Luke Fickell explains how Wisconsin will manage Braelon Allen’s workload

Braelon Allen may be the most intriguing player in Wisconsin’s new offense as the Badgers shift to an Air Raid approach. Naturally, there are questions about how the star running back will be used.

Allen last year had 230 carries for 1,242 yards and 11 touchdowns, which was 4th in the B1G in yardage. He also reached the 2,000-yard career rushing mark against Michigan State, and became the 5th-fastest Badger to reach that mark in program history, which he did in 19 games.

At Big Ten Media Days on Thursday, coach Luke Fickell on the Big Ten Network spelled out that he would love to see Allen average 18 carries per game and 140 yards.

“If that’s the case, at the end of the year, we’re going to have the best version of Braelon that we need,” Fickell said. “If you carry it through by the end of the year, it does wear down. You can be 245 pounds like he is and be as physical as he is, and it still takes a toll. We all have to recognize that and he has to be one that recognizes that as well.”

▶️ 18 carries
▶️ ≈140 yards@CoachFick talks @BraelonAllen‘s workload in an attempt to keep the @BadgerFootball star RB fresh.#B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/EyTl0PnqbM

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) July 27, 2023

Keith Farner

Keith Farner has written about college football for newspapers and web sites since 2005.