When it came to producing elite running backs, few schools in college football did it like the University of Wisconsin. They are known for their massive offensive lines and no-nonsense, run-heavy schemes.
Wisconsin has long been a place where great backs become legends. Whether it’s Heisman winners, record-breakers, or consistent 1,000-yard rushers, the Badgers’ backfield is full of unforgettable names.
Top 10 Running Backs In Wisconsin’s History
1. Ron Dayne (1996–1999)
Let’s be real — this list has to begin with Ron Dayne. The athlete’s nickname was “The Great Dayne.” He was the gold standard for Badger running backs. With that, he was quite possibly one of the greatest in the history of college football.
Dayne accumulated an NCAA-record 7,125 career rushing yards. This did not even include bowl game statistics at the time. He was a four-year presence, combining size, endurance, and surprisingly agile feet for a 250-pound back.
As a senior, Dayne assembled a campaign: 2,034 yards, a Heisman Trophy, and a trip to the Rose Bowl. That’s exactly where he directed Wisconsin to a victory — again. With two Rose Bowl MVPs, a Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp accolades, his trophy room pretty much looked incredible.
2. Jonathan Taylor (2017–2019)
Few players became so significant so soon, especially with such consistency as Jonathan Taylor. In just three seasons, Taylor ran for 6,174 yards, the first player in FBS history to surpass 6,000 yards in three seasons. And he accomplished all that while putting the offense on his back.
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Taylor was a two-time Doak Walker Award winner. It was a unanimous All-American in 2018 and 2019 and the FBS record holder with 12 career 200-yard games. He possessed breakaway speed, excellent vision, and exceptional balance. It was the type of back who could run 80 yards on any given play.
3. Montee Ball (2009–2012)
When it came to scoring touchdowns, Montee Ball played in his own league. In 2011, he equaled Barry Sanders’ iconic single-season record with 39 total touchdowns. By the time he retired, Ball had scored in the end zone 77 times, an NCAA all-time mark that remains unbeaten.
Ball had a nose for the end zone, yes, but he also accumulated yards with phenomenal consistency. He was durable, reliable, and could dominate a game. His 2011 season propelled Wisconsin to the Big Ten championship game and the Rose Bowl. Well, it’s safe to say that he was the perfect closer for a deep offense.
4. Melvin Gordon III (2011–2014)
Melvin Gordon’s 2014 season was a year to remember. He rushed for 2,587 yards, the second-most in a single season in the history of the NCAA at that point. And with that, in a game against Nebraska, he had a mind-boggling effort in which he ran for 408 yards in only three quarters.
Gordon was runner-up in the Heisman voting yet still received the Doak Walker Award that season. What distinguished him was his ability to score from anywhere on the field. He could bounce a run outside and be gone in a second.
5. Alan Ameche (1951–1954)
Prior to any of today’s stars, there was Alan Ameche, commonly known as “The Iron Horse.” He played during the early 1950s and still has a legacy that continues to this day. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1954 after breaking a then-NCAA record with 3,212 rushing yards in his career.
Ameche’s on-the-field running style was preemptive. He was rugged and hard as nails and carried the Badgers’ offense for four consecutive seasons. He was the first of the great backs to don Wisconsin red. And with that he even established the standard by which all legends would be measured.
6. Anthony Davis (2001–2004)
Anthony Davis was the epitome of consistency when he was healthy. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in three seasons. Even though he fought through a couple of injury-riddled years, he accumulated more than 4,000 rushing yards.
Davis never received the national headlines of some of the others on this list. However, Madison fans recognized his value.
7. Brent Moss (1991–1994)
Brent Moss put Wisconsin football on the map again in the early ’90s. His finest year was 1993, as he rushed for 1,637 yards and propelled the Badgers to a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl victory — the program’s first notable accomplishment in decades.
Moss added toughness and passion to each carry. His efforts spearheaded Wisconsin to the national stage, and he was a pillar of Barry Alvarez’s rebuilding process. Without him, who knows if the Badgers would have made the turn?
8. P.J. Hill (2006–2008)
From 2006 to 2008, P.J. Hill provided three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, finishing up with close to 4,000 career yards. A physical back with a low body center, Hill was difficult to take down and possessed a nose for pounding out yards in the hole.
He may not have enjoyed the long runs or the national accolades, but he was the pulse of the offense for his time at Madison.
9. Billy Marek (1972–1975)
Billy Marek unobtrusively enjoyed one of the most successful careers in Wisconsin history. In 1974 and 1975, he was the Big Ten leader in rushing and recorded back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons. Marek possessed great vision and always appeared to see the hole, even when there wasn’t a lot of space.
10. Terrell Fletcher (1991–1994)
Finishing the list is Terrell Fletcher, the most versatile back Wisconsin has ever had. In 1994, he ran for 1,476 yards and helped lead the Badgers to a successful Rose Bowl season. Fletcher could run, catch, and block, so he was an important part of the offense. He wasn’t the largest or the most flashy, but he always managed to make an impact.
Wisconsin’s identity has long been attached to its running game. These ten backs didn’t merely run the ball — they defined Badger football. From Dayne’s thunder to Taylor’s lightning, from Ameche’s legacy to Gordon’s explosiveness, each of these players contributed to a tradition of toughness, dominance, and excellence in the backfield.
MORE BADGERS CONTENT: History of the Wisconsin Badgers Mascot
As long as Camp Randall keeps churning out powerful linemen and blue-collar backs, the legacy will continue — and someday, another name will force its way into this elite company.
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