Tamira Madsen Sep. 27, 2021 06:01 PM EDT

Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan, right, scrambles away from pressure by Wisconsin linebacker Jack Sanborn during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
With QB Coan out, No. 12 Irish beat No. 18 Badgers 41-13

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 25, 2021 04:12 PM EDT

Wisconsin defensive end Matt Henningsen sacks Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Notre Dame at Wisconsin 9/25/2021

Sep. 25, 2021 01:23 PM EDT

Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson, left, cuts upfield against Tulsa defensive back Travon Fuller during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Pair and a spare: Tailback depth a must-have in Big Ten play

By Dave Campbell Sep. 21, 2021 06:49 PM EDT

Eastern Michigan's Freddie McGee III breaks up a pass intended for Wisconsin's Danny Davis III during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Mellusi powers No. 18 Wisconsin past Eastern Michigan 37-7

By Tamira Madsen Sep. 11, 2021 10:33 PM EDT