The Wisconsin football recruiting department has added perhaps its most exciting talent yet. In an announcement today, Badgers running backs coach Devon Spalding locked up a commitment from Darrion Dupree.
Compared to past Wisconsin running backs’ recruiting rankings, Dupree is the sixth-best RB pickup in the recruiting rankings era for the Badgers. That puts him just ahead of Montee Ball and Jonathan Taylor.
4-Star Running Back Darrion Dupree Commits to Wisconsin Football
Dupree committed to UW over a laundry list of other suitors. The Illinois native holds nearly 30 scholarship offers, including from power programs such as Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska, and Michigan State, among others.
In June, he took three official visits to Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Those three schools, plus Washington, made the cut for Dupree’s top-four suitors.
Leading up to his commitment, Dupree made the case for Wisconsin football plainly: “Wisconsin is RBU, so why not?”
RBU claims aside, the groundwork for Dupree’s recruitment to Wisconsin was done while head coach Luke Fickell was at Cincinnati. Former Cincinnati offensive coordinator Gino Guidugli (who briefly followed Fickell to UW before becoming quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame) aggressively pursued Dupree while with the Bearcats and quickly offered him a scholarship to Wisconsin. Dupree took a visit to Madison under the previous coaching staff, but was not offered a scholarship.
Darrion Dupree Recruiting Profile
The 247Sports Composite rankings rate Dupree as a four-star running back prospect. Hailing from Chicago, he is the 32nd-ranked running back and eighth-ranked player from Illinois in the 2024 recruiting class.
Wisconsin Sports Heroics contributor Jarrett Guerrera described Dupree’s game ahead of the commitment:
Coming in at 5-foot-10-inches, 190-pounds, Dupree is a shifty running back that often flies past the defense with an array of moves. The running back can hard-cut back inside or spin his way to the sideline. Dupree has an incredible boost of speed as well and he has the field vision to find the open field. While he may not be the most physically imposing running back, Dupree is a tough back to bring down as he consistently breaks tackles.
Beyond his ability to run the ball, Dupree is a threat in the passing-game. His speed allows him to find open space and make impressive catches. He projects as an every-down back at the next level.
The exciting prospect plays high school football at Mount Carmel High School. Notably, it is the same high school that longtime NFL quarterback (and uncle of Wisconsin women’s hockey star alumna Sarah Nurse) Donovan McNabb attended.
Wisconsin Football Recruiting: State of the 2024 Class
Dupree is the 17th commitment in Wisconsin’s 2024 recruiting class. Alongside three-star Gideon Ituka, he is the second running back in the class.
Before Dupree’s commitment, UW’s class ranked 26th nationally and eighth in the Big Ten. Wisconsin football trails conference foes (beginning with the top-ranked class) Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Penn State, Nebraska, Purdue, and Minnesota.
Another four-star recruit is expected to announce his commitment to Wisconsin football on Tuesday.
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