When Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers football team dropped their unofficial Week 2 depth chart ahead of their matchup against South Dakota, one of the more notable changes came at the running back spot.
Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker are now listed as co-starters. This was expected to be a timeshare in the Badgers backfield between these two veteran running backs, and their performance against Western Michigan—34 combined carries for 140 yards and two touchdowns—made that clear.
Despite all the hype around true freshmen Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree during fall camp, it was redshirt sophomore Cade Yacamelli who ended up getting the third-most snaps (12) against the Broncos. Now, he’s listed as the backup to Wisconsin’s 1A and 1B on the updated depth chart.
The Pennsylvania native carried the ball four times for 35 yards, with 17 of those yards coming after contact. On top of that, two of his runs went for over 10 yards. Yacamelli's efforts earned him a Pro Football Focus grade of 71.4 , the second highest among Badgers running backs in the opener.
When you look closer at Wisconsin's backfield, Yacamelli is clearly a player whose stock is on the rise. Even with all the preseason hype surrounding the other scholarship running backs and their potential roles, it was Yacamelli who stepped up in the opener.
After the game, Badgers head football coach Luke Fickell made it clear that Yacamelli’s development hasn’t gone unnoticed, and he’s quickly becoming a trusted figure within the program.
“Kind of wish there were more opportunities [for Yacamelli], and I'm not saying there weren't, but when he did have his opportunities, he ran the ball really well," Fickell told reporters . "He is definitely a different player than he was last year. He starts on three special teams, he's a guy that everybody in the program trusts and believes in, and his opportunities are going to be more and more."
Heading into Week 2 against South Dakota, it’s clear that Coach Fickell has confidence in what Yacamelli brings to the table. With his skill set, there’s a good chance we’ll see more of him as a change-of-pace option, especially in zone running schemes where he’s best suited to make an impact.
Related: Wisconsin Badgers Freshman CB Xavier Lucas Makes Strong First Impression in Debut
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