Polzin: A mini-ode to Wisconsin fullbacks, a dying breed

Editor’s note: BadgerExtra columnist Jim Polzin is picking the best University of Wisconsin football players at each jersey number, updating a project he helped complete in 2008. Today he looks closer at numbers 30 through 39. There’s going to be some fullback talk in this section of the all-time roster countdown, and the timing couldn’t be better. That position needs some love right about now. Fullbacks have been a dying breed in football at the college level — and certainly in the NFL — but that hasn’t been the case over the years at UW. Until now. Phil Longo has brought the Air Raid offense to Madison, and fullbacks need not apply. Polzin: Talented Wisconsin running backs rewrote program's history A fullback appreciation column may be warranted at some point but today’s mini-ode will have to do until then. It’s been such a productive spot during the golden age of this program. Stop and think of some of the players who have passed through that spot over the past 30-plus years: Mark Montgomery, Cecil Martin, Chad Kuhns, Matt Bernstein, Chris Pressley, Bradie Ewing, Derek Watt, Austin Ramesh, Alec Ingold, Mason Stokke, John Chenal. I apologize if I’ve missed anyone. It’s been such a key part of UW’s offense for three decades that feels like I should reserve spots on this roster for fullbacks. But that’s not the way this works: I’m comparing players at different positions at each jersey number. It’s challenging, as we’ll find out, when the comparison is between a stat-less but extremely valuable fullback vs. a stat-filled and extremely valuable running back. Mark Montgomery was part of Barry Alvarez’s first recruiting class at UW, a highly productive group that was put together in only a few weeks. It turned out to be one of Alvarez’s best classes, with seven players earning first-team All-Big Ten honors at some point of their careers and almost half of the class — 11 of 24 — becoming starters on the 1993 team that ended the Badgers’ Rose Bowl drought. BadgerExtra subscriber exclusive: Explore Barry Alvarez's best moments at Wisconsin Montgomery started 34 games at UW, helping to clear the way for Brent Moss and Terrell Fletcher in addition to rushing for 833 yards and scoring four touchdowns — two on the ground, two through the air — during his career. He set a standard that other fullbacks have followed. On the other side of the debate at No. 32 is John Clay, who rushed for 3,413 yards and 41 touchdowns in three seasons from 2008-10. Clay 32 John Clay rushed for 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2009, when he was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES Clay’s numbers are impressive, especially when you consider that he shared a backfield with Montee Ball and James White in 2010. Even if he had a down year, Clay would have topped the 4,000-yard mark had he returned for his senior season in 2011. Only six UW players have reached that total. But … If I were making a list of the top 10 UW running backs since 1990, Clay is somewhere near the bottom of it. There’s Ron Dayne, Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon, Moss, Fletcher, Ball and White before I even consider Clay. If were making a list of the top 10 UW fullbacks since 1990, Montgomery is in the conversation for the top spot. Polzin: Why quality matters more than quantity for Russell Wilson's Wisconsin legacy The tiebreaker for me was going to be Clay being named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2009, when he rushed for 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns. But I’ve managed to talk myself into keeping Montgomery in the No. 32 jersey because his work as one of the tone-setters in this program’s massive rebuild should count for something you won’t find on any stat sheet or Big Ten honor list. There will be no new additions to the roster club today. File your complaints with my fullback nostalgia department. Stop to consider Martin, Cecil run 9 26 98 Cecil Martin looks to block for quarterback Mike Samuel against Ohio on Sept. 26, 1998. STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES Another fullback keeping his number is Cecil Martin at No. 37. A four-year starter who helped create running room for Dayne and did loads of good work off the field as well, Martin was picked over safety Scott Nelson (1990-93), defensive back Lawrence Johnson (1975-78), fullback Alan Thompson (1969-71) and running back Roy Bellin (1936-38) back in 2008. Garrett Groshek deserves at least a mention at that spot after producing 1,116 rushing yards and 611 receiving yards in a four-year career at running back. Food for thought The original rule back in 2008 was that the only players considered were players who had completed their eligibility or would that season. Tight end Travis Beckum (No. 9) and cornerback Allen Langford (No. 17) made the list. Which brings us to the odd case of running back P.J. Hill, who shouldn’t have been considered but apparently was because he was listed in the honorable mention category in the “Badgers By The Numbers Book.” Polzin: Revisiting a 15-year-old Wisconsin football project sheds light on stars That did end up being the final season at UW for Hill, who rushed for 3,942 yards and 42 touchdowns in three seasons with the Badgers. But it wasn’t until after the list was released that Hill declared for the NFL Draft. In any case, he wouldn’t (and didn’t) take Matt VandenBoom’s spot at No. 39. Pat Harder is still No. 34, but there have been some good players to pass through that jersey in the last 15 years: The fullback theme continues with Watt and Ewing, while Chikwe Obasih also wore No. 34. How it looks now An updated list of the top players to wear each jersey, from 30 through 39, with the best choice from the past 15 years in parentheses. 30 — Larry Canada (Derek Landisch) 31 — David Greenwood (Lubern Figaro) 32 — Mark Montgomery (John Clay) 33 — Ron Dayne (Retired number) 34 — Pat Harder (Derek Watt) 35 — Alan Ameche (Retired number) 36 — Earl Girard (Ethan Armstrong) 37 — Cecil Martin (Garrett Groshek) 38 — Nate Odomes (Andy Vujnovich) 39 — Matt VandenBoom (Zach Hintze) Rest of the list Nos. 0-9 Nos. 10-19 Nos. 20-29 Nos. 40-49 (Thursday) Nos. 50-59 (Sunday) Nos. 60-69 (Monday) Nos. 70-79 (July 18) Nos. 80-89 (July 19) Nos. 90-99 (July 20)