Big Ten Roundup (Sept. 25): Wisconsin RB Chez Mellusi Injury Update, Chris Tadjo Commits to Iowa

Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi suffered a gruesome injury in the Badgers' win over Purdue on Friday. Unfortunately for coach Luke Fickell and Wisconsin, it was reported that Mellusi fractured his fibula, and will miss the remainder of the 2023 season. In basketball news, coach Fran McCaffery and the Iowa Hawkeyes picked up a commitment from Canadian forward Chris Tadjo.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — While coach Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers picked up a major win on Friday over Purdue, it did not come free of setbacks. 

Veteran running back Chez Mellusi was carted off the field with an injury during the fourth quarter of Wisconsin's 38-17 win over the Boilermakers. It was later revealed that Mellusi suffered a fractured fibula, and will miss the remainder of the 2023 season, though he could return for a sixth year of college football in 2024. 

In basketball news, coach Fran McCaffery and the Iowa Hawkeyes picked up a commitment from a Canadian high school prospect in Chris Tadjo. 

Here's everything you need to know in today's Big Ten Roundup:

Chez Mellusi Injury Update

Between Braelon Allen and Mellusi, the Badgers had one of the best running back rooms in the entire country. That stellar room took a hit on Friday late in Wisconsin's rout of Purdue, when the fifth-year Mellusi suffered a gruesome injury, fracturing the fibula in his left leg. 

Sources: Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi suffered a fractured fibula in Friday's win against Purdue and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Mellusi had 307 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns before the injury.

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 23, 2023

As Rittenberg notes there, Mellusi had 307 rushing yards and four touchdowns in just four games prior to the injury. He was one of the nation's most efficient runners at 6.0 yards per carry. Additionally, despite never being a full-time starter in college football at Clemson from 2019-20 and at Wisconsin from 2021-23, Mellusi has rushed for more than 2,000 yards in his career.

The lone positive in this news for the Badgers is that Mellusi's time in Madison might not yet be concluded. The fractured fibula will obviously keep him out of the remainder of the 2023 season, but since his injury happened within the first four games of the year, he may return for a sixth and final season of college football in 2024. 

No one ever wants to see a player get injured in the fashion that Mellusi did on Friday. It's a heartbreaker for everyone, and a huge blow to a Wisconsin team that wants to contend for the Big Ten title. But at the very least, it's good news to hear that the door on Mellusi's college football career has not yet closed. 

Chris Tadjo Commits to Iowa

Leaving Montreal, Quebec, for Iowa City is not a journey that too many have made. But that's exactly what Tadjo — a 6-foot-8 forward in the class of 2024 — plans to do this next year. 

Top-150 2024 F Chris Tadjo is headed to Iowa.

Defense, rebounding, athleticism and a workmanlike approach.

📋 https://t.co/4zHzFLvOI6 pic.twitter.com/mCURS3F4EU

— Max Feldman (@MaxFeldman6) September 23, 2023

Tadjo plays high school basketball for the NBA Academy Latin America team. The NBA created the team in Jan. 2021, with the stated goal of, "developing the next generation of Latin American players and helping them reach their potential as players and leaders."

Since Tadjo does not play for a high school in the United States, 247 Sports does not yet have a star-rating on him. He chose McCaffery and the Hawkeyes over Akron, TCU and Xavier, according to 247. 

Tadjo is now the second commit in the Iowa basketball recruiting class of 2024, joining four-star forward Cooper Koch. 

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• WISCONSIN 38, PURDUE 17: On Friday, coach Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers defeated coach Ryan Walters and the Purdue Boilermakers 38-17 in West Lafayette. It was a thorough beatdown from start to finish, and Wisconsin's 17th consecutive victory over Purdue on the football field. CLICK HERE
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