BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. — There were some spring practices when Wisconsin's first-year running backs coach Gary Brown was "reduced" to one-on-one instruction. Literally, there were days when he only had one healthy tailback. Frequently, it was walk-on Brady Schipper. Until he got injured.

"Schipp took a ton of reps, and he kind of got nicked up at the end," Brown said of the Stoughton High School product who's back in the mix this fall. "But he did a really, really good job and proved to a lot of people that he can play and that he deserves an opportunity to compete."

Brown was grateful to have fullbacks John Chenal and Quan Easterling at full-go and available after the tailback rotation was decimated last March and April. There were times when wide receiver Jack Dunn was pressed into service as a de facto running back just to execute the offense.

"It was slim," Brown said of the pickings. "But they all rallied around, and we got it done."

The numbers were dramatically upgraded last week when the Badgers opened the 2021 training camp at Camp Randall Stadium. For that first practice, Brown had a dozen players in his position group, including Chenal and Easterling and 10 tailbacks (four returnees, a transfer and five true freshmen).

"I don't think any of them have separated themselves as far as 'This is the guy,'" he said. "They all have to prove to me and to our staff that they deserve to be the number one guy. Obviously, somebody has to be the first guy to go in. All have the challenge to try and be that guy."

Brown, 52, has an abundance of experience in evaluating personnel. He has done it at the prep level at his alma mater in Pennsylvania (Williamsport High School); collegiately at Lycoming College, Susquehanna University and Rutgers; and in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys.

On identifying potential contributors in the UW backfield, Brown plans to take it, "Practice by practice, play by play." After that, he said, "We'll make a fair evaluation and just roll from there. You hope you get two or three and you can say, 'OK, these are the guys we can win games with.'

"But they have to go out there and do it themselves. Everyone will have an opportunity and I'm going to try and be as fair as possible and get them as many equal reps as I can. But when you get those reps, you've got to do something with them, whether running the ball, pass protecting, running routes."

After losing two-time Doak Walker Award winner Jonathan Taylor to the NFL, the Badgers anticipated a measurable drop-off in their running attack last season. The leading rusher, true freshman Jalen Berger, appeared in only four games. But he was productive (301 yards) with limited carries (60).

Brown reviewed the 2020 tape of Berger and concluded, "I just liked the way he was very smooth in his movements. He was very slippery. You really didn't know how explosive he was until you got him on the field (in the spring) and actually saw him put his foot in the ground and get vertical.

"I just want to see Jalen take off. I just want him to put everything in his game. I think he's got the skill set that can be really dangerous. He just needs to believe in himself."

There's the general belief that the Badgers will get an immediate lift from Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi, who was a backup to Travis Eitenne for two seasons. Mellusi, who's from Naples, Florida, played in 20 games and rushed for 427 yards and six touchdowns. He will turn 20 in October.

"I expect him to go out and compete," Brown said. "He has tremendous drive coming from Clemson. He has short-area quicks, the ins and outs. I really like the way his game plays. He knows what it takes to be a champion. He knows what it is to compete."

There isn't much film on Isaac Guerendo and Julius Davis. Both have dealt with injuries since arriving at the UW. Here's what Brown does know about Guerendo: "He's the fastest guy we've got. He can put his foot in the ground and go 80 yards with ease. I'm looking forward to him staying healthy."

He's also looking forward to seeing Braelon Allen in action. Allen is a 17-year-old freshman from Fond du Lac and the prep player of the year in Wisconsin. He was originally targeted for defense. But after rushing for 1,039 yards and 21 touchdowns last year, he has earned a look at tailback.

"You've got to take a look at him, he's a man-child," Brown said. "He's going to be a great player whether he plays running back or linebacker or plays both. I've never seen anybody that strong (for his age). He's an anomaly. We have to make sure we get him enough reps to see what he can do."

As a prep, Brown said, "He was just so much more powerful (than his opponents), and he was running through people. What impressed me most was watching his defensive tape and the way he was able to move and get in and out of holes and around blocks. That equates to running the ball as well."

Who might be an X-factor, if not Allen? The frosh talent pool also features Jackson Acker, Loyal Crawford and Antwan Roberts. Brown said, "There are only so many reps and you pray that you get the freshmen enough so they can show what they can do in a fair evaluation. That's my job, my goal."

Assessing his position group – Mellusi has the most career carries (71) at the collegiate level – Brown said, "I'm really excited about the room, it's a young room. None of them have played a lot. So it's like a ball of clay that we can mold in the way we want. I'm excited because it's a new challenge."

By his own admission, Brown is still getting up to speed with his surroundings and the offensive system, which he pointed out, "It's a whole different style of offense than I'm used to, but I'm enjoying it." The last time that he coached on a college campus was 2008 for Greg Schiano at Rutgers.

On transitioning from the NFL, he said, "You have to adjust to the rules and regulations and the time limits and just understand that you're coaching young men who have school responsibilities. They still want to be great, but you have to figure out a way not to eat up all their time."

For seven years (2013 to 2019), Brown served under Jason Garrett with the Cowboys. Prior to that, he worked for two different head coaches in Cleveland: Eric Mangini (2009-2010) and Pat Shurmur (2011-2012). Mangini is Brown's link to Wisconsin's first-year cornerbacks coach, Hank Poteat.

After playing for Mangini with the New York Jets, Poteat followed him to Cleveland in '09. Poteat started two games for the Browns that season, his 10th as a player in the NFL. Not long after retiring from the league, he got into the coaching profession. The lessons carried over.

"Some of the things I learned in New York from Eric Mangini really helped as a player to see things from the coach's perspective," Poteat said. "We would do presentations on different situations and a lot of personnel reports. A lot of those things helped in the transition to the coaching level.

"Some things that may have come natural to me as a player, now you have to be able to present and teach to players without trying to make them be who you were. You have to understand what works best for them."

Wisconsin's Paul Chryst has been pleased with the additions of Brown and Poteat to his coaching staff along with the reassignment of Ross Kolodziej from the Badger weight room to the defensive line. Kolodziej had been the head strength and conditioning coach.

"I'm really confident in the group," Chryst said. "I trust the group a ton."

It's what the players are now trying to earn from Brown, Poteat and Kolodziej.

As the Countdown to Kickoff continues. Practice by practice, play by play.