Wisconsin’s 2028 running back board is starting to take shape, and two names are already separating themselves from the pack: Tomball, Texas, four-star Ian Thomas and Bradley Bourbonnais, Ill., three-star Ky’ren Edmon.
That should sound familiar around Madison. Wisconsin and running backs have long gone hand in hand, with plenty of greats moving on to the NFL and finding success there. The Badgers have had a harder time keeping that production rolling under head coach Luke Fickell, and the path back runs through landing elite talent at the position.
The staff already took a big swing in the 2026 cycle, battling hard for four-star Amari Latimer before ultimately suffering an unfortunate commitment flip. Wisconsin answered in the 2027 class with a major in-state win, landing Kingston Allen, a top Wisconsin recruit who should bring versatility to the backfield.
Now the attention has shifted to 2028, where Thomas looks like one of the more coveted backs in the country. He’s coming off a statement sophomore season that produced 22 touchdowns, including 20 on the ground.
As a freshman, he carried the ball 40 times. As a sophomore, that number jumped to 203 touches, and the production followed.
The more Thomas gets the ball, the more damage he seems to do. Kentucky, Miami, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Michigan are among the programs already in the mix.
Wisconsin may have a real shot to stay in the hunt, though. The Badgers had a productive visit with Thomas earlier in the offseason, and a return trip to Madison for a game this season is expected to be part of the conversation. That kind of follow-up could matter a lot as the recruiting process moves forward.
Edmon is a different kind of target, but an intriguing one all the same. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound back has offers from Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Ole Miss, and Ohio, with more schools keeping a close eye on him.
He turned in his best season yet as a sophomore, scoring 14 touchdowns while showing he can help as both a runner and a receiver. His track background shows up in the way he plays, with every bit of his frame working through each carry.
Edmon was on Wisconsin’s campus in Madison in April, and both sides have expressed interest in another visit. Right now, the Badgers appear to be the team to beat, but that picture could change if more programs push harder.
He’s already been in contact with Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas State, and Cincinnati, and visits with those schools are expected soon. Cincinnati is the latest to jump in with a scholarship offer, and the chance to play in the Big 12 in an offense built around the running back could make that a difficult pitch to turn down. Missouri is another school worth watching, especially with no clear replacement yet for star back Ahmad Hardy.
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