Garrett

Groshek

Groshek (5'11/214) entered the game with just 30 carries for 105 yards and a 3.5 YPC, but ended up rushing for 80 yards on nine carries in the first half alone as the Badgers leaned heavily on their senior tailback. His heavy workload was due to both Jalen Berger and Nakia Watson being unavailable, which allowed Groshek to roll up his career-best 154 rushing yards. It’s a nice way for the departing senior to cap off a disappointing regular season that saw Wisconsin finish with a 3-3 record.

Groshek (5'11/214) was not available for the Badgers’ win at Michigan last weekend, and the reason for his absence was not revealed. The senior running back is expected to be back for Saturday’s game, which will match the only undefeated teams in the Big Ten West. Groshek accounted for 99 total yards in Wisconsin’s season-opening win over Illinois, and he’ll continue to split reps with Nakia Watson.

For once, it seems the Wisconsin run game is not the feature of the offense. Groshek, while a fine player in his own right, played second fiddle to QB Graham Mertz and the passing game. Rather than the engine of the offense, Groshek was a complementary piece, serving more as a means to help keep the offense on schedule. Groshek’s longest carry of the day was a solid, yet unspectacular 13 yards.

This news should not come as a surprise, as the two backs have been engaged in a spirited battle throughout preseason camp. Groshek (5'11/214), a former walk-on who served as a team captain in 2019, appeared in all 14 games for the Badgers last season and rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns on 42 carries while also catching 29 passes for 289 yards. As for Watson (5'11/228), the sophomore finished second on the team in rushing attempts (74) and yards (331) while also scoring two touchdowns. Look for both to receive quality reps in the Badgers’ season opener against the Fighting Illini.

Groshek has essentially been the third-down back in his time with the Badgers, and in 2019 he’s caught 57 passes in his 41 games with the club. Wisconsin lost Jonathan Taylor to the NFL Draft, so there’s obviously carries to be gained in this offense. Nakia Watson is considered the favorite to be the early-down back, but Groshek has the most experience, and it seems likely that he’ll at least have a substantial role in this offense in 2020 -- or 2021 if the season is moved back.

Groshek (5'11/220) was effective while on the field spelling starter Jonathan Taylor, as he rushed for 40 yards on four carries. But the redshirt junior will not be available for the remainder of Saturday’s game, which leaves Nakia Watson to serve as Taylor’s primary backup.

Wisconsin faces the unenviable task of accounting for the loss of Jonathan Taylor, who after his second 2,000-yard season has entered the 2020 NFL Draft. And without one clear-cut option to fill the void the Badgers will likely take a “committee” approach next season, with Groshek (5'11/220) being one of the options. A quarterback in high school, the redshirt junior has been praised for his technique and understanding of the Wisconsin offense. He stands to be an asset for the Badgers as either a pass blocker or receiver, while also getting reps on first and second downs. Nakia Watson, who will be Wisconsin’s leading returning rusher in 2020, will also figure prominently in the team’s plans at running back.

The Badgers are dealing with a bit of attrition behind star sophomore RB Jonathan Taylor this spring, as Bradrick Shaw and Groshek are both set to miss the early practice window while rehabbing from leg injuries. For his part, the 5-foot-11, 209-pound Groshek rushed for 297 yards (4.9 YPC) and a pair of touchdowns on 61 carries during the 2017 campaign. It’s not immediately clear when he’ll be healthy enough to resume football activities with the team.

This is notable because Groshek is recovering from a broken bone in his left leg he suffered during the Orange Bowl on December 30th. Groshek said, “everything went well and I was able to progress enough to get a little bit out of practice.” It’s unclear how much he was able to practice, but it’s a great sign for his health to have him return early. Groshek will look to maintain a supplementary role to star RB Jonathan Taylor in 2018

Groshek is listed behind star tailback Jonathan Taylor, and Taiwan Deal is listed as the backup. That means that Chris James -- a player many expected to be second inline for carries for the Badgers to start the year -- is the fourth-string running back for the contest against Western Kentucky. As a true freshman, Groshek showed flashes of brilliance in 2017, but with the names ahead of him -- and potentially a name behind him in James -- it may be tough for him to make an impact in 2018.