Jeff Potrykus

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON – Brady Schipper isn’t wasting his opportunity this spring.

With the Wisconsin coaches looking for a candidate to bolster the tailback depth, Schipper, Nakia Watson and Isaac Guerendo have been given a heavy workload.

Schipper, a walk-on from Stoughton who played two games last season and was moved to tailback from wide receiver before the start of spring practice, has been the most consistent performer of the trio.

“He has taken off,” running backs coach John Settle said on Tuesday, after UW’s 10th practice of the spring. “I like everything he does. Whether it is normal down and distance or whether it is in a sub package. He is very smart, detailed. He has given himself a chance to be in that rotation.

“I define him as a football player. We talk about that in the classroom a lot. We’ve got a diagram in the playbook (but) when you get on the field those things move. So, you’ve got to be a football player and make decisions quickly.”

Schipper, 5-foot-11 and 209 pounds, showed his ability to improvise during a recent scrimmage.

After catching a screen pass on the right side, Schipper found more defenders than open space. He cut back to his left and made it across the field for a significant gain.

“I was surprised he was able to cut back across the field and get that far,” Settle said. “We don’t coach that. But, again, that’s a guy making a play. And the fact that he was fast enough to be able to do it, that lets us know he is faster than we think he is.

“He plays fast and he is going to make some plays for us.”

The staff knows what starter Jonathan Taylor and backup Garrett Groshek can provide.

Bradrick Shaw, who rushed for a combined 822 yards and nine touchdowns in his first two seasons, hasn’t played since suffering knee and hip injuries in the 2017 regular-season finale. He remains limited to individual work in practice.

Julius Davis, a touted tailback from Menomonee Falls High School, is set to join the team during the summer but he missed most of his senior season after suffering a sports hernia.

Watson, who redshirted last season, has been inconsistent so far this spring.

“You can’t ride that roller-coaster,” Settle said. “That is what spring is all about, trying to get those guys mentally focused on the details of the assignment. They have to realize: mistakes will keep you on the sideline.”

Guerendo played wide receiver in high school but practiced at wide receiver and running back last season. According to Settle, Gurendo is still working on getting his footwork down, staying on his run tracks and getting accustomed to working in tight spaces.

Settle hopes Shaw will be able to go through full-contact work in camp but his limitations this spring have given more chances to Schipper, Watson and Guerendo.

“It gives those other young men an opportunity to show if they can do it now,” Settle said. “The guy that I like is Brady Schipper.”

Extra points

Defensive end Garrett Rand, who missed the 2018 season because of an Achilles’ injury suffered during summer workouts, did individual work for the first time this spring. “He came off a big injury and (we) just want to get his feet back underneath him, get him back to the point where he can have a great summer,” defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said…

Tyler Biadasz, out this spring while he recovers from hip surgery, is expected to be UW’s No. 1 center in 2019. Until then, UW is looking at Kayden Lyles and Jason Erdmann at both center and guard to have options for next season...

Joe Rudolph, UW’s offensive coordinator/line coach, saluted the work of David Moorman, who can play tackle or guard. “He is busting his butt, man,” Rudolph said.