Wisconsin Football 2024

[Samurai Bucky]

1 hour ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Not to be a downer, but I'm seeing kids flip back & forth 2 or 3 times before setting foot on campus. When someone announces they're going to a certain school, what we need to do is come up with a different term. "Commitment" doesn't really fit anymore.

You mean like Rukeem Stroud?  😉

[Jim French Stepstool]

24 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

You mean like Rukeem Stroud?  😉

Yeah, like Stroud. And a lot of other guys flip-flopping from one commitment to another all over the country. 

It has to be maddening to a P-5 football or basketball coach, It's one thing to kiss a kids' a** for months & months, but now to do it simply to get a commitment, and a month later a "Oh, just kidding. I'm thoroughly blessed, you've been wonderful, thank you. With that being said........"

They have a portal transfer from Stephen F Austin named Brandon Lane, a D-lineman. He committed to Michigan State in Late April. In early May he de-committed.

Later that month he committed to Louisville. He de-committed from there four days later.

That same day he committed to Wisconsin. It's been a month & he's apparently still committed, which tells me he's either been comatose or is the PTBNL in the Hepburn trade.

[BrewerFan]

On 6/19/2024 at 2:05 PM, Samurai Bucky said:

I saw that they were #4 overall on Rivals.  That is crazy.

247 Sports has them at 12.  on3.com has them at 19.  Not much consensus, but it is much better than the ~40-50 rankings we had before Fickell came in.

 

Weren't we in the 20 range a couple years under Cryst? I thought it was as high as 18 and then 25, 28 something like that 3 years under PC. 

 

Not trying to be negative, it was primarily driven by OL, LB and Mertz one class and very few CB, WR...

[LouisEly]

18 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

Weren't we in the 20 range a couple years under Cryst? I thought it was as high as 18 and then 25, 28 something like that 3 years under PC. 

 

Not trying to be negative, it was primarily driven by OL, LB and Mertz one class and very few CB, WR...

Yep.  2021 they were #16 overall on 24/7.  2020 they were #27.  2019 #29. 

The 2019 class included Graham Mertz and Logan Brown.  It also included Joe Tippman, Leo Chenal, and Keanu Benton. 

2020 included Nick Herbig and Tanor Bortolini.  A few others still have a chance (Jack Nelson, Aaron Witt, James Thompson Jr.).

[DR28]

Picked by Media to finish 7th in Big Ten this year.

[CheezWizHed]

23 minutes ago, DR28 said:

Picked by Media to finish 7th in Big Ten this year.

Well, that is still in the top 25% of the Big10 these days, right? 

[DR28]

5 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

Well, that is still in the top 25% of the Big10 these days, right? 

Lol yes with 18 teams or w/e now.

[nate82]

I don’t know why but I think this team will exceed expectations.  Granted the expectations for this team is probably just barely a top 25 team.  I think this team will get a few surprise wins this year.

[yourout]

3 hours ago, DR28 said:

Picked by Media to finish 7th in Big Ten this year.

Seems about to me. With this schedule I'll be happy with any bowl.

[LouisEly]

7 hours ago, nate82 said:

I don’t know why but I think this team will exceed expectations.  Granted the expectations for this team is probably just barely a top 25 team.  I think this team will get a few surprise wins this year.

Every year USC is supposed to be really good, starts off strong, and then poops down their leg the second half of the season and maybe wins eight games.  That, and they lost the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft along with two other day 2 picks and about 15 other transfers including a 5-star QB and they still can't play defense.

Iowa lost all-world DB DeJean, their top defender in sacks (Joe Evans), their #2 tackler (Nick Jackson), and their #4 tackler and #3 defender in sacks (Logan Lee).  I don't see their defense being nearly as good, and the offense is still Iowa.

Nebraska hasn't had a winning record since 2016.  They have to prove they can win first.  They played two teams last year who finished in the top 25 and one finished 24th.

I have no idea how Northwestern did what they did.  106th in points scored, 42nd in points given up, 68th in sacks.  Have to find a new starting QB.

Other teams picked to finish with a similar record as UW have just as many question marks.

[Jim French Stepstool]

I'm wondering about how much better the defense will/can be, with some guys in the secondary a year older (led by Wohler & Hallman) hopefully helped out by a better pass rush. They sound very encouraged about the pressure they can bring w/John Pius & Darryl Peterson coming off the edge. Don't know what to think about Van Dyke, and the O-Line has enough people returning but they didn't exactly excel last year. I think it was a lot of brain cramping due to a new system but........they seemed to have stepped up their O-Line recruiting, so hopefully the foundation is being laid there.

Fickell seems to have little problem attracting skill position guys. I'm excited to see what kind of contribution they can get from Trech Kekahuna, who looked great in the bowl game. In this system he could certainly be more than a return guy.

[Jim French Stepstool]

On 7/23/2024 at 5:17 PM, LouisEly said:

 

I have no idea how Northwestern did what they did.  106th in points scored, 42nd in points given up, 68th in sacks.  Have to find a new starting QB.

 

That was my & my nephews' refrain for years when we had season tix. I liked Fitzgerald as a coach but some of the stuff they were able to accomplish left us scratching our heads.

Back in the day we considered it the triple jinx-----11:00 early game, in Evanston, with Pam Ward doing play-by-play. Guaranteed to be one sad-assed performance by Bucky.

[Samurai Bucky]

On 7/23/2024 at 5:17 PM, LouisEly said:

Nebraska hasn't had a winning record since 2016.  They have to prove they can win first.  They played two teams last year who finished in the top 25 and one finished 24th.

The media really wants Nebraska on top again because they were historically good... before joining the Big Ten.  That, and Rhule seems to be a good story.

[Oxy]

5 hours ago, Samurai Bucky said:

The media really wants Nebraska on top again because they were historically good... before joining the Big Ten.  That, and Rhule seems to be a good story.

They also need to support the recruiting industrial complex by rewarding them for landing the Raiola QB. I will guess pre-season predictions will be as high as they get though.

[Jim French Stepstool]

With the season less than 2 weeks away I thought I'd throw out some comments position-by-position, a synopsis of some of the stuff I've heard/read & my own observations.

QB........Van Dyke, after a slow start seems to be more comfortable & eventually started separating himself from the others, which isn't surprising. It looks like he's settled in throwing the ball & supposedly runs w/the ball better than you'd think, since the optics suggest he'd be a statue in the pocket. His last work at Miami just kinda leaves me questioning how good he'll be. Hopefully there's a comfort level that will show through & allow him to be the best version of himself. Locke would be a good 'game manager' QB on many of the past UW teams. Under this system IMO he's adequate at best. The most talented kid is the freshman from Texas, Mettauer. But unless he grows by leaps & bounds in the next few months he's not a factor in '24.

RB........Much better depth & talent than last year. Looks 'committee-ish' to me, with Mellusi (stay healthy, please) & Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker leading the pack. Darrion Dupree & Dilin Jones are talented freshman, Dupree will play & Jones might. Yacamelli & Jackson Acker are journeymen & reliable.

WR.....Will Pauling is very reliable in the short-to-medium pass game they employ. I'm a big fan of Trech Kekahuna & Vinny Anthony. They have hopes for others that haven't seemed to separate themselves--Bryson Green, CJ Williams, Chris Brooks & others. And no one seems to have established himself as a deep threat, I'm hoping Anthony might be that guy.

TE.....Tucker Ashcraft can catch the ball. Riley Nowakowski, an over-achiever that a coach like Barry Alvarez would've loved, can block. They'll both play a lot. Rob Booker is a future hopeful, but TE isn't an easy position for a freshman. Jackson McGohan transferred in from LSU but hasn't made a depth chart move as yet.

OL....Has to be better than the comedy of mental errors seen last year. Assuming he's past all that, Jack Nelson should make half of a good pair of bookend tackles w/Riley Mahlmann. The interior is bolstered as it appears C Jake Renfroe is finally healthy. Seems to be a battle btwn JP Benzschawel & Joe Brunner for a starting guard spot opposite Joe Huber. The bad news: whoever loses that battle might be the only experienced depth. Some freshmen might be in the two-deep.

DL.....Definitely better. James Thompson has turned into a bit of a playmaker & Curt Neal seems to have alleviated concerns about NT. Ben Barton reminds me a little of CJ Goetz or Matt Henningsen, limited athlete but a tactician that gets the job done. They added 2 FCS-level guys for depth. Elijah Hills & Brandon Lane. I still hold out hopes for RS freshman Jamel Howard.

LB....Just a case of sorting out roles, really. Jake Chaney returns on the inside, & Christian Alliegro can play at a pretty high level if he stays healthy. Jaheim Thomas is at his (I think) fourth different school but has had a great camp & should start. Tackett Curtis came from USC. He once started there but is coming off surgery. On the outside, good potential depth as well w/ Darryl Peterson, Aaron Witt (if he can maintain health), & transfers Leon Lowery (Syracuse) & John Pius (Wm & Mary). Thomas Heiberger is a true freshman that was one of the stars of camp & was going to definitely get on the field, but a leg injury has him on the shelf. More than enough edge rush here if this group stays intact.

Secondary.....This could turn out to be one of the better groups in the B10. Hunter Wohler is outstanding & the other safeties (Preston Zachmann, Kamo'i Latu & Austin Brown) have experience. At corner, Ricardo Hallman was a dangerous ballhawk & Nyzier Fourqurean has had a great camp. If they stay assignment-sure these guys will make plays. Xavier Lucas is a true freshman who keeps making plays in camp. It looks like he can't be kept off the field.

[Jim French Stepstool]

On 8/19/2024 at 2:51 PM, Jim French Stepstool said:

With the season less than 2 weeks away I thought I'd throw out some comments position-by-position, a synopsis of some of the stuff I've heard/read & my own observations.

QB........Van Dyke, after a slow start seems to be more comfortable & eventually started separating himself from the others, which isn't surprising. It looks like he's settled in throwing the ball & supposedly runs w/the ball better than you'd think, since the optics suggest he'd be a statue in the pocket. His last work at Miami just kinda leaves me questioning how good he'll be. Hopefully there's a comfort level that will show through & allow him to be the best version of himself. Locke would be a good 'game manager' QB on many of the past UW teams. Under this system IMO he's adequate at best. The most talented kid is the freshman from Texas, Mettauer. But unless he grows by leaps & bounds in the next few months he's not a factor in '24.

RB........Much better depth & talent than last year. Looks 'committee-ish' to me, with Mellusi (stay healthy, please) & Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker leading the pack. Darrion Dupree & Dilin Jones are talented freshman, Dupree will play & Jones might. Yacamelli & Jackson Acker are journeymen & reliable.

WR.....Will Pauling is very reliable in the short-to-medium pass game they employ. I'm a big fan of Trech Kekahuna & Vinny Anthony. They have hopes for others that haven't seemed to separate themselves--Bryson Green, CJ Williams, Chris Brooks & others. And no one seems to have established himself as a deep threat, I'm hoping Anthony might be that guy.

TE.....Tucker Ashcraft can catch the ball. Riley Nowakowski, an over-achiever that a coach like Barry Alvarez would've loved, can block. They'll both play a lot. Rob Booker is a future hopeful, but TE isn't an easy position for a freshman. Jackson McGohan transferred in from LSU but hasn't made a depth chart move as yet.

OL....Has to be better than the comedy of mental errors seen last year. Assuming he's past all that, Jack Nelson should make half of a good pair of bookend tackles w/Riley Mahlmann. The interior is bolstered as it appears C Jake Renfroe is finally healthy. Seems to be a battle btwn JP Benzschawel & Joe Brunner for a starting guard spot opposite Joe Huber. The bad news: whoever loses that battle might be the only experienced depth. Some freshmen might be in the two-deep.

DL.....Definitely better. James Thompson has turned into a bit of a playmaker & Curt Neal seems to have alleviated concerns about NT. Ben Barton reminds me a little of CJ Goetz or Matt Henningsen, limited athlete but a tactician that gets the job done. They added 2 FCS-level guys for depth. Elijah Hills & Brandon Lane. I still hold out hopes for RS freshman Jamel Howard.

LB....Just a case of sorting out roles, really. Jake Chaney returns on the inside, & Christian Alliegro can play at a pretty high level if he stays healthy. Jaheim Thomas is at his (I think) fourth different school but has had a great camp & should start. Tackett Curtis came from USC. He once started there but is coming off surgery. On the outside, good potential depth as well w/ Darryl Peterson, Aaron Witt (if he can maintain health), & transfers Leon Lowery (Syracuse) & John Pius (Wm & Mary). Thomas Heiberger is a true freshman that was one of the stars of camp & was going to definitely get on the field, but a leg injury has him on the shelf. More than enough edge rush here if this group stays intact.

Secondary.....This could turn out to be one of the better groups in the B10. Hunter Wohler is outstanding & the other safeties (Preston Zachmann, Kamo'i Latu & Austin Brown) have experience. At corner, Ricardo Hallman was a dangerous ballhawk & Nyzier Fourqurean has had a great camp. If they stay assignment-sure these guys will make plays. Xavier Lucas is a true freshman who keeps making plays in camp. It looks like he can't be kept off the field.

Scratch DE James Thompson from the above list. Injured & reportedly out for the season.

Tough loss in an area of questionable depth.

[Samurai Bucky]

On 8/22/2024 at 12:35 AM, Jim French Stepstool said:

Scratch DE James Thompson from the above list. Injured & reportedly out for the season.

Tough loss in an area of questionable depth.

Ouch...  Hopefully Bucky can be more disciplined on offense and score more to relieve some of the pressure on the defense.

[nate82]

Jack Del Rio hired as a senior advisor.

 

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jack-del-rio-joins-wisconsin-staff-as-senior-advisor-to-head-coach

[CheezWizHed]

1 hour ago, nate82 said:

Jack Del Rio hired as a senior advisor.

 

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jack-del-rio-joins-wisconsin-staff-as-senior-advisor-to-head-coach

That is an interesting hire.  He was a terrible head coach, but otherwise a good football coach (and player). 

[Jim French Stepstool]

10 hours ago, nate82 said:

Jack Del Rio hired as a senior advisor.

 

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jack-del-rio-joins-wisconsin-staff-as-senior-advisor-to-head-coach

Seems like a nice addition, but the timing of it strikes me as weird. It sounds like he'll be the college FB equivalent of a bench coach.

The only connection I see is in 1997, when he was strength & conditioning coach for the Saints & Fickell was on their injured reserve list

[nate82]

Yes it is Western Michigan but Walker is looking decent at RB.  

[yourout]

Not a fan of Tressel.

[yourout]

Not sure I will ever come to terms with Badgers running the spread.

[nate82]

Just now, yourout said:

Not sure I will ever come to terms with Badgers running the spread.

Mellusi and Walker look like good RB’s for this.  Still need a TE and a big WR to stretch the field.

[yourout]

3 minutes ago, nate82 said:

Mellusi and Walker look like good RB’s for this.  Still need a TE and a big WR to stretch the field.

I long for the day our OLines could maul teams and they could do nothing about it.