Wisconsin added a backfield piece this offseason in TCU transfer Nate Palmer, but the path to real snaps looks narrow.
Palmer arrives with modest production on his résumé: 30 carries for 139 yards, a 4.6 yards-per-carry average, plus one catch for one yard on three targets. He was one of three transfer tailbacks to commit to Wisconsin and new position coach Jayden Everett, and he became part of a group that also included JUCO bounce-back Julius Pope, giving the Badgers four new halfbacks overall.
Even with that influx, Palmer sits behind the more obvious headliners. Iowa State transfer Abu Sama appears positioned as the workhorse, while Bryan Jackson brings the size and physicality that give the room a different edge.
Palmer, though, offers a different kind of value. He’s the quicker, more elusive option - the lightning to Jackson and Sama’s thunder - and he may be the fastest back in the room.
That kind of profile matters, especially in a running back room where roles can shift quickly. Luke Fickell made that point this winter when he said, "We knew, no matter what, we had to make sure we have at least four guys in that room who have some experience and could be the guy," head coach Luke Fickell said of his tailback room this winter.
The early depth chart still points to Sama at the top, with returning true junior Darrion Dupree likely holding down the No. 2 and third-down role. But backs get hurt, workloads change, and opportunities tend to show up fast. Palmer’s speed and receiving ability give him a real chance to become a useful third-down, change-of-pace option if things break right.
There’s a scenario where that happens early. Wisconsin’s buy games against Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan could open the door for expanded touches, and Palmer could make a few splash plays that get him into the rotation. His different style could help him carve out a role before the calendar gets tougher.
But the more likely outcome is that Palmer spends 2026 waiting. The room is crowded, and the top jobs already look spoken for.
If Sama is the lead back, Dupree handles the backup and third-down work, and Jackson takes the power snaps, Palmer is fighting for scraps. And if Pope pops quickly, Palmer could slip all the way to RB5, which would make an impact this fall even harder to find.
For now, Palmer looks more like a year-away piece than an immediate answer in Madison. There’s a fit here, and he should be a useful insurance policy if injuries hit the room.
He also looks capable of handling a larger workload if needed. But for 2026, the opportunity just doesn’t appear to be there.
In Other News...
Wisconsin May Already Have 3 Freshmen Ready To Force The Issue
Wisconsins willingness to let freshmen crack the lineup looks a little different now with the NCAAs 5-in-5 rule in place, and the Badgers seem prepared to live with the growing pains if the talent is ready. In a class that still has time to develop, three 2026 recruits have already started to separate themselves as the most plausible early contributors: Yahya Gaad, Carson Eloms and Keeyshawn Tabuteau.
The path is not the same for each of them, especially with the line positions usually demanding more time and the defensive backfield and receiver room each carrying their own layers of urgency. Gaad, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound EDGE who flipped from UCLA, and Eloms, an early-enrolling corner with speed and NFL ties, both fit needs Wisconsin may have to address sooner rather than later, while the wide receiver group is crowded with transfers and still searching for proven production from the returnees. [Read more 🡒]
Which Greg Gard Recruiting Class Was Really Wisconsin's Best
Greg Gards recruiting history at Wisconsin has been a study in patience as much as talent evaluation, with the Badgers often getting more mileage out of developmental wins than splashy rankings. The breakdown of his classes from 2015 through 2027 shows how the staff has pieced together everything from under-the-radar contributors to higher-end talent, and why some classes age better once the players actually get on the floor.
The 2027 group adds a fresh layer to that conversation, since it is already sitting near the top of the national rankings and has a chance to reshape how Gards recruiting legacy is viewed in Madison. Still, the answer to which class ultimately stands above the rest depends on what the newest arrivals become once their Wisconsin careers are written, which is exactly what makes the comparison so interesting for a program that has long valued proof over promise. [Read more 🡒]
John Tonjes Celtics Path Suddenly Feels Far Less Certain
John Tonjes path in Boston has entered a quieter, more uncertain stretch as the Celtics sort through the final pieces of their Summer League roster. The former Wisconsin standout is still in the mix as a restricted free agent, and the teams decision to keep him in that status gives it a chance to hold onto him while other NBA suitors remain in play.
Tonjes case is built on promise more than volume after a brief NBA look last season and a strong run with the Maine Celtics in the G-League. With Boston still shaping the rest of its Summer League group, including the expected addition of veteran guard Kyle Mangas, the next step for Tonje will depend on how the Celtics choose to use the flexibility theyve preserved. [Read more 🡒]