Tag: Wisconsin running backs

Wisconsin running back posts career rushing performance in win over Rutgers

Wisconsin running back posts career rushing performance in win over Rutgers

Wisconsin veteran running back Tawee Walker stole the show for the Badgers its their 42-7 victory over Rutgers on Saturday.

The North Las Vegas, Nevada, native totaled 24 carries for 198 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the blowout win. He also reeled in one catch for three yards to eclipse 200 yards from scrimmage in Wisconsin’s 35-point win.

With the effort, Walker became the first Wisconsin running back to rush for at least 198 yards in a road game since Jonathan Taylor did so against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Nov. 16, 2019, in Lincoln, Nebraska. The output was also the most by a Badger since Braelon Allen accumulated 228 on the ground on Nov. 20, 2021.

https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1845214537198268740

Walker has scored eight rushing touchdowns in the last three weeks of action. He reached the end zone twice against USC on Sept. 28, finished with 94 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns against Purdue on Oct. 5 and added three more touchdowns against a stout Rutgers defense on Saturday.

In total, Wisconsin racked up 309 yards on the ground between Walker, Cade Yacamelli, Darrion Dupree, Dilin Jones and Braedyn Locke. The Badgers appear to have discovered their identity on offense, and Walker figures to play an integral role in those schematics during a challenging upcoming stretch with games against Northwestern (away) No. 4 Penn State (home), Iowa (away) and No. 3 Oregon (home).

Wisconsin athletic director believes former Badger RB should be NCAA all-time leading rusher

Wisconsin athletic director believes former Badger RB should be all-time leading rusher

Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh strongly believes Badger legend Ron Dayne should be the NCAA’s all-time rushing leader. He explained his thinking in a recent appearance on WOZN’s Zach Heilprin’s podcast “The Camp.”

The NCAA considers former San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey as the career leader in rushing yards with 6,405. The kicker: Dayne’s spectacular outputs in bowl games are not recognized by the NCAA.

The NCAA first recognized bowl statistics in 2002, three years after Dayne departed Madison. If college football’s governing organization were to take this into account, Dayne would have 7,125 yards, more than 500 ahead of Texas’ Ricky Williams.

At 6,397 yards, Dayne lands second on the current list. Williams, UW’s Jonathan Taylor and Pittsburgh’s Tony Dorsett round out the top five.

McIntosh, who was named Wisconsin’s athletic director in July of 2021, started every game of Ron Dayne’s career at left tackle.

Here’s his take on Dayne’s situation:

“I don’t understand the methodology or thinking behind it. The statistics are available to adjust those numbers. Until that were to happen, I think it’s a fair thing for our program to take the position that he’s the all-time NCAA rushing leader.”

Nov. 13 will be the 25th anniversary of Dayne setting the NCAA Division I career rushing record against Iowa.

McIntosh also noted on “The Camp” that Wisconsin will honor his record-breaking achievement this fall.