The Wisconsin Badgers lost numerous players to the transfer portal during the off-season and were in danger of losing another following a controversial move.
With the offense stalled during the season and fingers being pointed all over, Wisconsin made the decision to fire offensive coordinator Phil Longo from his position in the middle of the season. Longo was expected to at least finish out the year with the Badgers, but the unfortunate news came to fruition after several tough weeks. Some fans agreed with the firing while others felt as though the blame was placed upon Longo since someone needed to be held responsible for the team’s struggles.
Following the firing of Longo, many players who Longo helped recruit into Madison left the program and hit the transfer portal, with notable departure Mabrey Mettauer reuniting with his offensive coordinator at Sam Houston State.
One such addition that entered the portal was wide receiver Trech Kekahuna, who has become a vital part of the offense. Kekahuna was brought into Madison by Longo and kept a very close relationship with the coordinator, which led to Kekahuna rethinking his future with the Wisconsin Badgers following his firing. New offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes had no prior relationship with Kekahuna, but Grimes was determined to keep all the talent in Wisconsin that he could.
Wisconsin Badgers Offensive Coordinator Jeff Grimes Instrumental in Bringing Trech Kekahuna Back to Madison
After losing his offensive coordinator, nearly all of his quarterbacks, and many fellow receivers, Kekahuna thought the transfer portal would be the only option. The future was uncertain, and it was not until Grimes got in contact with Kekahuna that the receiver understood just how valuable he would be to the program moving forward.
The exact conversation between Grimes and the receiver is unknown, but the offensive coordinator was able to convince Kekahuna that Madison was his home. Additionally, Grimes was also able to show the receiver what his true value is within the program which will almost certainly be put on display this upcoming season.
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Grimes is a veteran offensive mind known for attacking defenses with high tempo play, power, and speed in such a way that overwhelms teams. During his previous stay with Kansas, Grimes coined the “Kansas Offense” which uniquely used pre-snap motion and line shifts to throw off the opposing defense. The offense also incorporates plenty of option and play-actions plays which require a great amount of speed to allow for full effect.
Kekahuna is exactly the type of receiver Grimes loves to have on the roster as the receiver can do a bit of everything for the team. The receiver is no stranger to carrying the football and was supposed to be the go-to gadget player for the Wisconsin Badgers a season ago. Between injuries, issues on offense, and a staff change, Kekahuna never quite had the chance to truly blossom in his role.
For Grimes, utilizing Kekahuna should be something that is fairly easy given his speed, talent in the slot, and ability to catch defenses by surprise near the boundaries. Kekahuna is not the most physical receiver but one with great speed and balance that makes staying with the receiver stride for stride very difficult.
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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