Luke Fickell details exact workload per game he wants from Braelon Allen

How the Wisconsin takes shape in Year 1 under Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo, an Air Raid denizen, is one of the Big Ten’s more intriguing questions. Having one of the best running backs in the country in Braelon Allen makes projecting the Wisconsin that much trickier.

But joining the Big Ten Network desk at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday, Fickell shared how he has a very precise plan to maximize what Allen can do. And it won’t involve old-school pounding the rock and racking up carries and hits.

“My objective, I would love to see him average at the end of the year, 18 carries a game for about 140, right?” Fickell said. Meaning that if that’s the case, at the end of the year, we’re going to have the best version of Braelon that we need. If you carry it 35 times a game, by the end of the year, it does wear down. You can be 245 pounds like he is and be as physical as he is and it still takes a toll. And we all have to recognize that and he’s got to be one that recognizes that as well.”

On his career, Allen averages just more than 17 carries per game across 24 games in two seasons. However, in 2022, when his attempts per game rose to more than 19, his yards per carry dipped from 6.8 to 5.4. Still plenty effective, but not to the high Wisconsin standard.

And in an offense with more intent built around spreading the defense out and attack spaces, Fickell is hopeful the opportunities will be there for Allen make plenty of explosive plays, even if he’s seeing slightly fewer touches.

“But I think the unique thing, like I’ve tried to say to him, it’s going to look different. But as good as you are, and hopefully we should be able to run the football, there’s always going to be an extra person there. At some point in time, right? They’re not going to allow you. But that extra person might be in a little more space. It might not be in a phone booth. It might be with two or three yards. Between that and understanding, recognizing that you don’t have to carry the ball 35 times to wear the guys out in front of you, whether it’s the linemen or him,” Fickell said.