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The Wisconsin football program is in the market for a running backs coach.
According to multiple reports, Badgers running back coach Devon Spalding has been hired by Pat Fitzgerald to coach the position at Michigan State.
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Spalding spent three seasons at Wisconsin. During that time he worked with Braelon Allen before Allen skipped his senior season and declared for the NFL draft. Spalding also recruited two four-star running backs in the 2024 class, Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree, as well as Gideon Ituka. Those three players were UW's top three rushers this season, though Jones is expected to enter the transfer portal.
The Badgers struggled to run the ball this season, but when injuries befell Jones and Cade Yacamelli, Spalding had Dupree and Ituka ready to contribute. Both players made their marks during the final third of the season.
Spalding played at Central Michigan and hails from Canton, Michigan, which is about 75 minutes from the Spartans’ campus in East Lansing.
His departure means UW coach Luke Fickell will need to hire at least a third assistant this offseason. He already brought on Eric Mateos to coach the offensive line and Robert Steeples to coach cornerbacks.
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News of Spalding's departure came four days before the transfer portal officially opens Jan. 2. Running back is one of the Badgers' positions of need.
More: A look at Wisconsin football's needs from the transfer portal
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin loses running backs coach Devon Spalding to Michigan State
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