Former Decatur and TCU running back Nate Palmer announced his commitment to the Wisconsin Badgers Thursday afternoon. COURTESY | WISCONSIN ATHLETICS
It didn’t take former Decatur running back Nate Palmer long to find a new team after entering the transfer portal last month.
Palmer — who led the Eagles to back-to-back 4A Division I state semifinal appearances (2022, 23) — confirmed to the Messenger that he is committing to play football for the University of Wisconsin after returning home from a visit with the Badgers.
The 2022 All-Wise MVP played the last two seasons at TCU, appearing in 12 games for the Horned Frogs. Playing in a stacked backfield behind Kevorian Barnes, Jeremy Payne and Trent Battle, Palmer — a redshirt freshman — totaled 164 yards on 41 carries.
The Horned Frogs were 9-4 in Palmer’s final season, finishing seventh in the Big 12 standings with a 5-4 conference record.
Palmer announced he was entering the portal on Dec. 22 with three years of eligibility remaining. He departed the team before the Horned Frogs’ 30-27 win over No. 16 USC in the Valero Bowl inside the Alamodome in San Antonio Dec. 30.
Wisconsin posted a 4-8 overall record in the 2025 campaign. The Badgers were 2-7 in Big 10 play.
Joining the Eagles in 2022 after playing his first two seasons at College Station, Palmer quickly established himself as the focal point of Decatur’s offense. He became the Eagles’ all-time leading rusher this season with 4,265 yards, and was one touchdown shy of breaking the team’s single-season rushing touchdown record (29).
Palmer finished the 2023 season as Wise County’s leading rusher with 2,011 yards and 28 touchdowns on 311 carries.
In his two-year career at Decatur, the former Eagle racked up 6,578 total yards (5,187 rushing, 728 receiving, 663 kick return) and 81 touchdowns.
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