Expected to replace All-American Melvin Gordon as Wisconsin’s bell-cow running back, Corey Clement has instead limped through the first part of the 2015 season.
In the opener against Alabama, Clement was limited to 16 yards on eight carries. To add injury to that statistical insult, Clement strained a groin in the loss and has been sidelined for the last two games. With a Week 4 game against Hawaii on tap in two days, the door hasn’t been closed on a return this weekend.
However, it appears the medical staff may be erring on the side of caution and are pointing to the Oct. 3 Big Ten opener against Iowa as the more likely target for a return.
“We’re hoping to have him for sure for that game,” running backs coach John Settle said of the home date with the Hawkeyes. “I think the trainers are promising us.”
Getting Clement back would certainly give a running game that’s lagged behind previous results a much-needed lift.
Through three games this season, the Badgers are averaging 142.3 yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry. Through the same timeframe last season, it was 359.7 ypg and 7.8 ypc. Granted, the latter totals were skewed because of a 644-yard effort against Bowling Green in Week 3, but it’s simply not the same running game without Gordon and a healthy Clement.
Last season as Gordon’s primary backup, Clement ran for 949 yards and averaged 6.5 yards per carry.