Position changes are nothing new in college football. Most times, players opt to do so, with the input of their coaches, as they look to gain playing time they otherwise wouldn’t receive at their original spot.

For Wisconsin, that’s what happened with running back Jackson Acker, who played twice in 2021 and ultimately redshirted. One look at the Badgers’ jampacked RB room, led by Braelon Allen, provides a clue as to Acker didn’t see the field all that much.

But in 2022, Acker will now be taking snaps at a new position: fullback.

“He’s a really talented athlete, and he’s certainly got good size, good strength, speed, he’s got power,” head coach Paul Chryst said on Tuesday. “He’s young right now, but I think he’s a guy that can truly keep developing and can be a really good football player.”

Chryst brought up the example of current Green Bay Packer Alec Ingold, who started his college career in Madison as a linebacker and later a running back before making the switch to fullback.

“I say he’s a good player, and you try to have spots for all your good players,” he said of Acker. “He’s certainly willing to do a lot of things. I think Jackson, it depends how he continues to grow and improve, but I think there’s a number of different things you can do with him.”