Tag: Ron Dayne

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:

Where Wisconsin lands on the list of all-time Doak Walker Award winners

Wisconsin is RBU!

Wisconsin has been a premier destination for college football’s best running backs over the past few decades of Badger football. From Ron Dayne to Jonathan Taylor and with a number of legends in between, Wisconsin has dominated on the ground in recent years.

How about a stat that backs up the greatness of Badger running backs? The Doak Walker Award has annually honored the top running back in college football since 1990, and Wisconsin has had its fair share of winners. Badger fans won’t be surprised as to where Wisconsin lands among schools with the most all-time winners of the award.

Here is a look at which school’s have the most Doak Walker Award’s since its inception in 1990:

Braelon Allen joined elite company after today’s 223-yard performance

Braelon Allen joined elite company after today’s 223-yard performance

The story behind Wisconsin’s turnaround this season has been the emergence of 17-year-old freshman running back Braelon Allen.

Entering today’s contest against Nebraska, Allen boasted six straight 100-yard rushing performances including a 173-yard game against Northwestern last weekend. He needed a repeat of that performance to top 1000 yards on the season.

The craziest part of where he is statistically: Allen wasn’t a featured part of the offense until Wisconsin’s win over Illinois. Since that game the freshman has topped 100 yards every game and has given the team critical production out of the backfield—production which has helped Graham Mertz and the offense complement one of the nation’s-best defenses.

Related: Wisconsin’s rushing production in 8-game win streak vs. Nebraska is remarkable

Well, Allen continued Wisconsin’s long streak of great rushing performances against Nebraska today with a 22-carry, 228-yard and 3-touchdown performance. He eclipsed 1000 yards on the season during the effort, becoming only the third Wisconsin true freshman to do so.

The previous two? Arguably college football’s two greatest running backs of all time.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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A legendary Wisconsin RB loved the effort from the Badger RB’s today

The Badger RB’s get love from a Wisconsin legend:

As they have down countless times over the past few decades, Wisconsin football got a Big Ten win behind their ground game. The Badgers ran the football, then ran the football, then ran the football some more in a 30-13 win over Purdue that pulled Wisconsin (4-3) to above .500 for the first time all season.

The Badgers’ one-two punch of Chez Mellusi and Braelon Allen combined to run for 249 yards on just 39 carries as the two totaled three touchdowns on the ground. Both Mellusi and Allen eclipsed 140 rushing yards on the afternoon.

The play of the Badger running backs inspired some Tweets from one of the best to ever do it in Madison, Wisconsin. 1999 Heisman Trophy Winner Ron Dayne loved the effort of the Wisconsin rushing attack, and was sure to call it out on Twitter during the game:

Who is the greatest college football player ever from the state of Wisconsin?

Fox Sports looked at the best college football player from every state

The Badger State has produced a number of excellent talents on the football field throughout the last few decades. Wisconsin football has been lucky enough to see many of them make the short drive to Madison and suit up as a Badger.

Fox Sports’ Sean Merriman and RJ Young recently took a look at the all-time greatest college football player from each state, and to no Badger fans surprise Wisconsin’s selection was also a UW-Madison alum. Merriman and Young selected Joe Thomas as the Badger State pick. The once upon a time star offensive lineman from Brookfield, Wisconsin made his way to Madison in 2003 where he spent four fantastic seasons.

Thomas was a two-time All-Big Ten player as a Badger and picked up the Outland Trophy as a senior, an award given to the nation’s best offensive lineman each season. The former Cleveland Brown and 10-time Pro Bowl selectee was not the only Badger on the list, however.

Ron Dayne, Wisconsin’s all-time leader in rushing yards, was named the best player from the state of Virginia. Dayne took home the Heisman Trophy in 1999 during his final year as a Badger. He finished his Wisconsin career with 7,125 rushing yards, a number that still stands alone at the top of the record books in Madison.

It’s fitting to see a running back and an offensive lineman, the two positions Wisconsin football is known for, being recognized.

Wisconsin RB Jalen Berger named to Doak Walker Award Watch List

Wisconsin running back Jalen Berger was named to the prestigious Doak Walker Award Watch List on Wednesday morning:

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On Wednesday morning, Wisconsin running back Jalen Berger was named to the prestigious Doak Walker Award Watch List. It is awarded to the best running back in college football every season.

Related: Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz named to Davey O’Brien Award Watch List

Many Badgers fans may be familiar with the Doak Walker Award because Wisconsin running backs have won the award five times. Some notable Wisconsin alumni of the award include two-time winner Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball and Ron Dayne. Former Wisconsin running back Nakia Watson was also named to the watch list for the award before last season.

After a promising true freshman season where Berger averaged 6.5 yards per carry, it is no surprise to see high expectations for the sophomore running back with a full offseason under his belt.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

The Big Ten football all-time leaders in rushing yards

Although the top 10 in career rushing yards in Big Ten history features five Wisconsin running backs, there are numerous other dominant p…

Over the last few decades, Wisconsin football has built a legacy of excellence at the running back position and has produced some of the best running backs in college football history. Five of these outstanding backs are represented in the 10 in career rushing yards in Big Ten Conference history.

Although the top 10 in career rushing yards in Big Ten history features five Wisconsin running backs, there are numerous other dominant players including legends like Michigan State’s Lorenzo White, Ohio State‘s Archie Griffin and Indiana’s Anthony Thompson.

This list includes several Heisman winners as well as numerous Doak Walker Award winners and represents some of the very best in not only the history of the Big Ten but in college football.

Below are the top 10 in career rushing yards in Big Ten Conference history:

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Wisconsin football’s all-time leaders in rushing yards

Many of these legends are represented in the top 10 in career rushing yards in Wisconsin program history including Ron Dayne, Jonathan Ta…

Throughout the Big Ten and college football, Wisconsin is known for producing great running backs. The Badgers’ running back alum includes numerous record-breakers, Doak Walker Award winners and Heisman Trophy winners.

Many of these legends are represented in the top 10 in career rushing yards in Wisconsin program history including Ron Dayne, Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon, P.J. Hill, Montee Ball and Billy Marek.

Some notable players that fell just outside the top 10 in career rushing yards include current New York Giants running back Corey Clement, Heisman trophy winner Alan Ameche and John Clay.

Below are the top 10 in career rushing yards in Wisconsin program history:

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A look at each Wisconsin Badger to have played in Super Bowl history

Former Wisconsin Badgers are no strangers to this game, as we’ve seen them lead their teams to victory, take home Super Bowl MVP honors

It is officially Super Bowl week, a time cherished by football fans everywhere because it leads up to the most important night of the year but also marks the end of football for several months.

Former Wisconsin Badgers are no strangers to this game, as we’ve seen them lead their teams to victory, take home Super Bowl MVP honors and much more.

With Tampa Bay Buccaneer Jack Cichy‘s recent injury there won’t be any Wisconsin products playing in this year’s game. Nevertheless, laid out below is every former Badger to ever play in America’s game.

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