2024 Badger Football Thread

One half of the University of Wisconsin football program’s 2024 scholarship class received valuable experience as early enrollees, even with some bumps and bruises along the way.
The Badgers welcomed 11 of their 2024 signees to the team in January. That’s the largest number of early enrollees for the program since at least 2008, according to a list provided by Wisconsin. Coach Luke Fickell saw growth as evident by a few making plays during the 15 spring practices, but also some hitting a wall.
“But I think that 11 of those guys (who) were brand new, seven or eight guys that were new to the program I think are still almost like young guys. Some guys maybe haven't been in a situation or place that they practiced quite like this, or at this level or for 15 practices,” Fickell said. “So whether they were a true freshman, or (outside linebacker) John Pius, who is a fifth-year guy, I think the newness to all this, they did a really good job. “But the nature of the people that are around them is what's given us the opportunity and given them the opportunity to grow. But I have seen that there's a wall that gets hit, and us as coaches and us as a program, got to make sure we're pushing those guys through the wall. And it's a little bit easier to see in the young guys and the freshmen. But I don't know that there was a freshman guy other than maybe one that missed a practice, and I think in the long run that's pretty special to know that there's some peer pressure to understand, in order to play this game you got to work at this game.”
Here are some takeaways from how the freshmen performed during Wisconsin’s spring practices.

Four-star quarterback began to find his footing within new offensive scheme​

Mabrey Mettauer is the most hyped Wisconsin quarterback recruit since Graham Mertz, who also enrolled early after he signed with the Badgers as part of their 2019 class.

Mettauer received third-team reps throughout the spring, though he worked very briefly with the second-team on April 23. Mettauer can do everything offensive coordinator Phil Longo wants out of his quarterback in both throwing to different levels of the defense, though he wasn’t called upon to do that much this spring, and calling his own number on running plays.
Tracking Mettauer’s progress has been difficult at times, as Longo said that the third-team playlists are “really, really pretty simple early on” as the younger players don’t yet know the scheme.

“I'm going to say, about halfway through the spring, (Mettauer) looked like a typical, inexperienced freshman learning how to make good decisions and getting some of the throws down and pulling when he needs to pull the ball,” Longo said April 27. “But right around the middle of spring ball, probably from practices seven, eight, nine through to now, he's taken a huge jump.
“And he seems a lot more comfortable right now in what we're doing. And so right now, after 13 practices, we can run a lot more and do a lot more with him than we could early on. So I’ve been happy with Mabrey.”
Wisconsin came into the spring with offensive line depth issues outside of those presumed to be the starters next season as Tanor Bortolini is now off to the Indianapolis Colts and three players transferred. Freshmen Kevin Heywood and Colin Cubberly worked with the second-team offense during the spring.
Offensive line coach AJ Blazek said that he felt guards Joe Brunner or Joe Huber could play tackle if needed while Wisconsin was “seasoning Heywood” as a third tackle, though the program received a transfer commitment from Vanderbilt tackle Leyton Nelson. Heywood, Wisconsin’s highest-rated 2024 signee, also received some limited time with the first-team offense at that spot late in the April 27 scrimmage.
“I need him kind of getting ready if he has to be ready, so let's get him into some rules and assignments and really lock into a position right now,” Blazek said April 26. “Because as a young guy, you don't want to move him around. You want to set him up for success.”
Cubberly’s followed in the footsteps of Huber and Bortolini with his versatility. He’s played both second- and third-team reps and has seen time at center, guard and right tackle throughout the spring, though Blazek thinks that Cubberly’s skillsets will likely be suited as an interior lineman.
“He's very resilient,” Blazek said. “So he takes good or bad, hey, just next play, next play. He's got great endurance, he's in great shape. Brady (Collins’) got him ready to go. But he came in good shape for a young guy.”

Young outside linebackers impress on the edge​

Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell has at least four players who could rotate in if they stay healthy, based off of the group’s production during spring practices. But Thomas Heiberger and Anelu Lafaele also found their way into the backfield during the spring as well in second- and third-team reps.

Mitchell said earlier this spring that he was impressed with Heiberger, and the freshman had learned Wisconsin’s defense very fast and had shown glimpses. The assistant said Heiberger was comfortable in pass coverage and said he is “a pretty good pass rusher.” He wanted more consistency out of the South Dakota native, though, as he began to work on the line of scrimmage against tight ends and linemen in the Big Ten.
Mitchell said Lafaele was known as a pass rusher and has “a lot of edge” but wanted him to refine his skills.
“Not everything has to go six million miles an hour just on a complete path of disruption,” Mitchell said of Lafaele. “There's some nuance and subtlety in terms of how you do things. He's very aggressive. I would rather have to kind of — we have a saying right now a little bit — put the leash on the tiger and get to that point.”
Heiberger and Lafaele looked sharper toward the end of spring practices, showing an ability to pressure the quarterback while running with the second-team defense, especially during Wisconsin’s April 25 practice when they each tallied a couple of sacks.
Wisconsin’s lone scholarship wide receiver in the 2024 class was Kyan Berry-Johnson, who was evaluated as a four-star recruit by Rivals. Wisconsin has depth at slot receiver with All-Big Ten honoree Will Pauling, redshirt freshman Trech Kekahuna and Vinny Anthony II.
Berry-Johnson’s worked exclusively in the slot with the second- and third-team offense.
“He is really fun to coach,” wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton said last week. “He has a great personality, and I thought he hit a certain level of maturity when coming back from spring break to where you can start seeing the strides in his game.
“I tell him all the time, if he ever learns to play with a little bit better pad level he will be really good. So I can't wait for him to see this. I'm telling the world, Ky.”
The motion W was taken off Berry-Johnson’s helmet, however, according to Pauling during a May 1 interview with WTSO 1070 AM. That W sticker was seen back on his helmet later in the spring. Pauling told BadgerExtra that he’s seen growth from the young receiver after having “a little bit of a rough patch.”
Berry-Johnson was a reliable target for the quarterbacks throughout the spring and he fits the mold of what Wisconsin wants at that position.
“Kyan’s got a good amount of twitch. He knows how to shake guys at the top of routes and he also has very, very good hands,” Pauling said. “And I feel like when you have that combination at such a young age, the sky's the limit for him. And I feel like as long as he keeps on doing what he needs to do in the classroom, in the locker room, on the field, the sky’s the limit really.”
Most of the freshmen weren’t called upon this spring to shoulder the load Heywood, Cubberly and others needed to. Tight ends Grant Stec (Algonquin Jacobs, Ill.) and Rob Booker II (Waunakee) both received third-team reps. Stec, listed at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, is built to be a standard in-line tight end within assistant Nate Letton’s group. Booker (6-5, 235) — “a long, rangy kid, really good athlete,” according to Letton — complements Stec’s skill set. Booker "got dinged," according to Letton, and missed some practices in the middle of spring.
Letton said that they have to find small victories with the younger players and early enrollees as they’re learning a lot when they get to Wisconsin, but Stec accomplished that “pretty much day over day.” There’s a lot to improve upon, but the assistant said he’s “really proud of where he’s at right now.”
Letton said Booker, a two-time large school All-State honoree by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, has needed to hone in on his strength and weight. The assistant thought Booker impressed with his work habits in the weight room and his approach to the game.
Gideon Ituka, with his 5-9, 235-pound frame, is a power running back and can run downhill with some burst. He received a lot of third-team snaps in a position group that boasts considerable depth, and his most noticeable performance came during the April 27 scrimmage where he ran for a 36-yard touchdown. Running backs coach Devon Spalding complimented Ituka’s intelligence, physicality and contact balance.
Landon Gauthier received reps with the third-team defense as the inside linebacker group returned key pieces from last year and added three transfers. Chaney credited Gauthier in early April for his intelligence and knowledge.
Defensive lineman Ernest Willor Jr. received a lot of third-team reps, but assistant E.J. Whitlow believes Willor, a former four-star recruit, has made strides.
“So he's been progressing and continuing to get better every single day, and he's extremely coachable,” Whitlow said. “And he wants it. He wants to be great. So that's the start of anything, right? It's how I attack it and my approach every single day.”
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Interesting perspectives on the new kids on the team. It sounds like some of them are going to have to pick it up fast, and be ready to fly when they're asked to contribute. It also sounds like there's a lot these guys haven't been taught, before getting to Madison. More and more restrictions on practices, and conduct of practices is making fundamentals pretty weak. We even see that down here in Texas, but you don't want to tell HS coaches they're not teaching them, because it will tick them off. They do what they can, with the limited amount of time they're allowed to actually coach players technique.
 
6 key questions for the Badgers coming out of spring practice:

1. Is Wisconsin’s O-line depth going to hold up?​

This was one of the most noticeable concerns to emerge during spring practices in the aftermath of Trey Wedig and Nolan Rucci transferring out of the program. Fickell acknowledged those decisions drastically impacted Wisconsin’s O-line depth because those two players “were going to compete to play and to start.” Instead, what Wisconsin had this spring was four returners with significant experience and the rest of the linemen with a total of 78 college snaps played on offense.

My sense is that Wisconsin will be fine along the offensive line next season, barring long-term injuries to multiple starters, because offensive line coach AJ Blazek will be able to develop this group. The spring ended with Jack Nelson at left tackle, Joe Brunner at left guard, Jake Renfro at center, Joe Huber at right guard and Riley Mahlman at right tackle. JP Benzschawel is the sixth man and can play either guard spot. Brunner can slide over to tackle, if necessary, and Huber is flexible enough to play all five positions.

Throw in the fact that Blazek said he felt comfortable playing backup center Kerry Kodanko, that true freshman tackle Kevin Heywood was on the cusp of breaking through and that Wisconsin added a transfer portal pickup from Vanderbilt in tackle Leyton Nelson, and that’s nine potential contributors. Wisconsin also didn’t have the services of reserve tackle Barrett Nelson due to injury this spring, as well as three scholarship freshmen set to arrive this summer. The next steps will be figuring out how to make the top group dominant and how to ensure there is minimal drop-off in the event help is needed.

2. How do the Badgers handle their inside linebackers?​

Wisconsin has a good problem on its hands because the Badgers have four starter-worthy inside linebackers on their roster: Jake Chaney, Christian Alliegro, Jaheim Thomas and Tackett Curtis. Chaney, Thomas and Curtis combined to start 29 games last season. Alliegro, the only player from that group without a college start, not only held his own this spring but consistently earned snaps with the first-team defense.

Curtis wasn’t full-go for most of the spring, with the staff being cautious about his return from a hamstring issue. He started eight games as a true freshman at USC last season and recorded 40 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. He is too good not to be a part of the rotation in some capacity when healthy. Thomas led Arkansas with 90 tackles last season, and Chaney ranked second on Wisconsin’s team with 80 tackles.

Will defensive coordinator Mike Tressel consistently rotate four inside linebackers? Last season, Tressel rotated three with Chaney, Jordan Turner and Maema Njongmeta. One way to involve more players will be utilizing three inside linebackers on the field in specific packages because Thomas has the versatility to line up off the edge. There’s no denying Wisconsin upgraded its linebacker positions this offseason, bringing in five transfers at the inside and outside spots.

3. What does the wide receiver rotation look like?​

Former Wisconsin receivers coach Mike Brown said last spring that “we want to have six guys that we feel really good about” being able to play entering the season. Then the Badgers used five players, and the odd man out, Keontez Lewis, opted to transfer after just two games. There’s a new position coach, Kenny Guiton, but the challenge of keeping a deep wide receiver corps happy never changes.

“That’s any wideout room,” Guiton said. “We’ll be OK. Wins keep everybody happy. So let’s go win.”

Guiton said he needed to be intentional in how he strategized to use his group. The first-team unit will likely be Vinny Anthony and Bryson Green on the outside with Will Pauling in the slot. But Trech Kekahuna will assuredly have a big role in the slot, either behind Pauling or alongside him. CJ Williams and Quincy Burroughs had strong moments in the spring and could help to form a top six that is used with more balance than a year ago. That doesn’t even include Michigan State transfer Tyrell Henry, who caught 24 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns last season. Wisconsin also has been pursuing an additional wide receiver from the portal out of the spring.

4. Is there enough talent for the D-line to be effective?​

It’s one thing to have bodies on the defensive line and another to have playmakers. Whether the Badgers have what they need to be difference-makers remains to be seen. James Thompson Jr. was the best defensive lineman last season and led all players on the unit in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. After that, Wisconsin returns Curt Neal (13 tackles), Ben Barten (12) and Cade McDonald (three). Those three players combined for one sack, though all should earn more opportunities to be impactful next season.

Wisconsin added Albany’s Elijah Hills from the transfer portal after he recorded 31 tackles with nine tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and three blocked kicks. Hills spent the spring with the reserves and worked his way into the second-team unit after T.J. Bollers transferred out. The Badgers have been looking to add another transfer defensive lineman to shore up depth. Kent State’s CJ West, one of the most coveted portal defensive linemen, visited Wisconsin this spring but committed to Indiana. Former Grand Valley State D-lineman Jay’viar Suggs listed Wisconsin among his final four this week.

There is a lot to like about the potential of redshirt freshman Jamel Howard and true freshman Ernest Willor Jr., but their work this spring came with the third-team defense. Incoming freshman Dillan Johnson was a big recruiting win. Johnson, a four-time state wrestling champion in Illinois who went 143-1 in his career, signed with Wisconsin after initially committing to Northwestern.

5. Can Wisconsin get more production from its tight ends?​

The simple answer should be yes. Hayden Rucci led all tight ends with 11 catches for 125 yards last season. Tucker Ashcraft finished with eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown as a freshman, and Riley Nowakowski came back from injury to catch seven passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.

Ashcraft and Nowakowski return, and LSU transfer Jackson McGohan demonstrated some eye-opening pass-catching ability this spring. Offensive coordinator Phil Longo said he sees some similarities with that trio to what he had at North Carolina in 2022. It’s a stretch to believe Wisconsin can replicate that level of success when UNC tight ends Bryson Nesbit, Kamari Morales and John Copenhaver combined to catch 79 passes for 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns. But more productivity from the tight ends will be crucial to creating balance in the passing game.

“Our hope is now that we can get some two-tight end sets out there,” tight ends coach Nate Letton said. “We’ve got some more dynamic guys in the room. So can we put defenses in conflict by putting good people out there but also being able to utilize some of that spread passing game to get bigger defensive bodies on the field? We’ve got a number of creative ways. And then we’ve got to put guys in situations to see if they can win one-on-one matchups.”

6. What does Wisconsin do with its safety and slot corner roles?​

Austin Brown is listed at 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds. Max Lofy is listed at 5-10 and 187 pounds. Those are two very different body types but two players who can get the job done as Wisconsin’s top slot corner, if necessary. The challenge for Tressel and his defensive staff will be determining which players to put where.

Brown started in the slot against LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl and impressed Tressel with how well he performed in a new role. Tressel likes that Brown is a bigger body in the slot, but Brown also could be Wisconsin’s best option at one of the safety spots. Brown moved back to safety this spring and paired with Hunter Wohler after Kamo’i Latu was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Lofy then stepped into the first-team slot corner role and played quite well.

Brown played 346 defensive snaps last season while Latu played 306, and Brown generally was a more effective player. Brown finished with 36 tackles and Latu had 19 tackles. The Badgers also return Preston Zachman, who started five games at safety and tallied 49 tackles last season. Overall, it feels as though the secondary should be one of the strengths of the team.
 
Mark87 said:
6 key questions for the Badgers coming out of spring practice:

1. Is Wisconsin’s O-line depth going to hold up?​

This was one of the most noticeable concerns to emerge during spring practices in the aftermath of Trey Wedig and Nolan Rucci transferring out of the program. Fickell acknowledged those decisions drastically impacted Wisconsin’s O-line depth because those two players “were going to compete to play and to start.” Instead, what Wisconsin had this spring was four returners with significant experience and the rest of the linemen with a total of 78 college snaps played on offense.

My sense is that Wisconsin will be fine along the offensive line next season, barring long-term injuries to multiple starters, because offensive line coach AJ Blazek will be able to develop this group. The spring ended with Jack Nelson at left tackle, Joe Brunner at left guard, Jake Renfro at center, Joe Huber at right guard and Riley Mahlman at right tackle. JP Benzschawel is the sixth man and can play either guard spot. Brunner can slide over to tackle, if necessary, and Huber is flexible enough to play all five positions.

Throw in the fact that Blazek said he felt comfortable playing backup center Kerry Kodanko, that true freshman tackle Kevin Heywood was on the cusp of breaking through and that Wisconsin added a transfer portal pickup from Vanderbilt in tackle Leyton Nelson, and that’s nine potential contributors. Wisconsin also didn’t have the services of reserve tackle Barrett Nelson due to injury this spring, as well as three scholarship freshmen set to arrive this summer. The next steps will be figuring out how to make the top group dominant and how to ensure there is minimal drop-off in the event help is needed.

2. How do the Badgers handle their inside linebackers?​

Wisconsin has a good problem on its hands because the Badgers have four starter-worthy inside linebackers on their roster: Jake Chaney, Christian Alliegro, Jaheim Thomas and Tackett Curtis. Chaney, Thomas and Curtis combined to start 29 games last season. Alliegro, the only player from that group without a college start, not only held his own this spring but consistently earned snaps with the first-team defense.

Curtis wasn’t full-go for most of the spring, with the staff being cautious about his return from a hamstring issue. He started eight games as a true freshman at USC last season and recorded 40 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. He is too good not to be a part of the rotation in some capacity when healthy. Thomas led Arkansas with 90 tackles last season, and Chaney ranked second on Wisconsin’s team with 80 tackles.

Will defensive coordinator Mike Tressel consistently rotate four inside linebackers? Last season, Tressel rotated three with Chaney, Jordan Turner and Maema Njongmeta. One way to involve more players will be utilizing three inside linebackers on the field in specific packages because Thomas has the versatility to line up off the edge. There’s no denying Wisconsin upgraded its linebacker positions this offseason, bringing in five transfers at the inside and outside spots.

3. What does the wide receiver rotation look like?​

Former Wisconsin receivers coach Mike Brown said last spring that “we want to have six guys that we feel really good about” being able to play entering the season. Then the Badgers used five players, and the odd man out, Keontez Lewis, opted to transfer after just two games. There’s a new position coach, Kenny Guiton, but the challenge of keeping a deep wide receiver corps happy never changes.

“That’s any wideout room,” Guiton said. “We’ll be OK. Wins keep everybody happy. So let’s go win.”

Guiton said he needed to be intentional in how he strategized to use his group. The first-team unit will likely be Vinny Anthony and Bryson Green on the outside with Will Pauling in the slot. But Trech Kekahuna will assuredly have a big role in the slot, either behind Pauling or alongside him. CJ Williams and Quincy Burroughs had strong moments in the spring and could help to form a top six that is used with more balance than a year ago. That doesn’t even include Michigan State transfer Tyrell Henry, who caught 24 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns last season. Wisconsin also has been pursuing an additional wide receiver from the portal out of the spring.

4. Is there enough talent for the D-line to be effective?​

It’s one thing to have bodies on the defensive line and another to have playmakers. Whether the Badgers have what they need to be difference-makers remains to be seen. James Thompson Jr. was the best defensive lineman last season and led all players on the unit in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. After that, Wisconsin returns Curt Neal (13 tackles), Ben Barten (12) and Cade McDonald (three). Those three players combined for one sack, though all should earn more opportunities to be impactful next season.

Wisconsin added Albany’s Elijah Hills from the transfer portal after he recorded 31 tackles with nine tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and three blocked kicks. Hills spent the spring with the reserves and worked his way into the second-team unit after T.J. Bollers transferred out. The Badgers have been looking to add another transfer defensive lineman to shore up depth. Kent State’s CJ West, one of the most coveted portal defensive linemen, visited Wisconsin this spring but committed to Indiana. Former Grand Valley State D-lineman Jay’viar Suggs listed Wisconsin among his final four this week.

There is a lot to like about the potential of redshirt freshman Jamel Howard and true freshman Ernest Willor Jr., but their work this spring came with the third-team defense. Incoming freshman Dillan Johnson was a big recruiting win. Johnson, a four-time state wrestling champion in Illinois who went 143-1 in his career, signed with Wisconsin after initially committing to Northwestern.

5. Can Wisconsin get more production from its tight ends?​

The simple answer should be yes. Hayden Rucci led all tight ends with 11 catches for 125 yards last season. Tucker Ashcraft finished with eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown as a freshman, and Riley Nowakowski came back from injury to catch seven passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.

Ashcraft and Nowakowski return, and LSU transfer Jackson McGohan demonstrated some eye-opening pass-catching ability this spring. Offensive coordinator Phil Longo said he sees some similarities with that trio to what he had at North Carolina in 2022. It’s a stretch to believe Wisconsin can replicate that level of success when UNC tight ends Bryson Nesbit, Kamari Morales and John Copenhaver combined to catch 79 passes for 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns. But more productivity from the tight ends will be crucial to creating balance in the passing game.

“Our hope is now that we can get some two-tight end sets out there,” tight ends coach Nate Letton said. “We’ve got some more dynamic guys in the room. So can we put defenses in conflict by putting good people out there but also being able to utilize some of that spread passing game to get bigger defensive bodies on the field? We’ve got a number of creative ways. And then we’ve got to put guys in situations to see if they can win one-on-one matchups.”

6. What does Wisconsin do with its safety and slot corner roles?​

Austin Brown is listed at 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds. Max Lofy is listed at 5-10 and 187 pounds. Those are two very different body types but two players who can get the job done as Wisconsin’s top slot corner, if necessary. The challenge for Tressel and his defensive staff will be determining which players to put where.

Brown started in the slot against LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl and impressed Tressel with how well he performed in a new role. Tressel likes that Brown is a bigger body in the slot, but Brown also could be Wisconsin’s best option at one of the safety spots. Brown moved back to safety this spring and paired with Hunter Wohler after Kamo’i Latu was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Lofy then stepped into the first-team slot corner role and played quite well.

Brown played 346 defensive snaps last season while Latu played 306, and Brown generally was a more effective player. Brown finished with 36 tackles and Latu had 19 tackles. The Badgers also return Preston Zachman, who started five games at safety and tallied 49 tackles last season. Overall, it feels as though the secondary should be one of the strengths of the team.
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I think they will probably be better than last season on both sides of the ball. But, they're going to have to show us how much, and why they are. There are a lot of questions, but I think the program is headed in the right direction. Late portal players exiting can hurt a lot. You will lose some important pieces that could have helped, even though they may not have been starters. I think some of these guys jump a little too quickly, unless they see a level of favoritism being played by coaches, with guys they brought in, over guys who were already there. That can happen, and the coaches don't even realize at times that they're doing it.
 
TW said:
I think they will probably be better than last season on both sides of the ball. But, they're going to have to show us how much, and why they are. There are a lot of questions, but I think the program is headed in the right direction. Late portal players exiting can hurt a lot. You will lose some important pieces that could have helped, even though they may not have been starters. I think some of these guys jump a little too quickly, unless they see a level of favoritism being played by coaches, with guys they brought in, over guys who were already there. That can happen, and the coaches don't even realize at times that they're doing it.
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it has to be a tricky thing to do if you are a coach - especially with spring practice. how do you evaluate the guys you have never worked with before without giving them more reps than the guys you know? this whole transfer portal and the way it works really makes things difficult for building or rebuilding a team.
 
The Wisconsin Badgers held 15 competitive practices over the spring, setting themselves up for the rest of the offseason as they gauge where they sit at several different positions.

The biggest competition came at quarterback, where graduate transfer Tyler Van Dyke and redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke battled for the starting spot, although several different positions had players emerge as potential contributors this year.

Here’s my projected depth chart following what I saw through 15 spring practices.

Quarterback​

Starter: Tyler Van Dyke (redshirt senior)

Backup: Braedyn Locke (Redshirt Sophomore)

Van Dyke is the starter in my eyes after spring ball, as we saw the graduate transfer begin to get more comfortable over the second half of spring ball, although Locke gave him a hard push.

Van Dyke showcased good arm strength throughout the spring and a willingness to throw the ball downfield, although his decisions led to turnover-worthy plays at times.

Ultimately, Wisconsin’s success in 2024 will depend on how consistent their quarterback play can be, which is a similar situation they found themselves in last offseason.

But, for now, the plan seems fairly clear: Van Dyke starts in 2024, Locke takes over in 2025, and current true freshman Mabrey Mettauer is in the waiting after getting significant experience as the third-team quarterback this spring.

Running Back​

Starter: Chez Mellusi (sixth-year graduate)
Backup: Tawee Walker (senior)

The Badgers are looking strong at running back, despite losing top option Braelon Allen, as they return Chez Mellusi to the fold, while landing transfer Tawee Walker from Oklahoma.

Mellusi looks fresh, but Walker was the standout of the spring, as he acclimated quickly and flashed with his elite burst and physical style.

The Badgers may treat this as an even 1-2 punch, with Walker taking more of an early-down and goal-line role, while Mellusi’s change-of-pace style can be used in various situations.

It feels that the carry disparity could even reach 50/50, but the Badgers also have a deep room and could get others involved in the timeshare.

Cade Yacamelli emerged as the No. 3 option with a strong spring, showcasing good vision, speed to the outside, and comfortability in the system as a change-of-pace back.

Jackson Acker also got reps, but it feels he may be used in more of a versatile role, seeing some action as an H-back as well, which came to fruition at times during spring ball.

Wide Receivers​

Starters: Bryson Green (senior), Vinny Anthony (junior), Will Pauling (redshirt junior)

Backups: Quincy Burroughs (redshirt sophomore), C.J. Williams (junior), Trech Kekahuna (redshirt freshman)

The Badgers have a good, firm group of six receivers, to which they just added another body in Boston College transfer Joseph Griffin Jr.

Bryson Green and Will Pauling were slotted in as starters, with both having a good spring, but the third receiver spot was open for the grabs.
Wideouts coach Kenny Guiton acknowledged at the end of spring ball that Vinny Anthony was the leader in the clubhouse for that spot, noting his consistency throughout the spring, which has been a factor.

Anthony didn't drop passes, while his speed was utilized in both a downfield and short-area role, making him a solid fit behind Green and Pauling.

But, perhaps the biggest riser of the spring was redshirt freshman Trech Kekahuna, who just has a knack for getting open with his speed and route-running capabilities. He’ll certainly see opportunities, as Wisconsin is poised to incorporate a number of four-receiver sets again in 2024.

I really liked the spring that Quincy Burroughs had, as he showed up with highlight plays downfield and presented a unique threat with his size and speed profile.

Burroughs acknowledged that consistency was going to be key, as his motor wavered from play to play.

C.J. Williams, on the other hand, had his fair share of highlight plays, but consistency will be key as well. Additionally, there’s the fit question with him nor Green being elite speed threats, but the talent is there.

To me, the key with this group is how consistently they’ll be able to win routes to help the quarterbacks out. In the spring, the buzz around this group has been high, but how will they be able to translate that against more physical cornerbacks in the Big Ten? We’ll see if they can win more on the outside with a heavier focus on downfield passing.

Tight Ends​

Starter: Tucker Ashcraft (sophomore)

Backups: Riley Nowakowski (redshirt senior), Jackson McGohan (sophomore)


The Badgers had a ton of questions heading into spring ball at the tight end position, and they leave it with some promise, but also a similar level of uncertainty.

Tucker Ashcraft heads the group entering his sophomore year as Wisconsin’s best do-it-all option, but was nursing an injury throughout the spring.

Nowakowski is probably Wisconsin’s top blocker at this stage, while McGohan came on towards the second half of spring ball as an intriguing vertical threat.

Wisconsin’s receiver room may limit them to one tight end sets, but I’m curious to see if the Badgers can find ways to put Ashcraft and McGohan on the field at the same time, with the former working more as an in-line option, while the latter is out wide.

This group still has a ton of questions, but there’s a number of young players who have an opportunity to grow throughout the season.

Offensive Line​

Starters: Jack Nelson (redshirt senior), Joe Brunner (redshirt sophomore), Jake Renfro (redshirt senior), Joe Huber (redshirt senior), Riley Mahlman (redshirt junior)

Backups: Kevin Heywood (freshman), Joey Okla (redshirt sophomore), Collin Cubberly (freshman), J.P. Benzschawel (redshirt junior), Leyton Nelson (redshirt sophomore)

The offensive line has been set throughout the spring, with Joe Brunner elevating into a starting role, while Jake Renfro takes over the role he was initially set to be in at center.

This group has been a nice revelation, especially with their run blocking, and should be primed for a better year in 2024, even with the turnover along the group.

The backups are where things get tricky, as Wisconsin was running true freshmen Kevin Heywood and Collin Cubberly with the twos, although the latter saw action at guard, center, and tackle throughout the spring.

Wisconsin did get Leyton Nelson and Joey Okla in the spring portal, who should fit into roles within the two-deep for the time being.

However, the Badgers are getting four-stars Emerson Mandell and Derek Jensen, and three-star Ryan Cory in the mix over the summer, with Mandell being the name to watch.

Wisconsin could be relying on a number of young, inexperienced players if injuries occur, but their starting group is one of the stronger aspects of the roster.
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... but the third receiver spot was open for the grabs.
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sorry, but i got a chuckle out of this. open for the grabs? up for grabs is the saying. not "up for the grabs", and definitely not "open for the grabs". here come all the "grammar nazi" insults. but that was written by a professional who should know better.
 
realitybytes said:
sorry, but i got a chuckle out of this. open for the grabs? up for grabs is the saying. not "up for the grabs", and definitely not "open for the grabs". here come all the "grammar nazi" insults. but that was written by a professional who should know better.
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I get the mistake in drafts, but who is checking final product.

I'm a horrible proof reader because I auto-correct as I read. So, I hire it out.

Crazy how the small details aren't considered important anymore
 
Keg Man said:
I get the mistake in drafts, but who is checking final product.

I'm a horrible proof reader because I auto-correct as I read. So, I hire it out.

Crazy how the small details aren't considered important anymore
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One of the big problems is that the people doing the headlines, and often articles, aren't even in the US, have limited knowledge of English, and haven't got a clue about the sport itself.

When you can hire someone for $8 a day to write copy, and the person checking their work is making $10, and the communications between the two is in Hindu, or some other language, it's easy to see how it all gets screwed up.

The people writing it are obvious, when they keep screwing up gender in articles, and go back and forth between both genders as they write the article.

Anyhow.... that's how it starts.... with the headlines..... the articles themselves are composites of basic information from various other sources, to create the story.
 
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