Wisconsin’s best running backs
Ron Dayne has the most rushing yards in Wisconsin history, 7,125 from 1996 to 1999. Since 2004, Jonathan Taylor has the most, 6,174 in 41 games.
Of the Big Ten’s best running backs since 2004, Jonathan Taylor is 1st, Montee Ball 3rd and Melvin Gordon III 5th.
Wisconsin’s running backs this season
- Abu Sama III6 games, 53.0 a game318rushing yards
- Darrion Dupree7 games, 33.9 a game917 at Wisconsin.237rushing yards
- Bryan Jackson II5 games, 24.6 a game123rushing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2004–09
rushing yards in Wisconsin history
- 1Ron Dayne1996 – 19997,125
- 2Jonathan Taylor2017 – 20196,174
- 3Montee Ball2009 – 20125,140
- 4Melvin Gordon2011 – 20144,915
- 5Anthony Davis2001 – 20044,676
- 6James White2010 – 20134,015
- 7PJ Hill2006 – 20083,942
- 8Billy Marek1972 – 19753,709
- 9Braelon Allen2021 – 20233,494
- 10Brent Moss1991 – 19943,428
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), through the 2025 season, which counts bowl games from 2002.
Compare with in · side by side
Every running back since 2004
| Place | Player | rushing yards | rushing touchdowns | yards from scrimmage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonathan Taylor2017 – 2019 · 41 games | 6,174 | 50 | 6,581 |
| 2 | Montee Ball2009 – 2012 · 49 games | 5,140 | 77 | 5,738 |
| 3 | Melvin Gordon III2011 – 2014 · 43 games | 4,915 | 45 | 5,143 |
| 4 | James White2010 – 2013 · 52 games | 4,015 | 45 | 4,685 |
| 5 | PJ Hill2006 – 2008 · 37 games | 3,942 | 42 | 4,300 |
| 6 | Braelon Allen2021 – 2023 · 34 games | 3,494 | 35 | 3,768 |
| 7 | John Clay2008 – 2010 · 37 games | 3,413 | 41 | 3,485 |
| 8 | Corey Clement2013 – 2016 · 39 games | 3,092 | 36 | 3,371 |
| 9 | Chez Mellusi2021 – 2024 · 26 games | 1,827 | 14 | 1,947 |
| 10 | Brian Calhoun2005 · 13 games | 1,636 | 22 | 2,207 |
| 11 | Dare Ogunbowale2014 – 2016 · 34 games | 1,518 | 13 | 2,025 |
| 12 | Garrett Groshek2017 – 2020 · 46 games | 1,216 | 7 | 1,827 |
| 13 | Taiwan Deal2015 – 2018 · 28 games | 1,212 | 12 | 1,226 |
| 14 | Zach Brown2007 – 2009 · 34 games | 1,152 | 11 | 1,257 |
| 15 | Anthony Davis2004 · 8 games | 973 | 11 | 1,069 |
| 16 | Bradrick Shaw2016 – 2019 · 28 games | 938 | 10 | 965 |
| 17 | Darrion Dupree2024 – 2026 · still playing | 917 | 5 | 1,132 |
| +237 this season | ||||
| 18 | Tawee Walker2024 · 11 games | 864 | 10 | 885 |
| 19 | Lance Smith2006 – 2007 · 19 games | 774 | 8 | 779 |
| 20 | Booker Stanley2004 – 2005 · 22 games | 690 | 5 | 900 |
| 21 | Isaac Guerendo2019 – 2022 · 19 games | 581 | 6 | 705 |
| 22 | Cade Yacamelli2022 – 2025 · 25 games | 571 | 2 | 655 |
| 23 | Nakia Watson2019 – 2020 · 16 games | 522 | 5 | 525 |
| 24 | Jackson Acker2021 – 2025 · 33 games | 415 | 3 | 691 |
| 25 | Jalen Berger2020 – 2021 · 7 games | 389 | 3 | 419 |
rushing yards by decade
2020s
- Braelon Allen2021 – 2023 · 34 games3,494
- Chez Mellusi2021 – 2024 · 26 games1,827
- › Darrion Dupree2024 – 2026 · 28 games917
- Tawee Walker2024 · 11 games864
- Isaac Guerendo2020 – 2022 · 17 games580
2010s
- Jonathan Taylor2017 – 2019 · 41 games6,174
- Melvin Gordon III2011 – 2014 · 43 games4,915
- Montee Ball2010 – 2012 · 40 games4,749
- James White2010 – 2013 · 52 games4,015
- Corey Clement2013 – 2016 · 39 games3,092
2004–09
- PJ Hill2006 – 2008 · 37 games3,942
- John Clay2008 – 2009 · 26 games2,401
- Brian Calhoun2005 · 13 games1,636
- Zach Brown2007 – 2009 · 34 games1,152
- Anthony Davis2004 · 8 games973
Also at Wisconsin: quarterbacks · wide receivers · tight ends · defenders · kickers · punters · Wisconsin record book
Method
- Every running back who played at Wisconsin since 2004, ranked by rushing yards over his games there. Bowl and playoff games count.
- The numbers here start in 2004, so a running back who played at Wisconsin before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his rushing yards at Wisconsin in its seasons.
- The record book's numbers are the school's own. Where they and the box scores differ for one player, the box scores are missing a game or count bowls another way.
- A running back still playing at Wisconsin is counted at tonight's numbers against the record book's, which run through the 2025 season.