With less than a month until kick off against Penn State, the Wisconsin Badgers return a ton of production from 2020. These individuals returning should be at the top of each major stat. Let’s take a look at who I believe will lead each major stat category this season.
Passing- Graham Mertz
Barring any sort of injury or poor season, Graham Mertz will lead the Badgers in passing this season. He is the clear number one quarterback on this roster. I also believe Mertz will have a solid sophomore season.
If there is an injury to Mertz, expect junior Chase Wolf to be next in line with senior Danny Vanden Boom to follow.
Rushing- Jalen Berger
I don’t expect Jalen Berger to be the bell cow. Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi will receive a number of reps as well. Wisconsin has proven to be a better team with multiple weapons carrying the ball (Jonathan Taylor and Melvin Gordon exceptions of course).
The rushing numbers should be similar. However, I expect Berger to end up around 800 or 900 yards with Mellusi around 400 or 500 yards. I can;t wait to see what this duo could bring this season.
Receiving- Jake Ferguson
Wisconsin will have a good problem with this stat and the receiving weapons this season. The Badgers return Ferguson, Danny Davis III, and Kendric Pryor. All three could have left after last season, but opted in to the bonus COVID-19 eligibility year.
Davis III and Pryor have the ability to create separation and run the jet sweep, a play Wisconsin has been very good at over the years. However, whenever Mertz needed a security blanket last season, he consistently looked for Ferguson. Ferguson is also the best tight end in the Big Ten and one of the best in the country.
Tackles- Jack Sanborn
Jack Sanborn is one the best linebackers in the Big Ten and the country. Just like Ferguson, Sanborn could have been drafted in the 2021 Draft, but decided to use his extra year of eligibility and return this season.
Inside linebackers count for a majority of the tackles on the Wisconsin defense. As a result, I don’t expect this to change. Sanborn has a nose for the football and can shed off most offensive linemen. If Sanborn doesn’t lead in this stat, look for Leo Chenal to lead this category. This wouldn’t be a surprise either.
Sacks- Nick Herbig
I am really high on Nick Herbig in this stat. As a freshman in 2020, he showed flashes of potential in every game. He has the ability to win his one-on-one matchups with the opposing tackle as well.
Senior Noah Burks will line up on the other side. Don’t sleep on Burks either as he has the potential to create havoc to opposing quarterbacks as well. Expect a big second year jump for Nick Herbig.
Interceptions- Scott Nelson
The Wisconsin corners did not generate an interception in 2020. I guarantee that won’t happen in 2021. Scott Nelson and Collin Wilder have played a lot of football at the safety position and will help the secondary out in a ton of ways.
Scott Nelson makes great reads week after week. Such a smart football player at the safety position.
This time it leads to an INT and Wisconsin has the ball at the Wake Forest 2-yard line.
— Josh Schafer (@_JoshSchafer) December 30, 2020
When Scott Nelson is healthy on the field, he can be an all-conference safety. He’s physical and has the ability to be a ball hawk. If the corners can hold their own on opposing receivers, expect Nelson to be all over the field and leading in this stat in 2021.
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