Tag: running backs

Wisconsin running back joins elite company in 42-7 victory over Rutgers

Wisconsin running back joins elite company in 42-7 victory over Rutgers

Wisconsin running back Tawee Walker joined some elite Badger company following his monster performance against Rutgers on Saturday.

After rushing for three touchdowns vs. the Scarlet Knights in New Jersey, Walker joined Melvin Gordon and Jonathan Taylor as the third UW running back to record three straight multi-touchdown games since 2014.

Alongside his three rushing scores, Walker registered 198 rushing yards and three receiving yards on 25 total touches.

In Week 6 against the Purdue Boilermakers, the senior back accounted for three more scores and 94 rushing yards off 19 carries. A week prior, the former Oklahoma Sooner burst onto the scene for the Badgers with 55 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Walker’s emergence arrives at the perfect time for offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Since news broke that Chez Mellusi would be leaving the program, Walker has become Wisconsin’s most reliable rushing threat.

https://twitter.com/B1Gfootball/status/1845226798537376176

The company Walker joins is no joke. Taylor, now a star in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, pocketed a pair of Doak Walker Awards with the Badgers during his collegiate tenure. Gordon, meanwhile, was the 2014 Heisman runner-up and set the FBS record for career rushing average with 7.79 yards per carry when he left Madison.

Through five appearances, Walker has rushed for 439 yards, nine touchdowns and 87.8 yards per game. His next opportunity to reach the end zone will be on Oct. 19 against Northwestern on the road.

Wisconsin lead running back reaches end zone three times against Purdue

Wisconsin lead running back reaches end zone three times against Purdue

Wisconsin senior running back Tawee Walker continued his dominance on the ground for UW on Saturday against the Purdue Boilermakers.

Walker, who recorded a pair of touchdowns in the Badgers’ Week 5 loss to the No. 13 USC Trojans, finished with 94 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns before a packed crowd at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday.

The former Oklahoma running back’s final touchdown of the day encapsulated his performance for the entirety of Saturday’s game. On third down, Walker fielded a handoff from quarterback Braedyn Locke and powered through multiple Purdue defenders before crossing the goal line.

Here’s the full sequence:

On the day, Walker averaged a stellar 4.9 yards per carry. As opposed to UW wide receivers Trech Kekahuna and Vinny Anthony II, who ripped off plays of 50+ yards against Purdue, Walker’s longest rush of Saturday was 17 yards.

Still, he captained a group responsible for 236 total rush yards against Purdue’s struggling defensive unit. UW’s offensive line prevented the Boilermakers from wrecking any type of havoc during the second half and enabled Walker and company to flourish.

While Wisconsin has utilized a committee of running backs throughout the entirety of 2024, Walker’s contributions will only increase going forward. UW veteran running back Chez Mellusi recently announced his departure from the program, creating an opportunity for Walker to become Wisconsin’s starting back for the rest of the year.

Badgers great James White names greatest Wisconsin running back of all time

Badgers great James White names greatest Wisconsin running back of all time

Former Wisconsin running back legend James White considers former UW teammate Melvin Gordon the greatest Badger running back ever, per a recent interview with ESPN Madison.

White, who finished his career No. 4 all-time at Wisconsin with 4,015 rushing yards, shared the field with Gordon, the runner-up for the 2014 Heisman Trophy, from 2011-13.

At the peak of their powers, the two absolutely dominated for UW in 2013. That season, Gordon ranked second in the Big Ten with 1,609 rushing yards, scored 12 rushing touchdowns, and set a UW single-season record at 7.8 yards per attempt. White, who started 12 of those games, ranked No. 17 nationally with an average of 111.1 rushing yards per game, rushed for a career-high 1,444 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

Here’s what the Super Bowl champion said about his former Badger teammate:

“He has the speed, the power, everything you need,” White said. “After I left, especially during his senior year, he was heavily relied upon. That entire season, teams [were] stacking the box, doing whatever they [could] to slow him down. Still, he ripped off 100-yard games, 200-yard games… it was truly impressive to see the growth from him, his freshman year not playing too much all the way to that point where he was the guy, being up for the Heisman. They made it to the Big Ten Championship too, so it’s not like they were a slouch football team. A big part of that was because of him.”

After White was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft Gordon would go on to have one of the greatest individual seasons by a running back in NCAA Division I football history.

In 2014, Gordon rushed for a staggering 2,587 yards, a Big Ten record and the second-most in FBS history. He also led nation in rushing at 184.8 yards per game, the most since LaDanian Tomlinson averaged 196.2 yards per game with TCU in 2000.

Gordon pocketed the 2014 Doak Walker Award, signifying the nation’s best running back, and was runner-up in the Hesiman voting to Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.

White, meanwhile, went on to earn three Super Bowl rings with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. It’s hard to imagine how opposing defenses game planned for the duo during heir primes at Wisconsin, but one thing is for certain: it wasn’t easy.

Wisconsin running back legend ruled out for NFL Week 5

Wisconsin running back legend ruled out for NFL Week 5

The Indianapolis Colts have ruled out former Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After missing practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with a high ankle injury, Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Taylor’s absence from this weekend’s divisional showdown vs. the reeling Jaguars.

The injury occurred during the Colts’ Week 4 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Indianapolis. After being tackled near the line of scrimmage, Taylor came down hard on his right ankle and exited the game. Running back Trey Sermon figures to take on a bulk of Taylor’s workload while he remains sidelined.

The two-time Doak Walker Award winner was off to a thundering start to his 2024 campaign. In four games, he totaled 72 carries for 349 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He also reeled in six receptions for 77 yards in games against the Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Taylor’s next chance to hit the gridiron will arrive on Sunday, Oct. 13, against AFC South foe Tennessee Titans.

How Braelon Allen fared in NFL Week 4 with the New York Jets

How Braelon Allen fared in NFL Week 4 with the New York Jets

Former Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen suited up for his fourth career game with the New York Jets on Sunday.

Allen led the Jets’ backfield with eight carries for 34 rushing yards in the 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos and rookie quarterback Bo Nix. He also added one reception for 12 yards in the rainy game at MetLife Stadium.

The Jets’ offense, spearheaded by four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, could not find its rhythm in the slugfest. Despite the efforts of Rodgers, Allen and emerging star Breece Hall, the Jets combined to rush for 64 yards against Denver.

Most notably, the Jets did not utilize Allen on a sequence on the 1-yard line. Instead, head coach Robert Saleh went to Breece Hall, a player he referred to as the Jets’ “workhorse back” after the game.

Nonetheless, the Jets have been doing a more than respectable job in utilizing both Allen and Hall in New York’s offensive attack through the first three games.

The former Badger’s Week 4 performance arrives following his impressive Week 3 output against the New England Patriots on Sept. 19, a game in which he registered 68 total yards and 4.85 yards per touch before in the 24-3 smashing.

Before then, Allen captured NFL Rookie of the Week nods for his two-touchdown effort in the Jets’ Week 2 win over the Titans. On the season, he has recorded 187 total yards and two touchdowns.

Michigan State football RB coach Keith Bhonapha talks OSU

Keith Bhonapha spoke to the media about the OSU matchup and his units progression this season:

Michigan State football and Ohio State are gearing up for a Saturday night clash under the lights against one another inside of Spartan Stadium.

Running back coach and co-special teams coordinator Keith Bhonapha was one of the coaches to speak to the media this week, talking about his units and what they need to do to take down the No. 3 team in the nation on Saturday night.

Watch the running backs coach’s interview with the media via Spartan Mag on YouTube:

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 Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner

WATCH: Former Wisconsin legend has big two-touchdown Week 3 performance

WATCH: Former Wisconsin legend has big two-touchdown Week 3 performance

Former Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor reached the end zone twice for the first time this season in the Indianapolis Colts’ 21-16 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

The first score arrived at the 8:27 mark of the second quarter on a first-down play inside the Bears’ 30-yard line. Taylor took the snap from quarterback Anthony Richardson, cut right, and accelerated outside the right hash to the end zone untouched. The score pushed Indianapolis ahead 6-0 before kicker Matt Gay nailed the extra point.

The touchdown was Taylor’s second score of the young 2024 season. He last crossed the goal line for a 10-yard score against the Houston Texans in Week 1.

Here’s the first sequence:

Taylor scored again in the fourth quarter in what became the winning touchdown for Indianapolis. With the Colts at the Bears’ one-yard line, Taylor simply bullied his way across the goal line to extend his team’s lead up to 11, 20-9.

Taylor finished the day with 23 carries for 110 rushing yards and the two rushing scores. He also added one catch for 25 yards. On the year, the former UW great has tallied 318 total yards and three touchdowns.

Taylor’s Colts will continue their season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 29.

Wisconsin top class of 2025 running back target commits to ACC power

Wisconsin top class of 2025 running back target commits to ACC power

Wisconsin football top-ranked class of 2025 running back target Byron Louis committed to Florida State on Saturday.

Louis elected to offer his pledge to the in-state Seminoles over Wisconsin, Miami and Georgia. His decision will officially end Luke Fickell’s hopes of securing a top-tier running back in the class of 2025.

While the 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back did take visits to all four schools this summer, On3’s recruiting prediction machine had given the Seminoles a 91.7% to win the recruiting battle before landing Louis.

The American Heritage High School attendee is currently ranked as Rivals’ No. 132 player in the class of 2025, No. 8 running back and No. 27 recruit from the state of Florida. 247Sports, meanwhile, pegs Louis as the No. 221 player in the class of 2025, No. 17 at his position and No. 35 prospect from Florida.

Louis’ progression at American Heritage was monumental. After appearing in six varsity games and tallied 186 rushing yards as a freshman, Louis carried 215 times for nearly 1,700 yards on the ground and 27 rushing touchdowns from 2022-2023.

247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins projects Louis as a potential multi-year contributor at the Power Four level.

It appears as if Louis’ Fort Lauderdale roots tipped the scales for his FSU commitment. Despite the loss, Rivals still considers Wisconsin’s 2025 recruiting class No. 18 in the nation with 22 total commitments.

Former Wisconsin star Braelon Allen agrees he should not have fallen to fourth round of NFL draft

Former Wisconsin star Braelon Allen agrees he should not have fallen to fourth round of NFL draft

Former Wisconsin star running back Braelon Allen teased NFL draft scouts following his impressive performance for the New York Jets in their Week 3 win over the New England Patriots.

In response to a fan’s tweet that questioned how the former Badger standout dropped to the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft, Allen shared a rather cheeky comment for millions of fans to see.

Here’s Allen’s reply:

“Everyone wanted to see me run in my underwear to decide if I was a good football player.”

In other words, NFL scouts should have cared more about my on-field play than my performance at the combine.

At 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, Allen is built like a linebacker. His stature is reminiscent of former All-Pro running back and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, who stands at 6-foot-2, 247 pounds.

The kicker: the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, native has yet to turn 20. In his third game ever with the Jets, Allen led the team with 55 rushing yards on 11 carries. He also added three receptions for 13 receiving yards on Thursday vs. the New England Patriots.

The performance comes on the same day Allen won his first career NFL Rookie of the Week for his output in New York’s first win of the season over the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 15. He registered seven carries, 33 rushing yards, four receptions, 23 receiving yards and two total touchdowns at Nissan Stadium.

On the season, Allen has tallied 19 carries through three games for 96 rushing yards, 5.1 yards per carry and one rushing touchdown. His workload will continue to expand alongside Hall during the 2024 slate.

Chiefs OC Matt Nagy discusses the offense without Isiah Pacheco: ‘It’s the next man up mentality’

Kansas City #Chiefs OC Matt Nagy discusses the offense without Isiah Pacheco: ‘It’s the next man up mentality’ | @EdEastonJr

Mastering an offense and building chemistry with players is an essential formula for a Super Bowl-winning team. The Kansas City Chiefs understand this mindset, and the recent loss of another vital offensive player could affect that game plan.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy spoke with reporters on Thursday about the changes in the offense due to Isiah Pacheco’s injury.

“Yeah, it’s certainly a little bit different, but that’s expected; Pops (Pacheco) is doing a good job recovering, and that part of this game is injuries, but we know how much he wanted to be out there,” said Nagy. “But for us football-wise, the Xs and Os part, I think the guys that we have in here now have really been able to get a chance to be in this offense, get some valuable reps, whether it be at training camp or preseason, and now it’s the next man up mentality, and so, you guys know who the guys are that are here.”

With his fierce running style during the season’s first two weeks, Pacheco was often utilized in the passing game. Nagy is focusing on getting the rest of the running back room up to speed while Pacheco recovers.

“For us, the biggest thing is just making sure that we put them in optimum situations and probably don’t try to do too much one way or the other with any of them,” said Nagy. “And understand, too, that it’s a little new to these guys, and that’s OK. We just help them through the process, but there’s a lot of excitement about them, too.”

The Chiefs will likely become a running back by committee unit again while Pacheco is out or until someone stands out from the room.