Wisconsin football RB Tawee Walker enters the transfer portal
Badgers running back Tawee Walker will enter the transfer portal after one season with the Wisconsin football program.
The Wisconsin Badgers football program received unexpected news with the departure of the team’s leading rusher to the transfer portal.
Running back Tawee Walker announced he is entering the transfer portal, ending his time with the Badgers after a strong 2024 season. He plans to take advantage of an extra year of eligibility granted through a federal injunction involving Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.
NCAA rules typically allow players five years to play four seasons. Still, Walker’s situation, stemming from time spent at Palomar Junior College, enabled him to have the chance to play an additional year.
Walker, a 5-foot-9, 218-pound back, is coming off a season in which he carried the ball 190 times for 864 yards and 10 touchdowns.
His physical style of play stood out, as 66.2% of his total rushing yards (572) came after contact. He also forced 33 missed tackles and ripped off 19 runs of 10+ yards while in a timeshare with Darrion Dupree.
"When I see him [Walker] run, I just run hard too. I just build off of him," Dupree said.
According to Pro Football Focus, Walker earned a 74.7 offensive grade and a 77.9 grade as a runner. The Las Vegas native ranked in the 66th percentile for missed tackles forced per attempt and the 73rd percentile as a gap runner, showing he can be impactful at the Big Ten level.
“We're starting to recognize that Tawee is a guy that's much better with more than 18-20 carries," Luke Fickell said. "It's been impressive to see him as he's continued to grow and show us how he can handle things. He gets better with the more carries that he has.”
Walker’s departure comes at a unique time for the Badgers, who are transitioning to a new offensive system under Jeff Grimes following the departure of Phil Longo.
Known for his punishing running style and ability to churn out tough yards, Walker provided a steadying, veteran presence in the backfield. His contributions will now need to be replaced as Wisconsin works to re-establish its offensive identity and adapt to Grimes’ scheme in 2025.
Walker’s decision to leave also opens up some opportunities for a backfield that’s expected to rely heavily on Dupree to step into a featured role. Dupree logged 79 carries for 317 yards and a touchdown last season, along with 12 receptions for 119 yards as a true freshman. Former four-star tailback Dilin Jones is also poised to take on an increased role in the offense.
And let’s not forget about Cade Yacamelli, who averaged an impressive 8.3 yards per carry on 33 attempts last season and could be a factor in 2025. Redshirt freshman Gideon Ituka is another name to watch, providing even more depth in the Badgers backfield.
With the coaching staff opting not to take a scholarship running back in the 2025 recruiting class, Walker’s departure leaves a potential void in a position group with plenty of ongoing development among younger backs in the room.
The Badgers will now look for new leadership and production to emerge from their remaining backs as they aim to bounce back after a 5-7 season.
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