Wisconsin football lands USC transfer RB Bryan Jackson
Former USC running back Bryan Jackson has committed to the Wisconsin Badgers through the transfer portal.
The Wisconsin football program continued adding to its backfield through the transfer portal, landing a running back who fits the direction this offense is clearly headed.
USC transfer Bryan Jackson has committed to the Badgers, giving Wisconsin another physical, downhill option at tailback as it reshapes the room for the 2026 season. Jackson has two years of eligibility remaining and a profile that suggests his best football may still be ahead of him.
At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, Jackson looks the part. He’s a compact, powerful runner who doesn’t need a lot of runway to be effective and has shown he can handle meaningful work against high-level competition.
His workload at USC wasn’t anything to write home about, but the tape still showed flashes that made the acquisition make sense.
In limited opportunities, Jackson flashed his ability to finish runs and make defenders pay. As a true freshman in 2024, he appeared in 13 games and carried the ball 36 times for 188 yards and a touchdown, showing early signs of his physical running style. In 2025, the McKinney (TX.) native appeared in eight games for the Trojans as a sophomore and logged 36 carries for 123 yards and four touchdowns. He also added two receptions for 17 yards.
Jackson logged 76 offensive snaps in 2024 before seeing that number jump to 120 snaps during the 2025 season as he carved out a rotational role in the Trojans’ backfield. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished the season with a 63.2 overall offensive grade, including a 65.2 mark as a run blocker.
His production wasn’t flashy, but it was telling. Jackson generated 107 of his 123 rushing yards after contact, forced three missed tackles, and recorded a pair of runs that went for more than 10 yards.
Most of his carries came in zone-based run schemes, where he was asked to stay on schedule, lower his pads, and keep the offense moving.
That style translates.
At Wisconsin, the backfield picture is starting to come into focus. The Badgers, led by new position coach Jayden Everett, return Darrion Dupree and potentially Gideon Ituka at running back, while also adding Iowa State transfer Abu Sama and incoming freshman Qwantavius Wiggins. Jackson steps into that mix as a different type of option. He’s not being brought in to replace speed or explosiveness. He’s being added to complement it.
That matters when you zoom out.
With a retooled offensive roster that includes quarterback Colton Joseph, Wisconsin looks intent on leaning back into a run game that stresses defenses physically over four quarters. Jackson’s ability to break tackles, handle zone concepts, and stay efficient between the tackles fits cleanly into that vision.
For Wisconsin, Jackson provides depth, added competition, and a body type that can survive the grind of a Big Ten season and help in short-yardage situations. For Jackson, it’s an opportunity to step into a backfield that will value what he does well and give him a chance to carve out a more defined role.
As the Badgers continue shaping their roster for 2026, this move feels intentional. Add toughness. Add a change of pace back. Add players who can do the dirty work. Bryan Jackson seemingly checks those boxes.
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