Wisconsin will be without its starting running back for the next 4-6 weeks.
The program announced Thursday that junior Corey Clement will undergo surgery to repair a sports hernia. Clement hasn’t played since Week 1 against Alabama and has only 16 yards on eight carries this season.
“Corey has been dealing with some issues since before the Alabama game,” head coach Paul Chryst said in a statement. “He has been undergoing treatment since that time and has seen some progress but not to the point where our medical staff is satisfied. So after consultation with out medical staff, Corey has decided to have surgery for a sports hernia.
“I feel bad for Corey that this is impacting his season because I know how hard he works and how important this football team is to him. We are very confident that he will make a full recovery after the surgery and I know he will attack his rehab so he can get back on the field as soon as he can.”
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Clement rushed for 949 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014 while serving as a backup behind Heisman finalist Melvin Gordon. He also rushed for 547 yards and seven touchdowns as a true freshman in 2013.
With Clement missing the past two games, junior Dare Ogunbowale, a former walk-on, and true freshman Taiwan Deal have been splitting carries. Ogunbowale leads the team with 196 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries while Deal has 143 yards and two scores on 36 carries.
The 22nd-ranked Badgers (2-1) host Hawaii on Saturday night.
For more Wisconsin news, visit BadgerBlitz.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!