No Go for Clay Against Michigan

The last few weeks the Badgers' rushing attack has been the dominant side of the offense, and for the second straight week they will be without star running back John Clay.

Clay, who was sidelined in the Purdue game with a knee injury, will be unavailable for the Michigan game at least as a starter. Any work that the junior running back does see would be in a reserve role only.

Last week the former Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year missed the Indiana game. A week later not much has changed but their has been some improvement for Clay.

In practice Clay has been seeing more time, and has started too look like his old self. Just not enough of his old self to play against Michigan. Meaning sophomore Montee Ball, and freshman James White will need to carry the rest of the load this weekend.

So far this season the tandem of underclassmen have accounted for 1,227 yards, and twenty touchdowns. As for last weekend Ball, and White accounted for 311 of Wisconsin's 338 rushing yards, and punched it in for five touchdowns.

While the absence of Clay is a significant one, it will not be as dramatic as it could be in some years. Especially playing against a team giving up 190 yards on the ground a game in conference play, and a whopping 233 if you take away the Indiana and Purdue games.