Tag: Montee Ball

Braelon Allen gives his all-time Wisconsin running back Mount Rushmore

What is your Mount Rushmore of Wisconsin running backs?

Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen turned heads at the NFL combine last week. He towered over every other player at the position, prompting NFL fans and NFL draft pundits to ask why he didn’t play middle linebacker.

Badgers fans know Allen’s stature and running style all too well. The three-year starter finished his college career with 597 total carries, 3,494 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns. Wisconsin struggled on offense for the majority of his collegiate career, though Allen always seemed to be the steady force propelling the team forward.

Related: Where Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke falls on Fanduel’s 2024 Heisman Trophy odds

Naturally, media at the NFL combine were interested in Allen’s place among the program’s greats at the position. The list is extensive, which is why he was asked for his Mount Rushmore of Wisconsin running backs: the four greatest players from the large group of exceptional talents.

Here is who the now-former Wisconsin running back included:

PHOTOS: Badgers versus Ohio State All-time series

Will Badgers get first win over Buckeyes since 2010?

The Badgers football team (5-2) will host Ohio State (7-0) on Saturday at 6:30PM. The two programs have faced each other 85 times throughout their football history with Wisconsin owning a 18-62-5 overall record against their Big Ten foe.

Over the last 10 matchups, the Badgers have gone 1-9, losing nine in a row. The team’s last win came at home in 2010, defeating the Buckeyes 31-18. Last season, Ohio State won in Columbus by a score of 52-21.

The most notable storyline for the contest is head coach Luke Fickell, who played college football with Ohio State as a defensive end (1993-1996) before joining the coaching staff from 2002-2016.

The Badgers are very much back in the thick of it in the Big Ten West and Luke Fickell and his squad will look to pull off the upset versus the third-ranked Buckeyes.

Here’s a couple pics from their last 10 matchups:

PHOTOS: Badgers versus Purdue All-time series

Can Fickell and Mordecai continue Badgers’ success versus Big 10 rival

The Badgers football team (2-1) will take on Purdue (1-2) on the road in West Lafayette, Indiana on Friday at 6PM. The two programs have faced each other 89 times throughout their football history with Wisconsin leading the all-time series at 52-29-8 overall.

Not only has Wisconsin won more games, but they’ve won 16 straight matchups dating back to 2003. When the two teams met in 2022, the Badgers came out on top 35-24 in Madison.

The last time the Badgers lost on the road in West Lafayette was in 1997, a contest that the Boilermakers won 45-20.

In 2023, both teams have new quarterbacks that will be making their first Big Ten starts. Tanner Mordecai transferred to Madison this offseason from SMU while Hudson Card joined the Boilermakers after beginning his career with Texas.

Head coach Luke Fickell will look to get a win in his first Big Ten contest as the head coach of the Badgers.

Here is a pic from each of their last 10 matchups:

Badger Countdown: Best to ever wear number 28 in Madison

The college football season is just a few weeks away and the Badgers are now 28 days from their opener versus Buffalo at home on Sept. 2.

The college football season is just a few weeks away and the Badgers are now 28 days from their opener versus Buffalo at home on Sept. 2. The number 28 is special one since it was worn by one of the best Wisconsin football athletes ever.

From 2009-2012, running back Montee Ball was a member of the Badgers. After a limited freshman season, he blossomed into a star and then a superstar!

In his sophomore campaign, Ball produced a respectable 996 yards and an impressive 18 touchdowns on just 163 carries. He kicked into into the highest gear in year three though.

The running back turned in an incredible season in 2011, producing 1,923 rushing yards and an all-time Badger record 33 scores on ground. That touchdown total is the second highest in NCAA history (Barry Sanders – 37 – 1988).

Ball also added 24 catches for 306 yards and six scores while also throwing a touchdown that season, finishing the year with 40 total scores. He ended up finishing fourth in the Heisman voting.

His senior season wasn’t quite as spectacular but he still churned out 1,830 rushing yards and 22 scores.

Ball’s 5,140 career rushing yards rank third all-time in program history while his 77 rushing touchdowns are the highest ever.

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Badger Countdown: Two Badgers record 40 touchdowns each in 2011

The 2023 CFB season is right around the corner and Luke Fickell and his Badgers are 40 days away from their opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The 2023 college football season is right around the corner and Luke Fickell and his Badgers are now 40 days away from their opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2. The number 40 represents the all-time single season record for touchdowns produced by a Badger, a feat that two athletes reached in 2011.

In his one and only season in Madison, quarterback Russell Wilson produced 3,175 passing yards (first all-time) and 33 touchdowns (first all-time) through the air, while he also compiled 338 rushing yards and six scores on the ground. Finally, he even reeled in three catches for 56 yards and touchdown that season, finishing the year with 40 total touchdowns, setting a new Wisconsin record.

Running back Montee Ball had a just as impressive 2011 season though, recording 1,923 rushing yards (seventh all-time) and 33 scores on the ground (first all-time) while catching 24 passes for 306 yards and six touchdowns. Lastly, his 40th touchdown on the campaign was passing score, connecting with Wilson for a 25-yard touchdown.

Wisconsin went 11-3 that season, losing to the Oregon Ducks 45-38 in the Rose Bowl.

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WATCH: CFB Report shares highlight reel from legendary game

With Badger fans already on the edge of their seats ahead of the 2023 season, the College Football Report got them even more fired up Friday.

With Badger fans already on the edge of their seats ahead of the 2023 season, the College Football Report got them even more fired up Friday. They tweeted out a highlight reel from Wisconsin’s 70-31 Big Ten Championship victory over Nebraska.

In that contest, three legendary running backs (Montee Ball, James White, Melvin Gordon) produced some insane stat lines, as seen below. All three of the athletes went on to the NFL, two of which, White (3x) and Gordon (2023) have won Super Bowls.

Ball-carriers like these guys have made it hard to ignore Wisconsin as the potential “running back university” and stars like Jonathan Taylor and Braelon Allen have followed in their footsteps in recent years.

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Badger Countdown: Badger RB ends career with 45 rushing scores

The college football season is on the horizon and the Badgers are now 45 days away from their 2023 opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The college football season is on the horizon and the Badgers are now 45 days away from their 2023 opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. Luke Fickell and his coaching staff are on the cusp of their first full season at the helm, but a Wisconsin legend gives the number 45 significant meaning.

Spending the 2010-2013 seasons with the Badgers, running back James White became one of the best at his position in program history. Over his four campaigns, White tallied a total of 4,015 rushing yards and 45 rushing touchdowns while also reeling in 73 catches for 670 yards and three scores.

He appeared in all three of the Badgers’ Rose Bowl losses from 2011-2013, operating alongside Wisconsin’s all-time leading touchdown scorer Montee Ball (84) for White’s first three years in Madison.

White’s 45 rushing TDs rank tied four fourth all-time (Melvin Gordon) and his 4,015 rushing yards are the sixth highest in Wisconsin football history.

The running back was selected in fourth round (130th overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and he spent nine seasons with the team before retiring after the 2021 campaign, winning three Super Bowls in his time there.

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Wisconsin RB legends chime in on the greatness of Braelon Allen

Some cool notes from a few Wisconsin legends:

The Wisconsin football program has been as good as any at producing star-caliber running backs over the last 15-20 years. You know the names: Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball and James White.

What’s as impressive, even, is the depth at the position. Former Badgers including Corey Clement, Alec Ingold and Dare Ogunbowale have all made legitimate impacts at the next level.

I’m not going to litigate “Running Back U,” or anything along those lines. But it doesn’t take a genius to notice who is next in that line of greatness: rising junior Braelon Allen.

Despite being hampered by lingering injuries, Allen has amassed 2510 rushing yards in his first two seasons in Madison. The stats also include 23 touchdowns, a yards-per-carry clip of 6 and 143 receiving yards. Again, all of that done without being fully healthy or carrying the ball 30+ times per game for a full 12-game season.

The Big Ten Network on Twitter posted a few great notes earlier this afternoon. It got Ball, Gordon, White and Taylor to all chime in on the greatness of Wisconsin’s current running back.

Here’s what the Wisconsin legends had to say:

 

It is also worth noting Allen will not turn 20 years old until after the 2023 season concludes. Given health, he has a lot of terrific football left ahead.

Badger Countdown: Wisconsin scores 70 points in 2010 game

College football season is on the horizon and the Badgers’ opener is now 70 days away as Wisconsin faces Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall.

College football season is on the horizon and the Badgers’ opener is now 70 days away as Wisconsin faces Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall. In 2010, the Badgers set multiple scoring records, starting with their 70-3 win over Austin Peay on Sept. 25.

In the contest, quarterback Scott Tolzien threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns, but the running game is what made the difference for the Badgers. Starter John Clay turned 15 carries into 118 yards and a score while backup James White truly burst onto the scene. The true freshman recorded 145 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries.

Montee Ball added another 64 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries while Wisconsin set the program record with 70 points. That record wouldn’t stand long though, as the team went on to beat Indiana 83-20 in November.

Wisconsin finished the 2010 campaign 11-1 before going on to lose the 2011 Rose Bowl to TCU by a score of 21-19.

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Badger Countdown: Legendary RB finishes UW career with 71 TDs

The return of college football is on the horizon and the Wisconsin squad is now 71 days away from their season opener vs Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The return of college football is on the horizon and the Wisconsin squad is now 71 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. An instant star for the Badgers, running back Ron Dayne finished his career with a program-high 71 rushing touchdowns.

Dayne burst onto the scene with Wisconsin in 1996, producing 2,109 rushing yards and 21 scores on the ground, both of which were program records. He only became a bigger star as time went on, rushing for over 1,400 yards while scoring at least 15 times in each of his four seasons with the team.

In total, he finished his career with 7,125 yards and 71 rushing TDs, both of which were all-time highs for a Badger at the time of his departure. The yards record still stands while Montee Ball (77) has passed him in touchdowns.

Dayne went on to help the Badgers win the Rose Bowl in both 1999 and 2000 while winning the 1999 Heisman Trophy. His stellar career in Madison led to him being selected 11th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

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