- Messages
- 5,407
- Reaction score
- 311
After two highly productive years as Wisconsin football’s top receiving option, Alex Erickson is gone. Now, the Badgers need someone that they can count on to be the consistent route runner and pass catcher that Erickson was. Even though he wasn’t really a big play receiver, it is going to be difficult to replace his 77 catches for 978 yards. Austin Traylor and his 234 yards and 4 touchdowns are also gone. While there are a few intriguing options, finding enough reliable pass catchers is going to be one of the Badger’s biggest concerns in fall camp.
What We Know:
Troy Fumagalli is going to be a good weapon in the passing game at tight end. Last year, Fumagalli caught 28 passes for 313 and one touchdown. He demonstrated good hands and solid route running. With the departure of Erickson and Traylor, Fumagalli will receive a lot more targets, and should have a giant impact as a receiver. It would be surprising if his statistics, especially touchdowns, didn’t vastly improve.
LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 10: during their game at Memorial Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
We also know that Robert Wheelwright will be a starting wide receiver. He is the team’s leading returning receiver with 416 yards and 4 touchdowns. However, he has struggled with route running, health, and drops his entire career. So unfortunately, whether he can be a go-to receiver is going to be in the next section.
What We Need To Find Out:
A lot. With this receiving group there are far more questions than answers. First and foremost, will Rob Wheelwright finally live up to his massive potential and become a next-level receiver for the Badgers? Wheelwright, a senior, is 6 foot 3 and 207 pounds, so he has the size. As discussed earlier, he has produced decent numbers in the past. He has the speed and the athletic ability. And he has shown he can do stuff like this…
But despite all his physical tools, he can’t just seem to put it all together for a full season. Whether it’s injuries, drops, or lack of separation on his routes, he still hasn’t been able to break out and become a true number one receiver. However, given his abundance of talent, it is only a matter of time. If he can become a star receiver rather than just an average starter, Wisconsin’s offense will be much more explosive.
The other big question mark is who else will step up for the Badgers. Even if Wheelwright can have a break out season, he and Fumagalli can’t carry the passing game by themselves (unless they magically turn into Jared Abbrederis). One likely contributor is redshirt junior Jazz Peavy. Peavy looked really good at times last season, with shifty routes and soft hands. He also has the speed and playmaking ability after the catch to make some big plays for the Badgers. For that reason, Peavy is the early favorite to start alongside Wheelwright.
After Peavy, there are zero proven options. Zero. The battle for the third, fourth, fifth receivers and beyond is wide open. It is crucial that someone steps up, because two dependable receivers in not nearly enough, especially with Wheelwright’s injury history.
Reggie Love has potential. The senior is 6 foot 3 and 225 pounds, and very fast. He had an explosive 48-touchdown run in 2014 versus LSU. Outside of that, though, he has not had an impact. But he’ll have chances to change that this season. With a good camp, he can become the third receiver.
There are plenty of other young receivers hoping to breakout. Junior George Rushing has flashed on jet sweeps and will have a chance to see more snaps as a receiver. Sophomore Krenwick Sanders is going to see plenty of action as well. Sophomore transfer Ricky Finco and true freshmen Kendric Pryor and A.J Taylor are a trio of newcomers to keep an eye on. All five of those players will compete for snaps.
There also a lot of question marks at tight end after Fumagalli. Senior Eric Steffes will likely join Fumagalli in two tight end sets. He specializes as a run blocker. He does have the height to be a good redone target, but only has 50 career yards to his name. Redshirt freshman Kyle Penniston will try to wrestle the number two tight end spot away from Steffes. Penninston was a highly lauded recruit, and could make a major impact as a pass catcher. In camp, he needs to prove to the coaches that he is a capable blocker.
Player to Watch:
George Rushing, Jr.
One of the candidates for the third wide receiver spot is George Rushing. Rushing was a 3-star recruit out of high school, and played early in his career for the Badgers. He only has six catches for 72 yards in his career, but he has been used in other ways.
Rushing has gotten the ball on jet sweeps in the past, accumulating 40 yards on 7 carries. On those rushes, Rushing looked quick and shifty. He can be a dangerous weapon in space, as well as a deep ball threat. He also has the versatility to play in the slot and outside. With a good camp, he can claim the third receiver slot.
Recap:
Wheelwright is going to be a solid number one receiver, but he needs to work on his consistency and stay healthy in order to become the star that the Badgers need him to be to take their offense to the next level. Fumagalli is a lock to start and produce at tight end, while Peavy has a firm grasp on the second receiver position. Beyond that, there will be a lot of fall camp competition. Now is the time for players like Love, Rushing, Sanders, Penniston, and Steffes to step up and claim spots on the depth chart. Wisconsin needs at least a few of those players to produce in order to be successful.
Our Projected Depth Chart:
WR 1- Robert Wheelwright, SR.
WR 2- Jazz Peavy, JR.
WR 3- George Rushing, JR.
WR 4- Reggie Love, SR.
WR 5- Krenwick Sanders, SO.
TE 1- Troy Fumagalli, JR.
TE 2- Eric Steffes, SR.
TE 3- Kyle Penniston, FR.
The post Wisconsin Badgers 2016 Fall Camp Preview: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends appeared first on Madtown Badgers.
Continue reading...