Tag: Jalen Berger

Photos of new UCLA RB Jalen Berger

Jalen Berger through the years.

The UCLA Bruins football program added a commitment from Jalen Berger. The running back spent two years at Wisconsin and Michigan State before coming to Westwood, and he adds talent to the backfield for DeShaun Foster’s team.

His best season came in 2022 with the Spartans before a rough 023 campaign, and Jonathan Smith being hired as head coach sent Berger back into the transfer portal once again.

Here are some photos from Berger’s time at both Wisconsin and Michigan State.

Report: Former Wisconsin RB Jalen Berger on the move to another Big Ten program

Report: Former Wisconsin RB Jalen Berger on the move to another Big Ten program

Former Wisconsin and Michigan State running back Jalen Berger is projected to transfer to UCLA, according to a report from 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

Berger played the last two seasons at Michigan State after beginning his career with the Wisconsin Badgers. He re-entered the transfer portal back in April and is now reportedly close to finding a destination.

Related: Where Wisconsin lands in USA TODAY Sports’ 2024 Big Ten football preseason poll

The former four-star recruit has recorded 1,165 rushing yards over his four-year college career. His most productive season came in 2022 at Michigan State when he took 148 carries for 683 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Berger is best known in Wisconsin circles as the former heir apparent to All-American RB Jonathan Taylor when he left for the NFL after the 2019 season. The former four-star recruit flashed that potential in limited action in 2020 with 301 rushing yards on 5.0 yards per carry. He was dismissed from the program early during the 2021 season, however, and ended up landing at Michigan State.

Zenitz projects Berger to join a UCLA program that is in the midst of transition as it moves to the Big Ten. Longtime head coach Chip Kelly took the vacant offensive coordinator position at Ohio State this offseason, leading the Bruins to hire program legend and former running backs coach DeShaun Foster as their next head coach.

The Bruins’ roster is in somewhat of a rebuild after Kelly and ace defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn left after the 2023 season. It would present Berger with an opportunity to play, something that is sure to be atop his list of desires for his final two seasons of eligibility.

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UCLA lands Michigan State transfer running back

A new running back for UCLA.

The UCLA football season begins in less than six weeks. But, DeShaun Foster and company have added a new piece. The Bruins got Michigan State running back Jalen Berger in a transfer portal move, per Petez Nakos of On3.

“Michigan State transfer running back Jalen Berger tells @On3sports he’s transferring to UCLA.”

Matt Zenitz first mentioned Berger was expected to land at UCLA before Nakos’ report.

Berger has been in the portal since April, so it took some time for him to find a new home. Berger spent time with Wisconsin and Michigan State.

Berger spent the first two years at Wisconsin in a limited role before going to the Spartans. In 2023, he played just five games with 25 carries. But, in 2022, Berger played 12 games with 683 yards and six scores.

Berger now adds depth to the UCLA running back room with former running back DeShaun Foster as the head coach, and he stays in the Big Ten Conference.

Former MSU RB Jalen Berger reportedly to transfer to UCLA

A former starting Spartans running back is heading to a new Big Ten rival

A former starting Spartans running back is heading to a new Big Ten rival.

Pete Nakos of On3 is reporting that former Michigan State running back Jalen Berger will transfer to UCLA. Berger played two seasons for the Spartans after transferring to Michigan State from Wisconsin in 2022.

Berger has recorded 1,165 career rushing yards and is a former four-star prospect. His role this past season was reduced after Nate Carter took over the Spartans lead back role.

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Duke in contact with former Wisconsin, Michigan State running back

Jalen Berger, who racked up 1,165 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns across four seasons with the Spartans and Badgers, could be headed to Durham.

Running back Jalen Berger listed Duke as one of the teams he’s recently contacted, according to a Friday evening report from On3’s Pete Nakos.

Berger began his collegiate career with Wisconsin in 2020. He played for the Badgers for two years before transferring to Michigan State, where he spent the last two seasons.

Across his four seasons of college football, Berger amassed 1,165 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s averaged 4.53 yards per carry, and he added 28 receptions for 198 yards as a receiving threat.

Berger’s best season came in 2022, his first year with the Spartans. He carried the ball 148 times that year for 683 yards, finding the end zone six times. His 4.61 yards per carry that season was the 10th-highest average in the Big Ten among running backs with at least 140 carries, and he finished 14th in the conference in rushing yards for the year.

The former Spartan ended the 2022 season with more rushing yards than Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and recent NFL draft pick Isaac Guerendo.

Nakos also listed UCLA, Arizona, Minnesota, Georgia Tech, and Boston College as potential suitors for Berger.

The Blue Devils still have Jaquez Moore in the running back room, but they lost 2023 leading rusher Jordan Waters to NC State through the transfer portal.

Former Wisconsin transfer running back receiving plenty of Big Ten interest

Wisconsin could see a familiar face again in 2024

Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Jalen Berger is receiving plenty of Big Ten interest, now in his second time through the transfer process.

He already has a visit scheduled with Big Ten newcomer UCLA and has also heard from Minnesota and Nebraska, according to 247Sports’ Collin Kennedy.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

The former Badger re-entered the portal on April 23 after two seasons at Michigan State. Berger had a big 2022 for the Spartans, leading the team with 683 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 148 carries. Things were in flux, however, after a quiet 2023 and the program moving on from head coach Mel Tucker.

The New Jersey, native was a highly-touted member of Wisconsin’s class of 2020, ranked as the No. 136 player in the class and No. 20 running back. He burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2020 before his role evaporated in 2021, a behind-the-scenes saga that finished with his dismissal from the program.

The Badgers might not have seen the last of the former four-star recruit as several Big Ten schools appear to be atop his transfer list.

For more on Wisconsin’s transfer portal activity this spring, check out our 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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MSU transfer RB Jalen Berger reportedly will visit UCLA next weekend

A former Michigan State running back could be heading to another Big Ten team

A former Michigan State running back could be heading to another Big Ten team — which would be his third in his career.

Jalen Berger entered the transfer portal earlier this week and he will reportedly visit UCLA next weekend, according to Collin Kennedy of 247Sports. Berger transferred originally from Wisconsin after two seasons for the Badgers and played the past two years for the Spartans.

Berger played in 17 games in two years at Michigan State. He recorded 776 yards and seven touchdowns on 173 carries.

According to Kennedy, Berger has also received interest from Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, UCF, Duke, Nebraska, Virginia Tech and Boston College.

Former Wisconsin Badgers running back reenters transfer portal

Former Wisconsin Badgers running back re-enters transfer portal

Former Wisconsin running back Jalen Berger reentered the transfer portal on Tuesday.

The former four-star recruit played the last two seasons at Michigan State after leaving the Wisconsin program during the 2021 season.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

Berger had a big 2022 in East Lansing, leading the team with 683 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 148 carries. 2023 was a big step back, however, as a leg injury limited the former Badger to just five games and 25 total carries.

Michigan State is in the midst of a transition under new head coach Jonathan Smith. Berger was one of several running backs to return from the 2023 team, though it’s hard to project how much work he would’ve gotten.

The Ramsey, New Jersey, native was a member of Wisconsin’s class of 2020, ranked as the No. 136 player in the class and No. 20 running back. He burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2020 before his role evaporated in 2021, a behind-the-scenes saga that finished with his dismissal from the program.

Berger’s talent is undeniable. He’ll just need to find a new home with more stability to showcase that talent.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Michigan State football running back Jalen Berger enters transfer portal

Michigan State has lost another running back to the portal

It has been a very newsworthy day for Michigan State sports, and especially Michigan State football on Tuesday, with a flurry of transfer news coming now that the team has passed their spring scrimmage.

The latest? Running back Jalen Berger has entered the portal. Berger originally committed to the Spartans back in 2021 after transferring out of Wisconsin.

Berger had his best year as a rusher with MSU in 2022 when he ran for 683 yards and six touchdowns.

LOOK: MSU FOOTBALL SPRING TRANSFER TRACKER

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Michigan State football RB Jalen Berger likely out for the season with injury

Michigan State RB Jalen Berger likely out for the season with injury

According to acting head coach Harlon Barnett, Michigan State football is likely losing one of their running backs to injury for the remainder of the season. Barnett said that he believes that Jalen Berger will miss the rest of the year with an injury.

Berger lost a lot of his carries to breakout transfer Nathan Carter, only rushing for 93 yards on 25 carries this season.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.