Wisconsin football is home to one of college football’s best running back rooms. However, fans of the Badgers know that is far from a new development. Some of college football’s greatest running backs have called Madison home.
Braelon Allen is seeking to be among those greats. Does he have the talent to do it? Who better to ask than some of the greatest game-breaking running backs Wisconsin football has ever seen?
The Big Ten Network asked four of the most-decorated rushers what impresses them most about “Agent Zero.” They had a lot to say:
Montee Ball (2009-12) on Wisconsin Football Running Back Braelon Allen:
I like how he uses his strength and balance to break tackles and move the chains. He’s a very powerful running back and plays to his strengths very well.
Montee Ball is one of Wisconsin football’s most decorated running backs. He succeeded early in his career, finishing with the roster’s second-most rushing yards, touchdowns, and attempts. John Clay not only led the Badgers in each category that season but led the entire Big Ten in each category.
After Clay sustained a leg injury during the 2010 season, Ball captured the starting role. In 2011 and 2012, he received several awards, including the Jim Brown Award, Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, and First-team All-Big Ten. In 2011, he was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Heisman Trophy finalist.
Ball’s NFL career suffered due to his longtime struggles with alcoholism and criminal charges, including pleading guilty to domestic abuse charges. He is now an ambassador with an addiction treatment clinic in Denver. The 2012 Doak Walker Award winner was inducted into the UW Athletic Hall of Fame this month.
James White (2010-13) on Wisconsin Football Running Back Braelon Allen:
I like his patience to set up his blocks and the ability to accelerate through the hole when he sees a crease.
James White joined Clay and Ball as part of a triple-threat rushing attack in 2010. As a freshman for Wisconsin football, the future New England Patriot rushed for over 1,000 yards on a Big Ten-leading 6.7 yards per carry en route to being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
White was a fourth-round selection by New England in the 2014 NFL Draft. He recorded a hallmark performance in Super Bowl LI. Despite falling behind 28-3, White’s Patriots came back to win 34-28 in overtime. White recorded 29 rushing yards, 110 receiving yards, three rushing touchdowns (including the game-winner in overtime), and a two-point conversion in the victory.
Melvin Gordon (2011-14) on Wisconsin Football Running Back Braelon Allen:
Vision… and the jump cut laterally tied into the acceleration he has to get back vertical up the field after the cut, which will help him greatly at the next level
Following the departures of Ball and White, Melvin Gordon had one of the greatest seasons by a running back of all time in 2014. He led all college football in rushing yards (2,587), yards per rushing attempt (7.5), rushing touchdowns (29), total yards (2,740), and total touchdowns (32). Gordon finished second in Heisman voting behind Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Jonathan Taylor (2017-19) on Wisconsin Football Running Back Braelon Allen:
He has great feet and contact balance. No matter the type of tackle attempt, his center of gravity doesn’t waver. Allows him to keep moving forward and reach the third level.
Allen’s immediate predecessor, Jonathan Taylor, averaged 2,000 yards in his three seasons with Wisconsin football. He led the Big Ten in rushing yards for three consecutive years; his 2,194 yards led all college football in 2018.
The New Jersey native is among the all-time most decorated Wisconsin football running backs. Taylor was named to the All-Big Ten First Team in all three seasons in Madison. In back-to-back seasons (2018 and 2019), Taylor won the Doak Walker Award, Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year, and was named a unanimous all-American.
A second-round NFL Draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2020, he has established himself as one of the best running backs in football.
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