Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Isaac Guerendo lights up the NFL scouting combine

INDIANAPOLIS –  Isaac Guerendo believes he got a fair shake at Wisconsin, but math was math; there were too many good running backs in the room.

So after five years with the Badgers, the native of Clayton, Indiana – roughly a 30-minute drive from Indianapolis where Guerendo was participating in the NFL scouting combine – headed south to Louisville and afforded himself the spotlight that has put him on the doorstep of an NFL dream.

"It's something I talked over with my parents; we came to that decision (to leave)," Gurendo said Friday. "I really (had) one more year to showcase my ability. Being part of such a deep backfield at Wisconsin, I didn't feel like that was going to be the place I'd be able to do that. Braelon Allen, Chez Mellusi and me, we're all rotating in a three-man rotation. It's kind of difficult to be able to showcase a lot in such a deep room. … Transitioning to a very dynamic offense, being able to showcase all three dimensions. Being a running back, catching the ball out of the backfield as well as pass protection … I felt like it was a good decision."

Guerendo certainly looked at home at the combine. He lit up the field during Saturday testing, running a time of 4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash. His relative athletic score of 9.99 out of 10 is the second-best for a running back at the combine out of 1,745 since 1987. For good measure, his vertical jump of 41.5 inches also surpassed everyone else in the running-back class at the combine.

Recurring hamstring injuries and a severe foot injury played a role in his limited field time at Wisconsin, holding him to 11 games over his first three seasons after a redshirt year. He was able to rack up 385 rushing yards over 64 attempts in 2022 with six touchdowns and also received honorable mention all-conference as a kick returner, but with Mellusi and Allen back, he didn't stand to crack into the top-two of the depth chart.

That's where Louisville came in. In 2023, he rushed for 810 yards on 132 carries and caught 22 passes for another 234 yards. Factor in a unique combination of speed and size, and Guerendo could be an attractive mid- to late-round option for NFL teams.

"If you're injured, you can't showcase anything, it just makes things difficult," Gurendo said. "When I was healthy, I felt like I was given an opportunity. But being part of such a deep backfield, talking about Jonathan Taylor being there, Braelon Allen, Chez Mellusi, it becomes difficult. But I did think I was given a fair opportunity when I was there."

He's among friends in Indianapolis. He immediately hit it off with new teammate, Louisville 1,000-yard rusher Jawhar Jordan, who joined Guerendo at the combine, and former teammate Allen had nice things to say immediately thereafter.

"That's my guy," Allen said. "Isaac is one of the guys who I really leaned on when I got to Wisconsin. He's a couple years older than me and has been in the offense. He taught me a lot, how to be a pro and how to carry myself at that university. Obviously, when he left, it was a bummer, but it was going to be what was best for him. I was happy to see him ball out this year, and I know he's going to run fast."

He's also got current Indianapolis Colts running back Taylor rooting him on.

"I talked to him recently, asking him questions about how this process is," Guerendo said. "Being able to have a mentor like that, I'm more than thankful for that. He's a guy any time I text him, he's going to respond. I can't appreciate him enough for that."

The 6-1, 225-pounder never had many chances to truly flash his elite breakaway speed, the kind exhibited when he took first place in two sprint events and second in two others at the Indiana state track and field meet.

"When I did run a 10.5 in high school (in the 100-meter dash), I'm 195 pounds," Guerendo said. "You put on 30 pounds, you talk about, 'OK can he move the same?' But I feel like I still can move around really well."

Clearly, he was right.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Wisconsin running back Isaac Guerendo stands out at NFL combine