Three Players Returning From Injury That Can Help the Badgers' Offense
BadgerNotes examines three players returning from injury that can help the Badgers offense in 2022:
When the Badgers return to the field for fall camp, the offense will look a lot different than it did at the end of last season. Gone are Coach Rudolph, the team’s top three pass-catchers, and two starting offensive linemen.
Beyond that, UW has a first-year offensive coordinator in Bobby Engram, who comes to Wisconsin from the Baltimore Ravens. He’ll attempt to bring fresh concepts and bolster a struggling Badgers offense that’s failed to average more than 26 points per game in back-to-back years for the first time since 1991.
The Badgers return third-year starter Graham Mertz, a strong rushing attack led by Braelon Allen, and a talented offensive line expected to take a step forward under Bob Bostad.
Question marks still surround UW’s passing game that will feature a group of young and inexperienced pass-catchers led by Chimere Dike.
Nevertheless, with the help of a few familiar faces returning from injury, the Badgers’ offense could return to form in 2022.
Today BadgerNotes examines three offensive players that missed time last season who could play critical roles in 2022:
Chez Mellusi, Running Back:
Senior Chez Mellusi opened 2021 as Wisconsin’s starting running back before suffering a non-contact knee injury in November against Rutgers – forcing him to miss the remainder of the season.
In nine games, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound RB carried the ball 173 times for 815 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught an additional seven passes for 66 yards.
The former Clemson transfer was desperately missed as the season wore on, and UW was left without a solid No. 2 option behind freshman workhorse Braelon Allen. In an offensive system like Wisconsin’s, having a healthy stable of rushers is an absolute necessity.
With Mellusi presumably returning this fall, Wisconsin will have a formidable thunder and lightning combo with complementary skill sets in their backfield.
If he can return to full health, Mellusi will be in line for a significant role in the Badgers’ offense in 2022.
Clay Cundiff, Tight End:
Redshirt junior Clay Cundiff appeared in five games at tight end for the Badgers last season before sustaining multiple lower-body injuries against Iowa – forcing him to miss the season.
Last season, he caught three passes for 86 yards and a touchdown – highlighted by a 43-yard completion off of a play-action pass from Graham Mertz against Notre Dame in week three.
According to PFF, the 6-foot-3, 244-pound TE played 105 total snaps and registered the third-highest grade on the entire Badgers offense (86.5). Albeit a small sample size, Cundiff also held the highest pass-catching grade on the team in 2021 (91.7). The ability is there; his emergence was simply cut short due to injury.