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Running Mate: Jonathan Taylor is confident Bradrick Shaw will return to his old self this season
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The running back position isn’t an area of concern for Wisconsin entering the season. With Jonathan Taylor in the backfield, it’s the area the Badgers are most confident in heading into 2019.
But there’s a possibility Wisconsin is even stronger at that spot than it has been the last two years. The health and status of Bradrick Shaw is a major reason why.
Shaw missed all of the 2018 season due to injury, putting an even heavier workload on Taylor. The sophomore delivered, though, leading the nation in rushing and was the only player to accumulate over 2,000 yards on the ground.
Now, Taylor is getting is running mate back. He says that Shaw is poised to return to his old self this fall.
“I mean, he looks even stronger and faster,” Taylor said at B1G Media Days. “Just his progression between those two time periods has been fun to watch. I expect him to be back to the Bradrick Shaw you guys saw before.”
In two seasons in Madison, Shaw has appeared in 22 games with two starts. He’s totaled 822 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground and added 27 yards on four catches.
Shaw may not exactly steal the show from Taylor on the field, but having an excellent back up option should allow the Heisman Trophy candidate to take a few more breathers throughout the season. That’ll be even more important later in the year.
If Shaw returns to his old self, there’s no doubt Wisconsin can have one of the most dynamic and prolific backfields in the country in 2019.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB