Wisconsin Lands Top-Ranked JUCO Running Back Julius Pope
The Badgers are tap into the junior college ranks to land the No. 1 running back in JUCO to their 2026 class.
The Wisconsin Badgers secured a commitment from JUCO running back Julius Pope, adding a versatile and explosive weapon to their 2026 recruiting class. In an era where the transfer portal dominates the headlines, finding a hidden gem in the JUCO ranks can be a nice piece for the Badgers’ running back room. And as we saw last few seasons, running back is a position that you can never have too much depth.
Here is a deep dive into who Julius Pope is, what he brings to Madison, and how he fits into the Badgers’ offensive scheme.
The Background: From SEC Commit to the JUCO Ranks
If the name Julius Pope sounds familiar to recruiting junkies, it should. Pope was a highly touted prospect coming out of South Panola High School in Batesville, Mississippi, for the 2024 recruiting cycle. A true SEC-caliber talent, Pope originally committed to and signed with Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks out of high school.
Known for being an absolute Swiss Army Knife at South Panola, Pope was heavily recruited as an “Athlete” who could play both sides of the ball, logging elite snaps as both a linebacker and a ball carrier.
After taking the JUCO route to hone in on the offensive side of the football and get his path back to the Power 4 level, Pope has completely transformed himself into a dedicated, bruising running back. That defensive background, however, still shows up in the way he runs the football: he seeks out contact, drops his pads with violence, and understands defensive pursuit angles better than most natural offensive players.
The Profile: Power Meets Versatility
According to his 247Sports profile, Pope brings a fantastic, ready-to-play physical frame to the table. He isn’t a developmental prospect who needs a year in the weight room. He already has the build to play in the physical Big Ten.
When you turn on his JUCO tape, three distinct traits jump off the screen:
Contact Balance: Pope does not go down on first contact. Because of his background playing linebacker, he runs with an incredibly low center of gravity. He routinely bounces off arm tackles and falls forward for an extra two or three yards at the end of his runs.
Burst Through the Hole: In the Badgers’ current offensive scheme, running backs need to read the leverage of the offensive linemen and decisively plant their foot in the ground. Pope is a one-cut-and-go runner. He doesn’t dance in the backfield.
Pass-Catching Ability: This is the X-factor. Because Pope is a natural athlete, he has incredibly soft hands out of the backfield. He isn’t just a screen-pass threat; he can line up in the slot or run angle routes over the middle of the field, creating a matchup nightmare for opposing linebackers.
How He Fits in Madison
Adding a JUCO running back is a strategic roster-management move by Luke Fickell and the offensive staff. High school running backs (even 4-star prospects) often need time to learn the nuances of pass protection and adjust to the speed of college linebackers. Pope bypasses that learning curve.
Wisconsin’s offense relies heavily on having a two-headed monster in the backfield to keep fresh legs deep into the fourth quarter. Pope brings a veteran presence and an immediate injection of physicality to the depth chart. He is perfectly suited to execute the inside zone and wide zone rushing concepts that the Badgers lean on, and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield means the offense won’t have to sub him out on 3rd-and-long.
With Pope now officially in the fold, the Badgers have secured a battle-tested weapon who will look right at home wearing the Motion W next fall.
Pope will have three years of eligibility remaining entering the 2026 season.
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