There was arguably no more prominent position of need in the Wisconsin football team’s 2024 recruiting class than at running back.
With Braelon Allen declaring for the NFL Draft, Chez Mellusi set to move on (before the injury), and with little to no established depth behind them, the Badgers’ recruiting department had its work cut out for them.
Ultimately, the program secured verbal commitments from three talented tailbacks, Darrion Dupree, Dilin Jones, and Gideon Ituka, who later became Wisconsin football signees. Rivals even listed the Badgers running back class as one of the country’s top five position group hauls.
Getting those players to commit was one thing, but keeping them in the fold was when the real work for the Wisconsin Badgers staff truly began.
Wisconsin Football Fought off Blue-Blood Program to Retain Dilin Jones.
A source close to the situation shared with BadgerNotes.com that Ohio State was one of the teams that tried making a serious push for the Wisconsin football team’s top-ranked running back signee in the 2024 recruiting class, Dilin Jones.
Jones is the No. 8 ranked running back in the country, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, and a top 150 player in the entire class.
We’re told the Buckeyes’ pursuit of Jones ended rather swiftly. Jones does not care for attention or publicity and dodged the team’s efforts to connect before kindly telling Ohio State staffers to look elsewhere, as he held firm in his commitment to the Wisconsin Badgers.
Hearing about a blue blood program trying to flip a talented recruit shouldn’t come as a surprise. In fact, it’s a reaffirmation that UW did a great job in its evaluation and perhaps a better indicator of the recruiting staff’s ability to fend off schools who had a chance to use the fact there were three committed tailbacks against them. The part I found amusing was how dismissive Jones was in Ohio State’s pursuit.
Now, Jones will join a Wisconsin football running back room with an abundance of young and dynamic talents. The Badgers expect to return players like Jackson Acker, Cade Yacamelli, and Nate White while welcoming incoming freshmen like Jones, Darrion Dupree, and Gideon Ituka into the mix.
With Chez Mellusi announcing his return to Wisconsin next season, there will be plenty of snaps behind him up for grabs. That should make for an intriguing position battle in spring ball and fall camp.
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