A former Wisconsin Badgers‘ running back has announced his commitment to a rising SEC program under the new-look regime. Starter Dilin Jones committed to the LSU Tigers and Coach Lane Kiffin shortly after entering the transfer portal.
Jones was a former standout Good Counsel (MD) running back who earned a four-star rating in the 2024 recruiting class. The running back was the 136th overall recruit in the class and the fourth-ranked recruit in the state of Maryland. Jones held offers from programs like Penn State, Maryland, Oregon, and Miami (FL) but ultimately signed with the Badgers.
Wisconsin Badgers’ Running Back Dilin Jones Commits to LSU Following Transfer Portal Entry
As a true freshman Jones managed to hit the field in three games for Wisconsin, totaling 16 carries for 88 yards with his longest rush being 47 yards against Purdue. The running back took a redshirt and retained his eligibility following the completion of the 2024 season.
Jones entered 2025 as the presumed starter at running back for the Wisconsin Badgers’ offense, but injuries slowed down his production. The running back recorded 76 carries for 300 yards and two touchdowns while adding nine receptions for 21 yards. Jones played in just seven games for the Badgers in 2025 without surpassing 20 carries or 80 rushing yards in a single game.
Running backs Darrion Dupree and Gideon Ituka both put together successful performances in the absence of Jones. Dupree finished the season with 363 yards and two touchdowns including a 131-yard, two touchdown performance against a ranked Illinois team. Ituka served as the primary running back against Oregon and Washington, totaling 40 carries for 158 yards.
The Badgers’ coaching staff has been aggressive in the transfer portal and that aggression has also been seen while recruiting the running back position. In addition to Dupree and Ituka returning, Iowa State rotational back Abu Sama, USC sophomore Bryan Jackson, and TCU sophomore Nate Palmer will also be on the roster in 2026.
Sama joins Wisconsin with three seasons, 348 carries, and nearly 2,000 yards worth of experience. The running back is expected to be the primary ball carrier for the Badgers next season ahead of off-season practices.
Jackson and Palmer will both join Wisconsin with limited experience overall as neither running back has more than 100 career carries or 500 career rushing yards.
By the end of the season, Jones no longer had a true role within the offense due to the presence of the other running backs on the roster. Wisconsin was not expected to retain all three running backs between Jones, Dupree, and Ituka, and Jones happens to be the first domino to fall. The running back will join the LSU offense with three years of eligibility remaining.
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