The Wisconsin Badgers made a splash in the transfer portal on Friday, landing the No. 1 JUCO running back in the country: Julius Pope.
Pope, a 6’0, 195-pound running back, was considered the No. 1 JUCO running back and the No. 24 overall JUCO prospect, according to 247Sports, and comes to Wisconsin after a season at Northwest Mississippi.
In 2025, Pope rushed for 729 yards and eight touchdowns on 6.1 yards per carry. He also caught 32 passes for 355 yards and three scores, showcasing some versatility
in his game.
The rising redshirt sophomore started his career with the Arkansas Razorbacks, being ranked a four-star recruit in the class of 2024. He’s a linebacker-converted-running back, and carries three years of eligibility with him to Wisconsin.
Pope joins a pretty strong running back room, which currently includes Abu Sama III, Darrion Dupree, Nate Palmer, and Bryan Jackson for the 2026 season. Wisconsin remade the room this offseason, landing Sama, Jackson, and Palmer in the transfer portal this offseason. Now, they’ve got five quality running backs in the room.
Wisconsin beat out Kentucky, among others, in Pope’s recruitment.
