Wisconsin Spring Ball Preview: Running Backs
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While the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team is starting March Madness, the football team is getting ready for spring ball, with practices open to the media beginning on Thursday.
Wisconsin has a far different team in 2026 after overhauling their roster via the transfer portal once again this offseason. The Badgers brought in 33 transfers, which was the eighth-most in the country and the second-most of any team that didn’t have a head coaching change this offseason.
That coincided with 23 players exiting via the transfer portal, so Wisconsin needed a large batch of transfers to improve the roster and acquire depth at key positions.
With spring ball starting, let’s break down every position group. We started with the quarterback room. Now, let’s move on to the new-look running back room, which includes several new pieces.
Here’s what the room projects to look like heading into the spring.
Starter: Abu Sama (senior)
Backup: Darrion Dupree (junior)
Depth: Bryan Jackson (junior), Nate Palmer (redshirt sophomore), Qwantavius Wiggins (freshman), Gideon Ituka (redshirt sophomore)
One of Wisconsin’s best additions of the entire transfer portal cycle was senior Abu Sama, who came in from Iowa State. Sama has flourished in a rotational role over the past three years, going for 1,933 yards and 13 touchdowns on 348 carries (5.6 yards per carry).
He’s been a strong complement in the Iowa State backfield and now is ready for a bigger role in Wisconsin. He should be a strong fit in the Jeff Grimes offense, and should be a very big contributor in the offense this Fall.
Behind him, the Badgers added quite a bit of depth as they dealt with a few departures. Darrion Dupree returns and will look to build off a strong finish to his sophomore season, where he had 363 yards and two touchdowns on 83 carries (4.4 yards per carry).
But he’s not the only one who should contribute. USC transfer Bryan Jackson starred as a freshman for the Trojans, going for 152 yards and a touchdown on 5.2 yards per carry before injuries slowed him down this past year. While Dupree is more of a change-of-pace back, Jackson is a bigger, powerful back at 6’0, 235 pounds. He’ll be the bruiser that Grimes has been looking for in a complementary role with some big upside as a former high four-star recruit.
Palmer had 139 yards and 4.6 yards per carry as a redshirt freshman at TCU, and he’ll add some speed and athleticism to the room at 6’0, 190 pounds. But with the other depth in the room, he may be more of a reserve this season, although we’ve seen constant injuries in Wisconsin’s running back room that will likely prompt Palmer to be called upon this season.
Wiggins is the wildcard in the room. He looks college ready at 5’11, 200 pounds, and will have a big opportunity to impress the coaching staff this spring, like the younger backs over the past few years.
Wisconsin’s got some quality depth in the room and didn’t overcrowd the room too much. This should be one of the stronger position groups this offseason, and the Badgers will absolutely need their run game to take off for their offense to improve this season.
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