Corey Clement coming back to Badgers for senior season

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2015 didn't go too well for Corey Clement, so the Wisconsin running back is going to give what was supposed to be his breakout season another go in 2016.

Clement will be coming back to the Badgers for his senior season, Wisconsin running back coach John Settle told reporters on Tuesday.

After two seasons putting up strong numbers in a limited role behind Melvin Gordon, Clement was expected to have a monster year this season. As a freshman in 2013, he rushed for 547 yards and seven touchdowns on only 67 carries as a third-string back behind Gordon and James White. In 2014, as a backup to Gordon during his Heisman-finalist season, Clement gained 949 yards and scored nine touchdowns on 147 carries.

This season, though, Clement was hampered by injury, carrying the ball just eight times in the season-opening loss to Alabama before sitting out a couple games and finally opting to have surgery to repair a sports hernia. All in all, he missed seven straight games before returning in a big way against Rutgers, rushing 11 times for 115 yards and three touchdowns on Halloween. But still not at 100 percent, Clement sat out the next game, returned to gain just 24 yards and a score a touchdown on 10 carries against Northwestern, then sat out the regular-season finale.

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Amid all the uncertainty with his health, Clement was also involved in a physical altercation at his off-campus residence. At first, Wisconsin stated that Clement intervened with an altercation between a group of people and a security guard and was assaulted, receiving a cut to his hand. But several weeks later, police cited Clement with two counts of disorderly conduct, an investigation revealing that Clement actually started the altercation and used derogatory language toward a female member of the group involved in the altercation.

Clement finished the regular season with a total of 29 carries for 155 yards and four touchdowns. Wisconsin has one game remaining, a matchup with USC in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30.

Obviously, Clement's return as a senior will be a big boost for the Badgers, and Clement hopes is a big boost for his NFL Draft stock, too. A full season of better health will undoubtedly make a better impression on pro evaluators than his sporadic on-field action this season.

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