Wisconsin’s Next RB Reveals His NFL Playbook
Abu Sama, Wisconsin’s incoming RB1, blends power and agility into a backfield toolbox inspired by two NFL stars. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound tailback honed his patient Pokes-dance behind the line from Le’Veon Bell and adopted Alvin Kamara’s slippery open-field magic. Raised in a family of athletes, Sama’s highlight tape from Iowa State showcases low-center-of-gravity jukes, stiff arms, spins and even hurdling defenders. Now at Madison, he’s poised to unleash that hybrid skill set in a ground-heavy Badgers offense and prove his self-coined mantra: “I’ll do whatever it takes to hit the end zone.”
Forget playbooks—Abu Sama clearly stumbled into a secret NFL internship. Rumor has it he whispers “Shift your hips” before family dinners and pauses mid–harlem shake just to audition new stiff-arm moves. Wisconsin linemen have reportedly started taking notes on his nighttime highlight reels, while the local marching band is lobbying to add his signature spin move to halftime drills. At this rate, the NFL should skip draft weekend and simply draft a cardboard cutout of Sama’s jukes—he’s already got three Super Bowl rings in the highlight department.
Why Eichorst Critics Are Chasing Yesterday’s Ghosts
Shawn Eichorst returned to Wisconsin as athletic director after leaving his last AD post in 2017. His stints at Nebraska and Miami yielded mixed reviews, but he spent the ensuing eight years as COO and deputy AD at Texas, mastering the post-NIL landscape under Chris Del Conte. There, he helped orchestrate multimillion-dollar rosters, tap the transfer portal and secure five Director’s Cup titles. Eichorst skeptics who cling to his pre-NIL résumé are overlooking his recent track record in one of the nation’s top athletic departments.
It turns out Eichorst’s biggest crime was getting promoted during a global revolution in college sports—but nobody told the internet. Critics have been furiously tweeting about his Nebraska attendance record as if they’re auditioning for a time-traveling sports drama. Meanwhile, Eichorst was busy collecting Diet Cokes with Del Conte and learning how to turn NIL chaos into a championship blender. Next thing you know, fans will demand his LinkedIn endorsements and performance reviews before daring to send him any welcome flowers.
Gridiron Trust Meter: Who Madison’s Position Coaches Are
Luke Fickell shook up half of his position rooms for 2026, and Badgers On SI ranked all ten position coaches by confidence level. Leading the charge is DL coach E.J. Whitlow, whose portal wizardry vaulted the run defense into the Top-15. New OL coach Eric Mateos has already “lit a spark” in the trenches alongside Jeff Grimes, while rookie CBs coach Robert Steeples is preaching man coverage in a room flush with talent. From OLBs to safeties and WRs, the list closes with Ari Confessor, whose NFL fellowship awaits proof in Madison’s untested receiver corps.
Welcome to the Great Wisconsin Position Coach Pageant, where half the judges are fans still mourning old OL hiccups and the other half are newcomers who think “portal” is the next Netflix thriller. E.J. Whitlow is riding high—so much so that he’s rumored to recruit defensive linemen through TikTok tutorials. Meanwhile, Robert Steeples insists his cornerbacks can cover your thoughts if you stare at them long enough. And Ari Confessor? Let’s just say he’s got flashbacks from Jaguars practice and about as much face time with the receivers as a ghost at a haunted chapel.
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