Tag: Montee Ball

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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Badger Countdown: Running back records all-time high 77 rushing scores

The college football season is inching closer and the Badgers launch their 2023 campaign in 77 days on Sept. 2 versus Buffalo.

The college football season is inching closer and the Badgers launch their 2023 campaign in 77 days on Sept. 2 versus Buffalo. During his four seasons with Wisconsin, running back Montee Ball compiled career stats as good as any ball carrier ever.

Ball was a member of the Badgers from 2009-2012, becoming a superstar in his second season with the team in 2010. During his 2011 campaign he produced 1,923 yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground while also catching 24 passes for 306 yards and six scores. The 39 combined touchdowns matched Barry Sanders’ all-time FBS record and Ball finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting that year (RGIII won).

After his fourth and final year with Wisconsin, Ball had produced a program-high 77 rushing touchdowns, while his 5,140 rushing yards were second only to Ron Dayne.

Ball was selected in the second round (58th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, but he unfortunately fizzled out of the league by 2015.

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A Badger legend named to 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot

A Badger legend named to 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot

Wisconsin legend Montee Ball will officially be up for nomination to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2024. Part of the rich running back university history, Ball scored more touchdowns at running back than any player in Big Ten history during his career.

He will have a chance to get in with the class of 2024.

Ball spent 2009-12 at Wisconsin, and finished his career with 89 total touchdowns, 5.6 yards per carry, and had one of the best Badger careers of any running back.

Ball went on to be drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and played two seasons in the NFL with the Broncos.

Wisconsin offers four-star running back from Florida

The Badgers offered Byron Louis, a four-star class of 2025 running back from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday.

The Badgers offered Byron Louis, a four-star running back from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday. The 5-foot-10, 180 pound athlete still has two more seasons of football at American Heritage before he’d potentially join a collegiate program as a member of their class of 2025.

Louis has now received 24 Division 1 offers, including programs like Georgia, Ohio State and USC. That being said, Wisconsin is known for producing star running backs like Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball and Ron Dayne amongst others.

Head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo will look to improve upon the early success of current halfback Braelon Allen in 2023 and Louis could potentially be next up to be a star in the Badgers’ backfield.

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Badgers tied for all-time lead in top RB award

Is Braelon Allen the next Doak Walker Award winner from the Badgers?

The Doak Walker Award, established in 1990, is awarded to the nation’s top collegiate running back every season. Named after Walker, a former RB at Southern Methodist (1945-1949), it’s the highest honor a ball carrier can earn for their position.

Wisconsin has produced some of the best running backs in the country in the last couple decades and has gained some steam as the “running back university”. In the end though, the Badgers have never been able to get over the hump and make a national championship, regardless of their backfield talent. Looking to the future, new head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo have reassured fans that the running mentality will not be erased moving forward, but only time will tell.

Overall, the Badgers have had five winners of the Doak Walker Award, tying them with the Texas Longhorns for most ever. Here’s a look into the impressive athletes to don the Badger red and white: