Now that the Wisconsin basketball season is over, it is time to start looking into Wisconsin football as spring practices have arrived. It was an up an down for year one of the Luke Fickell. The Badgers, who were seen as the early favorite to win the Big Ten West last season, ended the season 7-6 overall and 5-4 in the Big Ten West. We saw flashes early and at the end of the season, but when it mattered most, the Badgers did not play well.
Year two could be interesting with the expansion of the Big Ten. However, Wisconsin football does bring back a good chunk of their offensive production from a season. Here is an early look at the potential Wisconsin football offense.
Quarterback- Tyler Van Dyke OR Brayden Locke
Now that Tanner Mordecai is out, Wisconsin football brought in Tyler Van Dyke out of Miami. He is in his last year of eligibility after starting three seasons for the Hurricanes. Van Dyke has thrown for 55 touchdowns in his career. he will not be a threat with his legs like Mordecai was, but he likely seen as a better passer.
However, Fickell and his staff love Brayden Locke. After Mordecai broke his hand in the Iowa game, Locke played the second half and then started three more games. He only completed 50% of his passes, but only threw one interception. Locke showed some really good potential in his starts. I think if Locke is not the starter this year, this will be his team in 2025. I think Wisconsin rolls out Van Dyke to start the season, but keep an eye on Locke.
Running Back- Chez Mellusi AND Tawee Walker
I was really happy when Chez Mellusi announced he would come back for his final year. At the same time, after suffering a season-ending injury against Purdue in September, I would not have blamed him if he decided to end his football career. Mellusi is now in this third season at Wisconsin and has had season ending injuries in his first two years. When healthy, he shoots out like a cannon and very good after contact. Mellusi was a great complimentary back to Braelon Allen.
With Allen departing for the NFL Draft, Wisconsin football went into the portal and grabbed Tawee Walker out of Oklahoma. At 5’9 and 215 pounds, Walker should provide some thump. He ran for 513 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. Walker is an experienced back that should compliment Mellusi. I think this could a 50/50 of reps between him and Mellusi.
Wide Receiver- Will Pauling, Bryson Green, CJ Williams
Wisconsin was young and un-proven at the receiver position last year. This group showed a ton of flashes and reason to be excited this year. It all begins with Will Pauling as he is the top receiver on this roster. Pauling led the Badgers in receiving (837 yards), receptions (74) and touchdowns (6). In particular, Pauling was an excellent route runner as a sophomore. He has the ability to be an all-conference receiver in 2024.
It took Bryson Green a little bit to get going last year, but I thought he was really productive on the outside. While Green was not as productive as he was at Oklahoma State in 2022, he still had 480 yards on 32 receptions. I expect him to have a big year for Wisconsin football.
We did not see a ton of CJ Williams last year, but there is no denying the talent he brings. He will play on the other side opposite Green and is very good with route running too. Williams had only 15 receptions last year, but some of those were taken by Skyler Bell and Chimere Dike, both who are not with the program anymore.
If you added in a fourth receiver, keep an eye on Tretch Kekahuna. The former four star recruit missed most of the season with an injury, but had a really nice game against LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl. He is more of a slot receiver, but he will also see a lot of playing time this year.
Tight End- Tucker Ashcraft
Tight end will still be likely the weakness of this Wisconsin football offense, but Tucker Ashcraft has all the tools to be a very good player. He played a lot as a freshman, but was not all that productive catching and receiving.
The position as a whole is very young. As a result, Ashcraft should get a bulk of the snaps in 2024. If he makes a sophomore jump, then Wisconsin football has potentially a stud at tight end.
Offensive Line- Jack Nelson, Joe Brunner, Jake Renfroe, Joe Huber, Riley Mahlmann
This is a pretty easy lineup to see. Tanor Bortolini is off to the NFL and had to play center last year with the injury to Jake Renfroe. Renfroe is a natural center and should provide some security for whoever is under center. Michael Furtney is out at guard and the obvious choice seems to be sophomore Joe Brunner. He could be the most talented player on this line, but has had to wait his turn. He should get it in 2024.
I am looking for a better year from Jack Nelson. He had a chance to go pro after the 2022 season but decided to come back. 2023 was an awful year for him. There was way too many penalties and missed blocks for a player of his talent. I am not surprised he came back because his NFL Draft stock I’m sure took a big dip. He has another year now to get back to where he knows he can be for this Wisconsin football team.
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