Wisconsin running backs coach Devon Spalding spoke to the media during fall camp for the first time since the spring. He touched on plenty of topics, from his exciting freshman joining the program to how having two extremely experienced backs helps him as a coach and much more.

Here's everything Spalding said at his availability:

*Authors note: Some questions and answers are slightly rephrased for clarity.

"I think they both do a really nice job. I think like we expected, Darrion has some versatility in his ability to split out and be able to create separation route-running. I think Dillin is very decisive; he reminds me of Chez. Putting his foot in the ground, gaining extra yards on contact. Plays with a lot of physicality. Both of those guys feed off each other really well, and we're excited about both of them."

"That's really what practice is for. Everybody is getting the same number of reps just to see, to gauge who's game ready and who's not. That's top down."

"Yeah absolutely, and we've asked Jackson to do a lot of things for us. He's gonna be very valuable for us in special teams. We asked him to put on some weight, and he's a lot heavier this year. Some way some how he got faster, and obviously he's a lot stronger because of the weight he put on. He does a lot of things for us and his versatility is pretty impressive as well."

"We were't familiar on a personal level, but you do your homework, you do your due diligence, you watch the tape of the things he did when he was at Oklahoma, and that's what we were looking for. We wanted somebody that prefers punishment and plays with a lot pf physicality, and that's him."

"Very very mature. He's done a really nice job of grabbing those young guys and taking them under his wing; so has Chez (Mellusi). Tawee's kinda a journeyman, he's been all over the place and he's experienced a lot of different things at a lot of different programs. Just being there to guide those young guys has been invaluable, and I think he's done a really nice job doing it."

"We're just trying to be smart and limit him. He's played a lot of football, he's shown all of us what he's capable of doing. He went through all of spring ball, and I think he showed us that he's actually better than the Chez we saw last year, so I'm really excited to get him back going once we get going for games. But we're just trying to limit the things he's doing right now."

"Ha. You could say that I guess. The competition is great. All these guys feed off each other, and we talk about iron sharpens iron, and that starts in our room. We play against, I think, the best defense in the country. Being able to have that opportunity to play against those guys sharpens us and all the tools we're gonna be asked to use once we get going in game weeks."

"I love it. You get to share the wealth a little bit. I think having two guys on the field is really good."

"We ask him to be a leader, and I ask him to watch things that are happening as they're unfolding. I'm only one coach out there watching the running back position. Having him, it's like having another coach, and he does a really good job with those young guys when he sees something that maybe I didn't see."

"I think keeping them happy by continuing to develop the skills that are required to play the position. I've explained to them and told them, no one is gonna be given anything. Everyone has to come in here and earn their opportunities, and that's the challenge — earning your opportunities and continuing to show you know what you're doing and you can play with the level of physicality that's required to run the football in the Big Ten and continuing to develop your knowledge of the game of football."

"Obviously from a numbers perspective, we lost one tailback last year. The guys that we have back have all grown tremendously in all the areas that we've asked them to grow in. Each player's plan is different based on the skillset they have and what they bring to the table. I don't think it's much different at all, it's just dividing the reps up a little bit, right?"

"Everybody needs to show perpetual development of the skills required to play on Saturdays. I think both those kids are very athletic, I think they do a really nice job running the football, and it's my job to bring them along with what we're doing offensively and schematically to make sure when they step on the field, we're comfortable with them first and foremost being able to protect the football but also protect the quarterback."

"That's part of it. You wanna be the hammer, not the nail, when you're picking up defenders. We talk about taking it personally when they try to blitz you and making sure you take the fight to them. He's done a really nice job of taking the techniques we've been working and putting them on tape, and again teaching the young guys when he sees them in pass protection. It's like having another coach as well."

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