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The undefeated University of Wisconsin football team has enjoyed success early this season due in large part to their explosive rushing attack. Two players vital to the Badgers’ successful run game are fullbacks Chris Pressley and Bill Rentmeester.

Pressley, a fifth year senior who is one of the Badgers’ co-captains, is proud to be part of such a potent attack.

“It’s an incredible feeling, I’m back there with guys like P.J. Hill, Zach Brown, John Clay,” Pressley said. “That’s what you come here to Wisconsin for, to play this kind of football.”

The Badgers, who are averaging 238 rushing yards per game so far this season, now face the challenge of bringing their non-conference success into the hard-hitting style of Big Ten football. But it’s what the fullbacks do to prepare themselves before a game that can determine whether they will be successful.

“The biggest thing you can do is imagine yourself doing the things you want to do,” Pressley said. “Whether it’s flying through a linebacker [or] chipping on your way out for a pass. Picture yourself doing those things that you saw on film all week.”

Rentmeester, a senior fullback whose eight-yard first down run in the waning minutes of the Fresno State game sealed the win for the Badgers, takes a similar approach in mentally preparing for a game.

“You have to know exactly what you are going to do before the play,” Rentmeester said. “Watching film and knowing what they’re going to do helps out a lot so there is no hesitation during the game.”

Both Pressley and Rentmeester are happy with the way the Badgers have played so far, but they know the team needs to keep playing physical football if it wants to get wins against conference opponents in October and November.

“The biggest thing you can do is erase what happened,” Pressley said. “Look at the next game like it’s a championship game. In college football, if you lose one, you can miss out on a lot. Play like it’s your last game. After that’s over, you got to focus on the next one.”

Running back coach John Settle credits a lot of the early season rushing success to the unselfish attitudes Pressley and Rentmeester bring to the Badgers on a daily basis.

“They are the guys that set the tempo,” Settle said. “Our mindset is that it’s going to be a physical running game, a physical offense. With the style of offense we have, we need to have two big fullbacks that are very unselfish, that are willing to go in and block play after play, knowing that they might not get the ball.”

Settle also mentioned it’s not just what the fullbacks bring to the table on the field, but off the field as well.

“The biggest thing they bring is work ethic,” Settle continued. “Whether it’s in the classroom or athletically, all the dedication they bring to… improving themselves and others.”

Settle also praised Pressley for his ability to lead as a team captain.

“Pressley brings everything to the table,” Settle added. “He is a young man who has already graduated, a young man who is one of the strongest on the team. His actions speak volumes; his teammates recognize that. A lot of guys realize the hard work and dedication he has put in over the last five years makes him worthy of being a captain.”

Pressley is fully aware of his leadership responsibilities.

“To me, a team captain means responsibility,” Pressley said. “This team voted [me] a captain, [I’m] responsible for the outcome. [I’m] that guy that keeps guys focused, keeps that energy, be that leader. Guys are really looking at [me] for guidance, to be positive, bring good uplift.”

They may not get very many carries, but this fullback corps understands its role and the importance it has to the team’s overall success.

“We want to go out and whack the linebackers,” Settle said. “Let them know they are playing Wisconsin. After teams play us we want them to sit back and say, ‘Wow, we just played Wisconsin. They took it to us.'”