Four former Wisconsin running backs make ESPN's Top 100 list

Four of the Badgers very best made Bill Connelly's top 100 running backs of all time.

The Wisconsin Badgers have a long history at the running back position.

With the string of sustained success at the position has come a greater national appreciation for Wisconsin's run-first offense and the tailbacks who make have developed in Madison.

On Tuesday, ESPN staff writer Bill Connelly released his ranking of the best 100 running backs in the past 60 years of college football.

This may come as no surprise, but multiple former Badgers made the cut.

In fact, four players from Wisconsin made the list, and all landed inside the top-20. 

Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon was a Heisman Trophy finalist in his final season with the Badgers / Jake Kocorowski

Melvin Gordon came in at No. 20 overall based on his career in Madison, which included his junior campaign in which he ran for over 2,500 yards and 29 touchdowns. Gordon averaged at least 7.5 yards per attempt in his final three years with the Badgers and amassed nearly 5,000 career yards and 49 touchdowns. 

Gordon is widely remembered for his 408-yard performance against Nebraska and game-breaking ability in the open field. 

Wisconsin running back Montee Ball running against Stanford in the Rose Bowl.  :: Rick Wood / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Montee Ball was just ahead of Gordon, slotting in at No. 19. 

Ball put together monster numbers in his four seasons with the Badgers, culminating with a combined 61 combined touchdowns in his final two seasons in Madison. Ball had a record-setting 2011 season with 39 total touchdowns, and he surpassed 5,000 career yards rushing on just over 900 carries. 

Ron Dayne is one of only two Heisman Trophy winners in Wisconsin program history, winning the award in 1999. 

All-time great Ron Dayne was next up on the list from Wisconsin, landing at No. 12 on Connelly's list.

The bruising back out of New Jersey ran through the record books in his four seasons under Barry Alvarez, and make no mistake, Ron Dayne should hold the NCAA career rushing record.

Dayne carried the ball over 1,200 times in his four seasons in the backfield and ran for over 7,100 yards and 71 touchdowns. More importantly, Dayne led the Badgers to back-to-back Rose Bowl victories during his career and won the Heisman Trophy in 1999. 

Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor walking off the field following the Rose Bowl.  / Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Last but definitely not least, Jonathan Taylor earned the highest ranking at No. 11.

Though Taylor only played in three seasons with the Badgers, his blend of speed and balance made him a home run threat at all times.

Taylor finished as the only two-time Doak Walker Award winner in program history and only the third player to ever win the award as the best running back in college football more than once.

For his career, Taylor tallied 6,581 total yards from scrimmage and 55 career touchdowns in only three seasons. 

You can check out the entire list from Bill Connelly here.

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