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Can Wisconsin's new transfer be program's next 1000-yard rusher?
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- Can Wisconsin's new transfer be program's next 1000-yard rusher?
There's a realistic scenario that sees the Wisconsin Badgers newest running back become the team's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2022.
Braelon Allen fell just 16 yards shy of that mark in 2023, but it's one he hit during his 2022 season. Not only did he reach the 1,000 mark, but he finished with 1,242, which marked back-to-back seasons of him finishing with 1,200+.
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Remember, Jonathan Taylor was a 2,000-yard rusher for this team back in 2019. Ultimately, that shows just how far away this program is from what it used to be . Now, they've gone three straight years without a running back finishing with 1,000.
Not a single running back finished with more than 400 yards last season. In 2024, Tawee Walker led the way with 864, a total that the Badgers ' three leading rushers combined beat by only 54 yards in 2025.
Heading into the 2026 season, all eyes are on Iowa State transfer Abu Sama III. The senior may only have one year of eligibility remaining, but he's a former True Freshman All-American and comes to Madison with 1,933 career rushing yards in three seasons with the Cyclones.
Sama has averaged 4.7+ yards per carry in all three seasons and has had rushes of 77 yards in both 2023 and 2024. What he lacks as a pass-catcher, he more than makes up for with his 5-foot-11, 210-pound frame.
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Even with a new quarterback , Wisconsin still loves to pound the rock. Allen recorded 181 carries in 2023, 230 in 2022, and Allen and Chez Mellusi had 359 combined in 2021.
The Badgers know Sama hasn't eclipsed more than 140 carries in a year, but knowing he rushed for 732 yards last year with that total, there's a clear path for him to reach 1,000 on yet another revamped offense in the Luke Fickell era.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Iowa State RB Abu Sama III eyes 1000-yard season with Wisconsin
