Wisconsin Badgers positional recruit snapshot: 2026 running backs

With Wisconsin's 2025 recruiting class near capacity, BadgerBlitz.com will be bringing you snapshots in the following cycle for each recruited position, covering the targets who are legitimate prospects on Wisconsin's board in the 2026 class. We will discuss the candidates who are most interested in the Badgers, as well as those who are considered long shots to commit to UW.

As always, this is just a snapshot in time and things remain fluid. Additional offered targets will appear over the next few months and some recruits will inevitably choose other colleges.

Today, we continue with a look at the running backs.

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Wisconsin is expected to have eight scholarship scholarship tailbacks on the fall roster. That's a rather large number, and it will be interesting to see how the depth chart shakes out this year and into the offseason. If healthy, Chez Mellusi is likely the No. 1 option, but Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker put together a very good spring camp. Behind those two, Jackson Acker and Cade Yacamelli are in the next tier, but they'll be pushed this fall but the young talent at the position.

In the 2025 recruiting class, the Badgers have honed in on Byron Louis, who visited officially in June. The four-star back from Florida, however, likely has UW near the bottom of his current top four, which also includes Miami, Georgia and Florida State.

If Wisconsin misses on Louis, there is a very good chance it goes without a scholarship tailback in this cycle. Should that scenario play out, look for the Badgers to target two backs in 2026.