leading rushers – Syndication Server

If the Wisconsin football program is known for one thing, it’s running backs. The program boasts some of the best in college football history and has sent stars at the position on to have massive success in the NFL.

When Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball, Jonathan Taylor or Braelon Allen leave the program, the question is always ‘who’s next.’ It’s a line of star talent that seems to never end.

Next up for the Badgers this year is Chez Mellusi and Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker. Mellusi has shown the talent during his time at Wisconsin, yet has struggled to stay healthy. The 1-2 punch of him and Walker should work well in year two of Phil Longo’s offense.

As we enter this season and a new crop of running back talent emerges behind the top two starters, it’s time to look back at the program’s all-time leaders in rushing yards. Plus, there is a new entry to the list since this piece was done a few years ago.

It’s quite the list:

Kyren Williams has been a star in Notre Dame’s backfield the last two seasons and despite playing behind a nearly entirely rebuilt offensive line from a year ago, he’s increased his average yards per carry to 4.2 after a strong showing against USC.

Williams is down in yardage but is on pace to score more total touchdowns than a season ago when he burst onto the scene for what was an eventual College Football Playoff team.

Brian Kelly was asked who the star running back on Monday. Is there a former Notre Dame running back that Williams reminds the head coach of?

“He plays with such an energy and an edge that it’s hard not to pass that on to the entire group. Boy, I don’t know, maybe Theo Riddick had a similar kind of vibe to him. Theo played like that. he played physical, and it kind of rubbed off on the group. That’s the guy that he kind of reminds me of.”
-Brian Kelly on Kyren Williams – October 25, 2021

Riddick was great in his own right and the kind of player you feel like reached his absolute full potential after a difficult start to his Notre Dame career that saw him change positions and suffer through some growing pains.

Riddick was also the heart and soul of the 2012 offense that wasn’t always pretty, but effective when they needed to be en-route to a 12-0 regular season.

Williams certainly compares to Riddick in being a spark plug type to me, and no offense to Riddick, but the overall talent level of Williams is significantly higher in my eyes.

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Tag: leading rushers

Wisconsin football’s all-time leading rushers

The running back Kyren Williams reminds Brian Kelly of