His Time Now

CHICAGO - When you're replacing a player who accomplished what running back Melvin Gordon did for Wisconsin last season, the comparisons are inevitable. That's what faces Corey Clement as he becomes the "next guy" seeking to continue the Badgers' tradition of outstanding runners.

And what does the former Glassboro High School star think of all the comparisons?

"It sucks," Clement, sporting a wide smile, said Thursday at the Big Ten football media day. "I'm . . . tired . . . of . . . it."

On a more serious note, he continued: "It's great to be compared to him in the sense of, 'Wow, you and Melvin are on the same team,' but not statistics-wise. You look at my carries last year. I had 140-something [147] compared to 300-and-some [343] by Melvin. I really couldn't show as much as he did because he had more opportunities. When my season's over, you can do all the comparisons. But I can only be Corey Clement."

While Gordon, the 2014 Heisman Trophy runner-up, rolled up 2,587 rushing yards, the second-most in FBS history, Clement didn't sit and watch. He ran for 949 yards and teamed with Gordon for the most yards ever by two FBS teammates.

Even though the No. 1 job is his, Clement plans to approach training camp with what he called "the freshman mind-set as if somebody's trying to take my spot." Still, the 5-foot-11, 219-pound junior is excited and ready to go.

"Now I see it as my time and my confidence is really high, especially with the line and how they're working," he said. "I just find myself ready for the moment. I don't see anything else really being a factor to me."

The Wisconsin offense is centered on the running backs. Since 2009, the Badgers have had someone rush for at least 1,500 yards every year with the exception of 2010, when they had two 1,000-yard rushers and one with 996 yards. This season, Wisconsin welcomes back Paul Chryst, its former offensive coordinator, as its head coach.

Chryst, the former Pittsburgh head coach who recruited Clement and had a commitment from him in 2012 until he changed his mind, knows what the moment means to Clement.

"Corey understands," he said. "He's had mentors at the position, Melvin and the way he approached it and, before that, James White. I think Corey has a clear expectation of what it is to be the running back at Wisconsin. He knows who he is and he knows that he doesn't have to be Melvin. So I like where he's at right now."

Clement's time at Glassboro, where he finished with 6,245 rushing yards and scored 90 touchdowns, prepared him for this moment. As a sophomore, he learned behind then-senior Paul James, who starred at Rutgers before a knee injury in the fourth game of last season knocked him out for the year.

"We had a mentality at Glassboro that everyone else in Group 1 didn't and that translated to a Division I level," he said. "Paul had that edge and competitiveness and I do as well. Paul is an outstanding back. The way he could switch gears down the sideline was just crazy."

Clement can power through the line between the tackles and has spent his offseason looking to improve his speed. He called some of his methods "unorthodox," such as carrying logs and working on the length of his stride.

Now it's his show in Madison. He'll be getting the brunt of the carries. He can't wait.

"I'm just ready like no other time," he said.

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