Wisconsin’s Chez Mellusi and Braelon Allen a tough twosome at running back

IOWA CITY — Perhaps he’s the next great one. Or rather they’re the next great ones.

Wisconsin’s football program produces running backs like Iowa’s does tight ends. The list is exhaustive: Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball, James White, Ron Dayne, etc., etc.

Chez Mellusi and Braelon Allen haven’t reached those heights, yet. But their work together has helped the Badgers put together a three-game win streak going into Saturday’s game against Iowa.

Kickoff at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison is 11 a.m. (ESPN).

“I think we are the best duo in the country, if we can consistently keep doing (this),” Mellusi said, after he and Allen pounded Purdue for a combined 289 yards and three touchdowns in an impressive 30-13 win last Saturday.

“That’s Wisconsin football,” Allen said. “That’s what we’re known for: imposing our will on defenses. We are finally getting back to our brand of football. It has worked for the longest time.”

Which is why Mellusi decided to make the move to Madison from Clemson. A backup to first-round NFL draft pick Travis Ettiene, the sophomore from Naples, Fla., entered the portal in late April and found an almost immediate home.

Mellusi rushed 31 times for 121 yards in the season opener against Penn State, had 144 yards on 20 carries against Eastern Michigan, 145 on 21 attempts against Illinois and a career-best 149 yards last week. He has 692 yards this season, averaging 5 yards a carry.

“Their history of running backs sort of speaks for itself,” he said. “Once I entered my name in the portal, they were one of the first ones to reach out … JT (Taylor) obviously came here, his prolific career. All of them: Melvin, Montee Ball, all of those dudes kind of come through here, kind of get the job done and go to the next level, the NFL. That kind of caught my eye.”

“From the first time in having conversations with Chez, you quickly realized who he was and his competitive nature and his purpose and the why behind all of his circumstances,” Wisconsin Coach Paul Chryst said this week. “Then when he was able to get here and be around the guys and you see him work. Then as you get going, and you have a chance to work with him in the room, you felt real good. Did you know for certainty? No. But we felt fairly certain this was a good one for us.”

Most of Allen’s playing time hasn’t really come until this month, after Wisconsin dismissed back Jalen Berger from the team and lost back Isaac Guerendo to injury. A true freshman from Fond du Lac, Wis., with more of a straight-ahead power style than Mellusi, he broke out in the Oct. 9 game against Illinois with 18 carries for 131 yards and a TD.

Two more games of 100-plus yards have followed.

“Even in his recruitment, there was some uncertainty of what is the best position for him?” Chryst said. “We were having conversations with him. I think it speaks to who he is, he truly (was going to do) whatever is best for this team. I think that is a reflection of a couple of things. One, there’s some self confidence in that he can contribute. Two, humble enough (to say) whatever I can do for this team.”

Iowa’s defense has been great against the run this season, yet Coach Kirk Ferentz knows the challenge it will have Saturday.

“I don’t want to speak for them, but I can’t imagine that wasn’t their best game this past Saturday,” Ferentz said. “They looked impressive in all three phases. Again, I’m not saying I know what they want to do. I’d be happy running the ball like they did. Both backs, just about 300 yards between the two of them. Their line played really well: tight ends, the whole nine yards.”

Ferentz noted how it’s two “new” guys doing all the damage right now.

“What’s really interesting if you look at their depth chart from last year, the running back position last year versus this year, you’ve got three new names. Obviously, they did a really nice job, no slight against the players that were there last year, they’ve really done a good job of addressing that position. That’s one thing. If you think about Wisconsin over the last 25-plus years, it usually starts at the running back position. They’ve got somebody, you know who they are, or your soon thereafter learn who they are.”

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